Peace Cup Semi-Final. Juventus vs Real Madrid: 2-1

Real Madrid fell to Juventus in the Peace Cup semi-final today 2-1. I have plenty of thoughts to share on this match. I think it was a good way to see how Real Madrid has been stacking up to other big sides during preseason. Put some players under more pressure than against Al Ittihad or LUDQ. Some reacted well to the pressure, some did not unfortunately.

First off, am I disappointed about the loss? Always. Is it the end of the world? Not at all. Yes, the match was obviously a failure not progressing through to the final, but it was only a preseason match and I believe there are plenty of positives and even more lessons to learn from the Juve match up. My number one concern for the Merengue and has been all preseason is defending set plays. Both goals today were scored off set plays. To make it worse, the first happened only 4 minutes into the match. To make it even worse than that, it was tiny little Cannavaro that left the Bernabeu for Juve this summer with a header, completely unmarked, held onside by Ronaldo, who was far to deep on the back post side. Thats the 5th goal Los Blancos have conceded in the preseason and also the 5th from set plays. Defending free kicks and corners has to get better if Madrid are going to succeed. Simple as that. In a sense, if Madrid would have been tidy on defending set plays and corners, they could be unscored upon at this point. Interesting, yeah?

I'm gonna mix it up a bit now and throw in a couple pros rather than concentrating on the cons all at once. I'll mix and match them for you. Drenthe was full of energy today and I was completely impressed by his performance. He found plenty of free space on the left wing from his defending position and contributed to the attack often. He looks to be very fit for preseason, racing up and down, tracking back and starting forward. He is still young and has plenty to learn, but with confidence I have a feeling he and Marcelo will be dueling it out on the left wing all season for a spot now that Hienze has moved onto Marsielle. The partnership worked out well with Lass and Granero behind Guti in the midfield, at least for the first half anyway but I'll get to that in a minute. The more I watch Granero, I become more fond of him. I really think he was quite a deal coming from Getafe. He is a play maker. His vision is fabulous. He can really pick out players, but also keeps it simple. If the ball isn't on he doesn't force it, easily turning out and restarting the attack by going backward or square. Enjoyed him a lot today. For being the older veteran striker on Real Madrid, Raul still causes plenty of trouble. He drew the penalty from Chiellini, who I don't rate as a great defender. However, nonetheless, Raul still had a handful of chances throughout the match. Benzema didn't standout today like in previous matches. He drifted in and out of the game. He was brilliant for the first 15 minutes, very involved. However, he slowly slipped off until he was substituted midway through the second half. What is odd, that I noticed not once but twice is that the French striker, didn't even look at the goal before taking his shots that missed by a fair distance. It's very difficult to shoot blind. Perhaps it was just the two shots I witnessed but the fact that he doesn't really know where he is aiming could be detrimental to his career in general. Everyone is upset with Ronaldo's free kick form. Today he missed wide, hit the very center of the wall, and pretended he was Dani Alves with souvenir for some lucky fan in the third tier. He just needs to find his niche again. He can feel the pressure being put on him to score those, and the more he misses, the more he feels it. As soon as he catches his lucky break, they will start to find the net. That's my prediction. For his play other than the free kicks today, I thought he was useful. He wasn't just glued to the right flank all match. I spotted him in the center, up top, on the left. That's what he needs to do. It's very easy to mark a player that plays in one area of the field, but if he is constantly running around, different people will constantly have to pick him up. Eventually, someone will miss their cue, or he will open up space for somebody else. With Torres at right back, I'm so anxiously awaiting the return of Ramos or even newly, but pointlessly signed Arbeloa. He did not play well. foolishly gave up the free kick that lead to the first goal and fouled constantly. Madrid needs that Ramos energy back. The last individual performance I want to pick out of the crowd is Pepe. He was a mammoth today. I giant big defender. He gave no ground to anyone, picked up players, won headers and 1v1s, tracked back and frustrated Amuari all match. Pepe did scare me with the back pass that was picked off, but he and Metzelder quickly made amends. Superb from the Portuguese international today.

I've had enough of the individual stuff for now at least. Let's look at the game play. First off, the offsides trap seemed to be working. I didn't count the amount of time Juve were called off but it had to have been at least half a dozen. When Madrid were scored on so early, I was shocked, but wasn't going to remain so sour with 86 minutes still to play. I was right for the first half. Real Madrid looked the better team and even the most stubborn Juventus supporter's eyes. The possession was great. The quick fluent passes, the changes of directions, clever balls and fast pace was difficult to deal with. I quickly forgot about being a goal down and redirected my concentration to not if but when our equalizer would come. It came shortly before half with Raul drawing his penalty and Ronaldo fooling Buffon by easily placing the ball in the center of the goal from the spot. I was absolutely thrilled. This was the kind of football I had been waiting for, Real Madrid football, and it had finally arrived. Or visited should I say. The second half was a totally different story. The Merengue enjoyed the same type of play for about 10 or 15 minutes until one by one the wheels began to fall off the wagon. The scoring of Juve's second goal off the corner didn't worry me at first because I thought the squad would rebound the way they did so perfectly after the first goal but I was wrong. Panic mode set in and we got away from the basics and the possession. Without the ball, you cannot score (with the exception of fluke own goals). The wing play began to deteriorate and balls were being forced through the middle and over top. Those are mental errors. When los blancos needed to be patient they weren't and resorted to forcing it. The introduction of Higuain and Negredo did absolutely nothing for the team, both failed to make an impact or even be noticed at all. The game grew to be a little chippy and Lass always falls into that category when that happens but I was shocked at the tackle by Grygera in the closing couple of minutes that took Ronaldo out of action temporarily. The replay showed his standing tackle go studs well up into the number 9's knee and drag down his leg. It was very late. A yellow card was generous. Perhaps the Peace Cup isn't as peaceful as it may sound.

I would like to give me approval to both Camoranesi and Giovinco. I thought both were acceptional today. Very tidy, the two of them. Camernasi just created problems all match long and made Torres look a fool at times. Giovinco is young and has a lot to offer. He looks to be a promising player of the future.

I had a lot to say about this one. Hopefully you didn't need a water break to finish it. I will be looking forward to Madrid's trip to the States in hopes that they will not embarrass themselves against and MLS side but even more excited to see Kaka make his debut and the rest of the Confederations Cup players return.

R.I.P. Sir Bobby Robson

Viva el futbol y hala Madrid

Bobby

Kit Review 2009-2010

Preseason football is always difficult to judge with an entire season ahead. It's an arduous task to predict how a squad will fair in the season because so many things change. However, one thing that the team's are stuck with, whether they like it or not, is their kits. I've watched a lot of preseason football over the past couple weeks and have noticed, some good looking, interesting, and some shocking uniform design selections. What kit will sell and what kit will not? There are certain ones that make players look sharp. There is also a select few, that if put on a scarecrow, would be be mighty affective. Lets take a look.

Manchester United's Nike kits have caught eye with black a "V" like design on the center of their traditionally red jerseys accompanied by contradicting white shorts with a red stripe on the outside of the outfit. Most people I've spoken to said they think it's ugly. However, most people I speak too are anti-United people. Up until today, I thought United we're wearing their same away strip as last year. That would be kind of boring. However today online, I discovered the away shirt is the same pattern as the home strip only it is all black with an interesting blue "V" instead. I believe it looks a far cry better than the home jersey. Interestingly enough, about a week after the Owen transfer was completed the Manchester United Official store stated that they had 0 requests for his shirt. Maybe it was due to the fact that he had not been issued a number yet. Or maybe, just maybe, the fans don't accept the former Liverpool star.

Chelsea's home jersey's have been the criticism of many people. The Adidas template used for a lot of their 09/10 kits seems to be paneled on the chest with a tight collar with a line running down from the neck. A lot of people say they look like vests. The sleeves are shorter and smaller to give the shirt a snug look. It certainly is an interesting and caviller aproach. The Chelsea jersey that has people buying is the away kit. It seems to be a hit. The team was seen equipped with it in the World Football Challenge, which they won, in the United States. It has navy blue and black horizontal stripes with a light yellow trim, sponser, and numbers. It gives them an interesting look. It might top their highlighter away kit from two seasons ago.

Liverpool have gone expectingly classic with their home kit, the traditional red, nothing outragous. It suits the club very well. Their away kits have had people buzzing this summer. The black away kit seems to be very interesting. It's solid black with gold and red detail. Surely many people will be interested in it. Liverpool have sported it on their Asian tour already this summer. The other Liverpool away kit is solid white from head to toe. The only part that isn't white is the infamous "3 stripes" that Adidas lines their jerseys with and the black "L.F.C." on the socks. Surely on away strip will be used domestically and the other for Europe.

Arsenal too, have released their three Nike kits. The classic home jersey has taken hardly any dramatic changes from last year, but I for one am happy to see them rid their away jersey of the yucky yellow we all saw last season. The away strip is navy blue with pinstripes. It's an interesting look that seems to have paid off. It looks sharp. Their third jersey is white with pinstripes as well. I'm not sure which away kit will be used domestically or in Europe but a good look for the Gunners this season.

The new Everton home kit grabbed my attention. I haven't seen them play this preseason but I have seen pictures of their traditional blue with a long and narrow, white "V" from the neck down the front of the jersey. I don't know whether to like it or not at this point. Odd.

The Aston Villa home kit is their traditional colors but as in most cases, the away kit is what all the attention is migrating towards. Its simple really. All white with navy blue collar and sleeve cuffs. It looks like the stole Spurs' home jersey. The "acorns" sponsor remains. The body of the uniform has light pin stripes but the sleeves are blank. It seems to be growing on me though.

I just had to throw this in here. Newcastle's away kit? Give me a break! Like they aren't embarrassed enough that they are in the Championship, but to be fooling around away matches with a yellow and white striped jersey as well? It's pretty far out of the way to humiliate themselves when that's not a typical team color either. Just awful.

Spurs certainly have gone an interesting route this year, also implementing yellow into the equation. The yellow trim under the arm sure is bright, however I can see it working. When I watched them draw with Barcelona 1-1 in the Wembly Cup, the kit didn't look as rancid as it may sound. I did see the rest of the bench wearing all yellow tracksuits. That blurred my screen a little bit but the jersey might work for them. I'm no fashion expert, but for some reason I didn't hate it.

That's enough of the EPL let's jump over to Scotland real quick so I can let u know what the new Celtic away kit looks like. I'm not surprised because the home looks as it always does but talk about bumble bee for the away strip. All black with neon yellow/green hoops or horizontal lines on it with matching socks. It's a badass approach. It will be kind of embarrassing if they don't win wearing those jerseys. I wish them the best of luck and I might buy one cause my bug zapper broke.

Over in Italy, the Juventus home jersey seems to be as classic as always on the top. The zebra stripes with the yellow numbers. Nothing too crazy but they've got an interesting little short detail. Along the seams, there looks to be a thin black and white candy cane pattern that lines the outside of the short. It looks kind of cool. However, I'm not a fan of their away strip. It doesn't get any more boring than solid light grey. Has a diagonal black and white striped through the center but I'm not impressed. Nike did a dull job there.

I was really impressed with Inter Milan away kit. I saw them wear it in the World Football Challenge over the last couple weeks. It's solid white with a thick black and blue stripe that goes horizontally under the chest that the Pirelli sponsor goes on top of. The Italian crest sits in the middle of the jersey with the Nike and Internazionale logo on either sides of it. It has a small foldible collar and blue cuffs on the sleeves, but what made it really stick out to me was the big blue size of the number and names on the back. It really makes the jersey stand out. If your going to get one, get one with a name on the back. For the home jersey, you could probably create a picture in your head and be pretty close to what it actually looks like, classic Nerazurri. Well done Nike.

AC Milan kind of have a pop to their home jersey. The red and white stripes as always but the collar is what really makes it stand out. The collar is white. They too were in the Football World Challenge but are not having the greatest of preseasons considering they failed to make a difference here in the US and also fell to a Ribery-less Bayern Munchen. No trend is being broken with their away kits. One is solid white and the other is solid black. From what I understand the black one is the third jersey and will be used if there is no other alternative.

Despite, knocking Madrid out of the Champions League two seasons ago, I have always been a fan of Roma's colors. That trade mark cardinal red and the yellow orange just go together so well. It's rarely duplicated by any team. If you're a Roma fan who loves the tight sleeve look, than you won't be disappointed. Kappa created practically the same jerseys as last year except for the white which I really do like. It has their team colors in two bold stripes across the upper chest with an interesting red collar on it. Roma will once again be looking sharp next season.

Real Madrid. Being such a big fan and all I had to put off doing them toward the end so it didn't look like I was putting favorites first. However, I am very impressed with the new work. It's often hard to fail on the solid white home jersey. I watched a video on how they designed it this year and it has a little something extra. They've added a gold stripe that is seen on the sleeves and runs down the back. The collar is tight an old school. The team that designed the shirt also wanted to add a little history too it. It seems that on the opposite side of the Real Madrid crest there always is some other emblem of some sort. This year it is a Santiago Bernabeu stadium crest that looks like the stadium from above with E, S, and B (Estadio Santiago Bernabeu) artistically designed in it. The stadium logo appears on both the home and the away jersey. The away jersey is a deep dark navy blue with sky blue details. I've yet to see them wear it. The third jersey remains a mystery to me but I'm sure there will be one. There always is.

Over the past few seasons the Barcelona classic Blaugrana has decreased and decreased in stripes until last year where it was just half red and half blue. They couldn't decrease anymore this year so it's time to start over. The new kit is lined with plenty of stripes and has the Unicef on the front once again. The numbers look good in yellow as usual but its the away jersey that worries me. It's pink. Enough said. If the team has a repeat performance of last year it will be a kit for the ages, but if they fail to win trophies, its a little bold, and might be a kit to be forgotten. The image of Zlatan Ibrahimovic wearing pink just makes me laugh in a mental image but who knows. They say that only real men wear pink. Let's see if Barcelona are real men this year.

Valencia have dropped Nike as a shirt designer this season and have picked up Kappa, who sponsors AS Roma. The tight sleeves are noticeable for the side. The jersey is white with black sleeves. Certainly a different look for the Eastern Spanish side but it's about time something changed at the club. These are the jerseys that I've selected to review.

It would take me to about this time next year to do every jersey. If you have comments on jerseys I didn't look at or shouldn't look at, feel free to leave your comment. It's all in my opinion and I almost hope you disagree, so I can get some feed back here. Whatever the case may be, these teams have these jerseys for the next year, and we all need to get used to them.

Viva el futbol y Hala Madrid

Bobby

Real Madrid vs Liga Universitaria de Quito: 4-2

This was the performance I have been looking for this preseason with Real Madrid. I'm delighted at the result and even more so that we are into the Peace Cup semi-finals against a strong test being Juventus. There is a lot to be proud of in this performance but still a few key notes that worry me. Let's take a closer look.

There weren't many things that bugged me in this match but two or three sore issues stick out. Despite being held scoreless in the first half, I'm concerned to see Robben go off before the half time whistle. We all know how prone he is to injury. I wish him a speedy recovery. Benzema too, seemed to go off with a knock after being clipped fallowing a shot he took early in the second half. It seemed to be an impact injury rather than a strain or tear, but I worry anyways because he has been great in preseason for Madrid and looks promising for the upcoming campaign. In the first half more than the second half, I become angered when 50 and 60 yards ball hit out of their back third can find forwards over top or on the flanks of our defense. Now on the flanks, I don't care as much. If they're game plan is to launch missiles across the boarders into areas where Real Madrid can easily recover, let them. The balls that worry me or the one's that get over top and in behind the back line, I don't like. If the center backs want to force the forwards offsides, then step. If not, they better be tracking. It didn't happen often but against Juventus, we could be caught. The issue that even a blind man could see is defending set pieces. Dudek could do nothing about the goals but the rest of the team could have. Madrid have let up 3 goals in this tournament, all from set plays. We have the size. Pepe, Metzelder, Ronaldo, Gago, they aren't small. Put little Marcelo, Drenthe, or Lass, on the posts and let the big guys take care of big threats. Yes, the first goal scored against us was a bit unlucky with the unorthodox bike for a secondary cross, but nonetheless, a goal off a set play. The one player that seems to have worried me quite a bit in preseason is Higuain. I don't know if it's because he needs to get back in the swing of things from the off season but his first touch was very noticably off today as it was against Shamrock Rovers. I'm so used to stand out performances from him, that it seems wrong if I couldn't tell you if he was playing or not because he is making such a minuscule impact on the match. Again, it's only preseason. My faith in Higuain will not be conflicted because of 3 preseason matches but I'm anxious to see last seasons form surface again.

Let me first start off some positives with Gago. In the last few matches have really eaten him alive, saying their are better players Madrid have in the midfield than him and he gives balls away constantly, but I was impressed by his performance today. He looks a much better player when he just changes the point of attack and finds simple passes that keep our football flowing and moving. He is very good at that and could be of some value if he continues what he started today. He still is a little wild and reckless when defending but that can change as well. Much better today from him. The moment we have all been waiting for finally arrived today, and it will surely grab the headlines. Cristiano Ronaldo gets off the mark at Real Madrid. Okay, so the goal didn't come from a 40 yard lash, or a cheeky flick. It came from a penalty. However, he drew it himself in typical Ronaldo fashion, skinning two defenders and being fouled by the third. It seemed as if he provided the spark and set a tempo all on his own with the first goal. It goes to show what his performances can do for a team's momentum. He is a special player, but you don't need me to tell you that. Granero has played probably less than 90 minutes for Real Madrid total since he arrived last week but he is quickly becoming one of my favorites. He was there to clean up Ronaldo's rebound for the second goal, which he seemed just honored to score. For an absence at Real Madrid for 2 years, you can tell his madridista passion has always been with him. He really caught my eye against Al Ittihad because he was so composed with the ball at his feet and never tried anything he knew he couldn't do. Not to mention that cross bar blast had me dying for a second look. Today, he didn't fail to excite again with the goal of his own and the delicious corner ball he served in for Metzelder who glanced it in the top corner for goal number 3. I thought Salgado was going to find a rare goal when he made his triumphant run out of the back and continued into the box. Raul scooped the ball perfectly for him. He took it down on the chest but his rocket volley was sadly parried away with a great save from the LUDQ goalkeeper. Salgado was all over the place today. Quite a work ethic for 90+ plus minutes, defending pesky, crafty, Liga wingers and forwards all match. Pepe was nothing short of a beast today. He was simply an animal. A brick wall 1v1, and noting short of solid, almost grabbing a goal of his own there toward the end of the match. I was delighted with him today. Marcelo is beginning to resemble former Real Madrid Brazilian, Robinho, with his step overs and ability to penetrate the defense from the left. He does well offensively, but a little more to be desired on the defensive half of the game. Not a bad outing for his 90 minute performance either. The goal for every coach when he brings on substitutions he wants the play to increase and not drop. He got just that from subs, Negredo, Drenthe, and Lassana Diarra who combined for the fourth Madrid goal. Lass clipped the ball down the line for a scampering Drenthe who curled the ball low across the box for the oncoming Negredo to poke in from close range, marking his first goal for the club since returning from his loan spell. Madrid have scored 6 times this preseason with 6 different goal scorers, Benzema, Raul, Ronaldo, Granero, Metzelder, and Negredo.

Pellegrini has much to be pleased with. If I'm proud, he damn well better be too. And to think that he still has Kaka, Sergio Ramos, Casillas, and Raul Albiol at his disposal. I hope this marks the beginning of more good results. We'll find out when the squad meets an on form Juventus side on the 31st.

Viva el futbol y HALA MADRID

Bobby

Celebration Station

Some people say the best part about scoring is the celebration. We've witnessed some wild ones over the years. The goal celebration certainly has transformed from the the classic 70s, jump straight up into the air with both hands trying to pull down a couple stars out to the night sky. The celebration has become so popular that FIFA09 even added it into their game play, where as soon as you score, you continue controlling your player and select from a wide variety of dances and motions. It really adds an extra element to any game. There are all sorts of celebrations. I would like to just take this time to look over some of them.

So many celebrations end up at the corner flag now-a-days. Let's just hope you don't pick the corner flag where the oppositions fans are throwing missiles at you a jeering your hard earned goal. As a player myself, there just seems to be a gravitational pull that attracts goalscorers to the corner flag. I feel as if when I score, I effortlessly float in that general direction. Perhaps professionals do it to celebrate with their fans as we often see. For instance I, for one, have seen Inzaghi, as well as many others, hurdle over the advertising boards and right over to the supporters who at this point are dangling over the separation bars just to get a touch. It's nice to see a player who is so dedicated to his supporters. Another celebration that we see often but will forever remain a classic is the knee slide. When the field is nice and slick, the knee side is almost a garentee. It really is a tribute the the grounds keeper in my eyes. If he didn't keep such a luscious well maintained pitch, the goal scorer would have to leave the field because of the blood all over his knees. Fernando Torres did his own version in the 2006 World Cup when he finished it off by arching back and pointing to the heavens, which was then copied by his best friend Sergio Ramos last season. However the knee slide has been used by so many names, it would be impossible to name them all. How about acrobatics? Obafemi Matrins isn't afraid to put on a gymnastics display for the people. If you can do it, why not? If you can't, why embarrass yourself trying? So many of these talented athletes possess the skills to do cartwheels, flips, and all sorts of aerial tricks. Although once in a while we get someone who simply just fails in their moment of glory and lands flat on their nose, neck, back, or arse. When done correctly though, they are a thrill to watch. What is a celebration that is popular but frowned upon? Oh yes, the removal of the shirt. Now it earns players no less than a yellow card for their antics but it has been popular nonetheless. Lots of players find the celebration worthy of the punishment and do it anyway. Some players just take it off in the heat of the moment. When the United States Woman's National Team won the World Cup in a penalty shoot out over China in 1999, many people remember the scene of final penalty taker, Brandi Chastain, ripping off her jersey in celebration when winning the match for the US. Even Cristiano Ronaldo has done it, to the delight of every female watching. It is considered unsportsmanlike in the eyes of referees at this point in time. Which is odd because it IS sporting to take off one's jersey and exchange it with another player of the opposite team after the match concludes. Many players such as Cisse and Kaka have displayed messages on an undershirt expressing feelings for their family or their religion. At time's the shirt doesn't come all the way off, but leaving the arms in the sleeves and stretching the front of the shirt over one's head and running around blindly is another classic. Getafe of La Liga took that celebration even further this year. The team's shirt sponsor is Burger King. On the inside of the shirt is the mascot, "the king's" face. So when the shirt is pulled over the head, "the King" replaces the player's face. Now that ladies and gentlemen is creativity.

How about group celebrations? Yes indeed, they have those too. The nation of Senegal was loved for the celebrations in the World Cup 2002 in Korea/Japan. Every goal was fallowed by a team celebration. I remember a couple vividly. The player that scored took off his jersey and layed it on the pitch near the corner flag, soon joined by the rest of the team, they all began dancing around it. Another Senegal celebration that had me holding my stomach in laughter was after the goal was scored, the player ran toward the supporters, and got down on his knees. He was quickly fallowed by two others who put one arm around him and flexed with the other arms all brought together by great big smiles posing for pictures, priceless. A couple years ago when Real Madrid was made up of what seemed like 95% Brazilians, four of them, being Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos, Robinho and Julio Baptista, all laid on their backs and kicked their feet in the air. Do I know what that means? No, as many of celebrations are inside jokes thought up on the training ground at one point or another. I've seen it plenty of times and it never gets old. Rock the Cradle. Some players do it to signify a new bundle of joy in the family and some players just do it simply because it's a classic. The player runs toward the sideline and begins to swing their arms in a rocking motion, the rest of the team joins in an they all do it in unison. Great fun and thrilling to watch.

The footballing world knows every sort of culture, and where there is culture there is a cultural dance of some sort. Many Brazilians and Brazilian impersonators do the samba dance , made famous by Ronaldinho in his glory days. Everyone remembers the ridiculous dance Henry and Adebayor would do together after scoring at Arsenal. When asked about it, Theirry Henry said the only reason he uses Adebayor as a partner for the dance is because he is the only one that could do the steps. Kind of odd, but understandable in that respect. Enough with the humorous for right now. Football is a sport all about passion. There are certain things that fuel certain footballers. When Frank Lampard scored in the 2008 Champions League final, you could tell there was something more on his mind. He began a slow trot to the corner flag with both hands pointing the the heavens accompanied by a glazy shine in his eye. The goal undoubtedly was dedicated to his mother who passed away a couple of days before the match. The fallowing year in the 2009 version of that same final, Samuel Eto'o praised his father by smacking his forearm over and over on his trek away from the goal he just scored on. This symbolized that he used his father's blood to score that goal.

There are players that have really pattented celebrations. They have really made certain celebrations their own. Of course there are celebrations that will never belong to anyone, like the kissing of the ring finger, but some celebrations just belong to certain players. Alan Shearer has his trade mark one hand raised in the air with a open palm as he runs about the pitch. Ronaldinho coined the double hang loose hand jesters. I have a poster of Thierry Henry in my room of the air plane he made famous before he got so good he hardly had to celebrate. Los Blancos golden boy always points to the name on the back of his jersey. Everton and Austailia ace, Tiny Tim Cahill, always manages to give the corner flag a good bruising with a couple of K-O punches. Peter Crouch adopted the robot there for a spell but has seemed to abandon it to the dismay of so many fans that adored it.

So many celebrations that light up the pitch after goals, that it would be impossible for me to name them all. I would love to hear peoples comments on their favorite celebrations or maybe some that I left out. For now I've provided this video for you to watch on some celebrations. Enjoy.





Viva el futbol y Hala Madrid!

Bobby

Real Madrid vs Al Ittihad: 1-1

As a Real Madrid supporter it is important for me to be patient. A lot of people, me included, have to look at Al Ittihad as a guaranteed win for a prestigious side like Real Madrid. We had a starting line up, that in mid season form would put the Saudi side to shame with Ronaldo, Raul, Benzema, Sneijder and others. However, los blancos skidded into a pretty evenly matched 1-1 draw. I watched the game online and struggled to find a feed that satisfied me. Although my expectations are high because I'd love to see it crystal clear. I missed much of the first half. The lag was dreadful even for spells in the second but there are a few things that caught my attention. I'm only giving my opinion on what I saw, there was plenty I would have missed. So please feel free to comment and tell me what you think.

Once again, Gago frustrated me. As soon as I got the feed to start working, my first image of the match was Gago giving the ball away. I sighed in dispare but continued to watch. It's my opinion but I think there are so many more solid midfielders at the club, that Gago really shouldn't have a spot, yet he started the match. He was definitely the player marking the Al Ittihad goalscorer on the set piece, which seemed to be scored in a sloppy fashion. Just terrible marking in general. Of course, I can't blame the entirity of the goal on Gago. Lass was the player who gave away the free kick which lead to the goal. That leads me to my next point. I only saw the match in segments as you know, but out of the few short clips I saw, Lassana Diarra was a frequent fouler. I think he is a great player with a lot to offer and very technically gifted, but he is a sloppy reckless defender. He brings plenty of pace and creativity, but doesn't hold down the fort in front of the back line very well. As a holding center mid, I'd love to see him composed and solid. I can see why Pellegrini still wants Xabi Alonso because he can do just what Lass doesn't. He isn't to fancy, but a solid player who plays the role he is given very well. That is what Madrid has missed dearly ever since the knee injury last season to almost forgot Mahamadou Diarra. He really did that holding job well and was just a driving physical force behind midfield. Occasionally he got forward, but only when there was the opportunity, much like Yaya Toure at Barcelona. I would hate to see Lass out of the line up but he is certainly a different kind of holding center midfielder than what I am used to seeing.

Back to the match. Madrid's back line has been somewhat makeshift in their first preseason matches. I know Pellegrini is trying to find the right partnership at the center back positions and with the absence of one of my favorite players, Sergio Ramos, right back has been up for grabs as well. However, no matter which players are working together back there, the defending has been sketchy? If that is the correct word. Especially on the flanks, far to many balls AND players get in behind the back line and aren't always dealed with in a tidy manor. That worries me because Madrid might be able to get away with it against Shamrock Rovers and Al Ittihad, but against solid La Liga and Champions League sides the Merengue won't be so lucky. I continue to heap praise on Benzema who had the eye to find Raul for the goal. I'm not too impressed with Raul's finish but that's only because I already know he is capable of that skill and so many more. For what I could see, Ronaldo didn't have a typical Ronaldo performance but I'm not going to doubt his abilities as everyone knows what he can do, he just needs time to settle in. I didn't know much about Granero, who returned to Real Madrid earlier this week for a 2 year spell at Getafe. I was surprised he was in the squad list so soon, especially because it appeared he bumped Van der Vaart out , who played very well for me against Shamrock. I soon found out what kind of player he was. I liked him at a first look. He seemed to be composed, although he only had 15 minutes or so. He manage to almost break the cross bar from a whopping 35 or so yards out too. Even though Robben came on late I thought he provided a spart to the team, a new energy. He had a couple chances and really helped strengthen the attack. Well done on his part.

Real Madrid is a team full of new faces and faces that haven't returned yet from International duty. Even though I'm disappointed with a draw I can accept it. There are so many players that need to find out each other's playing style and the coach needs to find the right mixture and formation with so many options. I'm convinced they will be able to make it work. The season is still over a month away and it's just a preseason match. Greatness doesn't come over night and I know that. I'm patient and accepting and eagerly awaiting the next match in two days time. i hope he isn't one to make way for new players.

Viva el futbol y Hala Madrid

Bobby

Short Thought: Serie A, The New Ligue 1?

Up until just last season France's Ligue 1 was dominated by Olympique Lyonnais. It started to become rather boring, predictable, and less and less competitive. Lyon won the league seven years running until finally Bordeaux snatched the title out of their grasp in 2009. It seems as if Serie A is starting to take a similar path. Internazionale has won the Italian Scudetto four years in a row now. They have been a power house ever since Juventus was relegated for a match fixing scandal around four years ago now. Is this the season where someone takes their thrown? I'd like to hope so.

If there is such thing as an Italian "Big Four" is would most likely be made up of Inter, AC Milan, Juventus, and Roma. However, one of these teams always manages to miss out on the top four spots in Italy some how. They really have no excuse with the world class talent each team possesses. It was Roma who missed out on Champions League qualification this last season and Milan the season before that. I'm looking for the team that is going to really press on an Inter side that does not have an Ibrahimovic. If Eto'o for some odd reason can't find his finishing boots in a new league, Inter are going to be scrounging for goals elsewhere on their side. Balotelli? Maybe. It used to all run through the big Swede but in his absence, if the newest member of the Nerazurri is off form, there will most likely be room for someone to take a charge at the top spot. In all honesty, I find it hard to beleive that Roma will the side and with AC Milan losing Kaka to Real Madrid and Beckham to the Galaxy, young Pato has a lot of the load to carry on his shoulders. Ronaldinho should help with that work but that's what he doesn't like to do, work. Ronny is only 5'11 and is almost 180 lbs. I don't see him as a significant driving force in the team until he remembers in order for him to be affective, he needs to be fit, especially as an attacking center midfielder. He says he is looking forward to taking on a significant role this year, but in the preseason game against Chelsea, despite having an assist, Ronaldinho walked close 85% of the match in the eyes of a viewer. How about Juve, they have recovered nicely after being relegated to the Italian second tier not so long ago. With the signatures of Brazilians, Diego and Melo, the midfield should have new creative look to it (although Melo was unnecessary considering they already have Mohamed Sissoko). Amuari will be another threat as he was last year, with Vetran Del Piero, and Italian international, Iaquinta. Let's see if the Old Lady of Italian football can take Inter to the end of their dominance. Juve is the most decorated team when it comes to Serie A. They have the most with 27, 10 more than any other team that comes close. It is said that Internazionale and AC Milan fans hate each other but they hate Juventus even more.

Italian football has so much history to it. There are so many traditionally good sides and even more exciting players to watch. I would hate to see Inter Milan go on to win their 5th in a row because I'm already bored with them. I for one will be secretly pulling for Juventus under the table the season.

Viva el futbol y Hala Madrid

Bobby

Eto'o vs Ibrahimovic

The swap. Every time the transfer window is opened up to let the breeze of new players run through it to new clubs, there is talk of a swap between some major player for some other player of great caliber. However, none of these rumours ever come true, until now. Eto'o and 45 million for Ibrahimovic. Now all you followers and readers of FDLI know my feelings on Ibrahimovic and what he might be like at Barca already. Today, I'm going to compare valuable stats and then give you my opinion on who is losing out and who is making a steal in this swap.

We all know that both are goal scorers and pure center strikers but what sets them apart? How about even the little details? Let's pull these two apart. Eto'o, age 28, is one year older than Zlatan. Eto's is an athletic force by himself. I have money that says the Cameroon international takes the Swede in a foot race on any occasion. Eto'o is agile, swift moving. This could be why he was so vital to the Barcelona pass and move brand of football we all witnessed last year. As the center striker he was a focal point, checking to the ball and laying it back into the midfield then darting to another open space. Ibrahimovic is a different bread of human all together. He is 6'3 compared to the 5'11 Eto'o. He is definitely more of an air threat, but for being a big guy, he has deceptionally, tidy, (enormous) feet. It looks unnatural for his body shape but he is exceptional running at players. However, if Ibrahimovic is going to play the same role Eto'o did for Barca he won't be running at players because Barca likes to isolate the 1v1 battles on the flank for Messi and Henry. The real question is now does Ibrahimovic change his "I'm the star" playing style for Barcelona pass and move football or does the Blaugrana trade in their intricate version of possession football for a different approach. Even though last season's Catalan adored playing style won over the hearts of many, perhaps the change of style will fit more the personnel better at Barcelona this year? Ibrahimovic is a big man and his size can be useful in the penalty area. Messi and Henry can both beat players on the flanks and if they switched sides, could use their foot of choice to deliver high quality balls to a big target. Let's take a closer look of Eto'o at Internazionale. Ibra had plenty of room to roam at Inter. He often times had a striker such as Balotelli off of him but did a lot of the work himself. Can Eto'o handle the work load? Zlatan had the ability to create goals out of no where because he had so much practice in the Inter system doing so. Next season Eto'o wont have the likes of Messi, Henry, Xavi, and Iniesta to support him. He will have to connect with his striker partner Ballotelli or Julio Cruz, or hold the ball up long enough for the rest of the Inter attack to join the fight. I'm sure that Jose Murinho has considered all of this and is cooking up a formation that would suit his new look squad. He also has 45 million at his disposal due to the swap that he might use for this specific issue. Back to the stats, goals. Ibrahimovic scored 29 goals for Inter last season. Eto'o scored 34 goals for Barca. This stat favors the Cameroon international, but not just because he scored more goals. It's because he scored more goals in a more competitive league. Now sure Eto'o had the assistance of some of the best players in the world, but his work ethic attributed a lot to his success. For instance, take the goal he scored against Manchester United in the Champions League final. That's where Ibrahimovic would not have scored. Ibra is a great player but doesn't work ethic and lacks the pure athletic ability to be bulldozed but still toe-poke the ball past Van der Sar. A lot of this comes down to character. You can see how much every goal means to Eto'o after he scores. He gets very emotional, very intense, like there is something more than just him scoring a goal, a greater cause. Examples in games you might have seen, against Manchester United, against Real Madrid. When Ibra scores, the celebration is more of a "look at me" or "look what I did for you" approach. He is a very arrogant self centered player, based on the cockiness in some of his interviews. his attitude can be a potential problem. That simply will not fly at a very team orientated Barcelona. If Ibrahimovic can learn to curb his "me, me, me" ways and play like a part of a unit (much how Cristiano has to become part of a unit at Madrid), I predict he will become on of the best Barca signings in history. He will develop parts of his game he has yet to perfect and will really put his stamp on football. If not, the disruption could prove fatal for Barca and both club and Zlatan will be unhappy, probably leading to the transfer of a lower reputation Ibra in one or two seasons. On the other hand at Internazionale. If Eto'o can figure out Italian defending he will be a force to stop. He too will have to develop a part of his game that he never had to practice at Barcelona, simply using his pace to blow people out of the water. If he can play like everyone uses him on FIFA09, he'll be on the end of a thousand through balls and powering home goal after goal before the defenders can turn around to catch him. Maybe the African roots of both Eto'o and Ballotelli will find each other and they will make a powerful, fast, and strong partnership. Imagine marking the pair of them two all match long, exhausting. The one thing that Barca will have to worry about more than Inter do not is can Ibrahimovic due it on the big stage? He is so often criticized over his performances in Europe. Compare the performances of Eto'o and Ibrahimovic against the same Manchester United last season. Ibra missed a for sure goal chance in the second leg that should have put Inter through to the next round. Eto'o's credentials in Europe are of great significance, winning to Champions Leagues with Barcelona.

In the end who is getting the better deal? I would say Inter are for the time being. However, if Ibrahimovic becomes a sharing, selfless kind of player, he could be worth the Eto'o and 45 million. Because if Barcelona just bought Ibra for the 45 million and he became this player they are hoping he does, he would bump Eto'o out of a position and Barcelona would offload him for even more cash and he isn't at the club as if he was swapped anyway, but now they have more cash for him. It all depends on Ibra really. I doubt Eto'o will fail in Italy. He is too good of a player and will no doubt score many goals. So for now Inter have the better deal in my eyes.

Viva el futbol y Hala Madrid,

Bobby

Confederations Cup boosts U.S. Players' Credentials

The United States of America were not likely favorites in this summer's Confederations Cup. They over turned two early defeats a squeaked out their group that contained quality sides such as Italy, Brazil, and African threat, Egypt. The 3-0 win over Egypt in the last group stage match started the momentum for the Americans. I was so very proud to be represented in the semi-final against the number 1 ranked team in world football, but I, as everyone else, knew that Sam's Army had little chance of progressing. But, as it is often said, this is football and anything can happen. The 19 year-old Jozey Altidore and Fulham's Clint Dempsey each netted against the run of play and stunned the Spaniards. Spain's attacking power rained down on the Americans all match, but the defending was terrific. Onyewu, Howard, and company blocked and deflected every attempt that came a'knockin' on the door. The red, white, and blue went on to win the match 2-0 and send the Euro 2008 champions to the consolation third and fourth place match. No one had openly predicted the stars and stripes in the final, but unlike the match against Spain, American supporters remained a bit more optimistic this time around. Not exactly to the surprise but to the pure delight, the United States found themselves up 2-0 at half. Had the footballing world been turned up side down or were the planets aligned? Sadly the United States gave up 3 heart breaking goals in the second half and lost the final to the hands of the Samba Boys 3-2. Not every story has a happy ending as seen in the case of Zidane, but perhaps this tournament sent a message to the rest of the world. The United States has a long way to climb to be amongst the greatest footballing countries but could this have increased the interest in the talent produced in the States? It sure does seem that way.

American center back Oguchi Onyewu landed perhaps the biggest step in American history less than a month after the end of the tournament signing with Italian giants, AC Milan. What peeked the Milan-based clubs interested in the big defender? Perhaps in was his solid performance against the best in the world (at the time), Spain. The defender closed down and shut down the likes of this summers most unretrievable prize, David Villa, and Liverpool striking star, Fernando Torres. Onyewu had previously been playing a Standard Liege in Belgium. More clubs in Europe seem to be finding a place for American players nowadays. The starting typical starting line up for the US in the confederations cup consisted of only consisted of two MLS players, those being Donovan and Clark. However, Donovan, who has spent a spell in Germany at the beginning of his career, went back to play for Bayern Munchen on loan last season and looks to be gaining interest with Italian club, Livorno. Livorno's president said today that he is confident of the deal going through after Donovan's season ends with the LA Galaxy. The US have made developed Premier League stars such as Dempsey at Howard. Tim Howard was at the heavyweight Manchester United before transferring to Everton FC after being on loan there for the 2006/2007 season. He is the leader of the US team and a standout at Everton as well. Fulham have been more than pleased with Dempsey's showings over the last couple seasons, who has scored 14 goals in the past two seasons for the Cottagers. Dempsey's National Team teammate, Carlos Bocanegra was also at Fulham for several years before transferring to French outfit, Rennes. Jay Demerit, Onyewu's center back partner for much of the Confederations Cup is at Watford in England as well. These are only some of the stars that the US has been sending overseas. The majority of the tournament's roster was built on overseas players.

The Confederations Cup has given the American public something to look forward to next summer. The World Cup is less than a year a way now and if the US can put together similar performances in South Africa we can only expect bigger moves from more American players. Once again, proud to be an American.

Viva el futbol y Hala Madrid

Bobby

The Fall of Dinho

There is a footballer who revolutionized the game for a short time in our sport's history. He was unlike any other. I cannot accurately describe in words what his play meant to me. Foot skills were inspiring, blistering pace and agility, the mind of a genius. Always had a smile on his face, but passion for the game in his veins. He was a hero to all, a master with the ball, a demon on the pitch. Loved by all and hated by few, Ronaldinho Mania swept the globe. Nothing lit up a pitch like his horse-toothed smile. It's saying a lot for me when I consider a Barcelona player one of my personal heroes. Where did he go? He went from unbelievable, to untraceable. What happen to the favorite? I mean he is only 28 years old. He has plenty of career left. Did he run out of magic? Or does he just need to find it again? Four summers ago, Ronny was the Brazilian captain that lifted the Confederations Cup. This year he did not even make the squad list. Let's take a closer look of how he went from "the next Pele" to failing to even represent his country.

We all remember when the name Ronaldinho ruled the footballing world. Every little kid wanted his jersey, every celebration in a kick about was two hang-loose hand gestures, or a poorly imitated samba dance. Everyone wanted to be a dinho, but why? Simply because Ronaldinho was the coolest footballer around. He was an icon. He appealed to so many because of his freestyle, intricate, and tricky way he played the game. His flare caught the eye of billions around the globe. Ronny did things with the ball you wouldn't dare dream about doing in an actual game. Did he really juggle over handfuls of defenders? Yes. Nutmeg at least 5 or 6 players a match? Sure did. Catch the ball on his chest and walk out of a pack of opponents? Yeah, he did that too. What couldn't he do? He was a freak of nature; he had it all, speed, moves, and a smile that touched everyone. The world could not get enough. Ronaldinho arrived at FC Barcelona, the club that made him famous, in the summer of 2003 from Paris St. Germain. It is there where he began to shine, started to turn heads. He scored in his debut that summer in a friendly against AC Milan and from there on out he was golden. People quickly began to notice his quick feet and athletic abilities. He began to make real noise at the club the fallowing season. In 2004-2005, Ronaldinho and the Blaugrana won La Liga and he himself picked up the prestigious FIFA World Player of the Year (WPOY) award in December of 2004. One WPOY wasn't good enough for the Brazilian, seeing as he won it the next year as well. He was a circus act like performance. He continually bamboozled defenders and played in a way that dropped jaws in amazement. His selection of tricks included stepovers, back heals, flicks, rainbows, the famous elastico, and simply things you had just never seen before. Not only was he tricky, but affective scoring 32 goals in his first two years in Catalonia. It wasn't until 2005-2006, where Ronaldinho mania came into full swing. That year Ronaldinho lead Barcelona to win La Liga and the Champions League. Ronaldinho was simply incredible. He was a one man force wearing blue and red. He single handedly had 24 goals and 18 assists for Barca in that single season. Ronny received a standing ovation from the Santiago Bernabeu crowd that season when Barcelona thumped Real Madrid at home 3-0. How many players can say the fans of their arch rivals stood up to applaud their performance? He scored 2 of the 3 goals, both times slicing through the Madrid defense, virtually untouched. The season represented the pinnacle on Ronaldinho's career. What happened to him?

It’s now the beginning summer of 2006, where the world sits anxiously awaiting World Cup Germany. The media has a frenzy with Ronaldinho. They overhyped him again and again, claiming time after time, he was going to bring Brazil their 6th World Cup triumph. The expectations were so high for the Brazilian to try an live up to. Especially since all of his opponents new all about him at this pint, and were sure to double, even triple team him, and on the national team he wasn't as free to roam where ever he liked on the pitch and had more of a midfielders role to play than a goal scorer. Opposition's mentality was shut down Ronaldinho, then Brazil. He was walking around with a big red target on his chest. Brazil made an early tournament exit, falling in the second knock out round to France where Zidane stole the talent show in the midfield from the Brazilian. After Thierry Henry put France up 1-0, Ronaldinho had a handful of chances to put Brazil level, from trademark "number 10" free kick positions. None were converted and Brazil left Germany empty handed. Ronaldinho's stats for the tournament read: 5 games started, no goals scored, and 1 assist. He was to many the disappointment of the World Cup, and he seemed to know it too. The season fallowing the World Cup seem to be going all right for Barcelona, they were winning La Liga and were 12 points clear of Real Madrid who were second. However, they gifted their rivals the trophy with a series of bad results and lost out to los blancos on the head-to-head rule, losing to Madrid at the Bernabeu and, drawing with them at home 3-3. The next season looked even worse for Barcelona as they finished in 3rd, 18 points astray of Real Madrid who won the title for the second year in a row. Ronaldinho's performances had been noticeably deteriorating for some time now. His magic was found only on occasion, and the majority of his goals came only from free kicks. His morale obviously down, over the last two seasons. Naturally Barcelona fans grew increasingly impatient and upset. If Ronaldinho brought them trophies, he's the reason they are not coming in now. At the time, Barcelona coach, Rijkaard, said there was a lack of motivation at the Nou Camp after so many successes in the years previous. There also seemed to be team chemistry problems involving Samuel Eto'o, Ronaldinho, and Rijkaard himself. The Cameroon striker finally came out and said publically "If I was called Eto'odinho, I would have won the Balon d'Or." Ronaldinho missed training sessions often, supposedly in the gym. He began to put on the pounds. Ronny was no longer his former, slender, muscular self. His waistline grew larger and many began to question his off pitch activities. Barcelona and Brazil teammate at the time, Edmilson spoke of Barcelona's "black sheep" claiming the character in question would only make about a third of the training sessions and spent his late nights out partying and enjoying Barcelona's night life. Partying seemed to always be an issue as Luis Fernandez, Ronaldinho's boss at PSG, complained that the Brazilian was too focused on partying in Paris and his Brazilian holidays never ended on time. He had been pulled out of a pair of matches under mysterious circumstances late in his Barca career. All this angered the club who refused to protect him from the public. It was Ronaldinho's own fault he was in these situations, and his teammates and club were the ones suffering for it. Finally Ronaldinho could escape from all of this Eastern Spanish chaos, with a bid from Milan. The Brazilian jumped on the deal right away hoping to regain a sense of self and football in a new destination. He completed the €21 million deal to the Italian giants. He was met by thousands of adoring fans. This look to be a new start for the Brazilian. The number 10 was already in use by Clarence Seedorf so he chose the number 80 because he was born in 1980. It was a new look Ronny. He seemed to be a hit with Milan, not quite his former self but making an impact in the Serie A, until he there too started to fall out of favor. Milan had so many attacking options, it was difficult to break in and stay in amongst Kaka, Pato, Inzaghi, Seedorf, Pirlo, and Ambrosini especially when Ronaldinho hadn't captured the form he once knew. When Milan finalized the Beckham loan, Becks was a hit, immediately grabbing a first team spot and pushing the Brazilian Ronaldinho further down the bench into despair once more.

This season things could be looking up for Ronaldinho. I sure hope that's true. What a miracle it would be to see those performances of several years ago back on football's main stage. Ronaldinho admitted this is a chance for him to regain what he has lost. Beckham is back at the LA Galaxy and Kaka has transferred to Real Madrid, leaving spots for him to jump into and impress the Milan new coach, Leonardo Nascimento de Araujo, another Brazilian. Ronaldinho and AC Milan took on the LA Galaxy in a preseason match last week where Dinho's performance earned him the Man of the Match award. I for one will be pulling for the return of the great Ronaldinho. It seems unlikely but this is football and I won't rule anything out. His performances will forever live on.

Viva el futbol y Hala Madrid

Bobby

Short Thought: Posh Pompey

Manchester City are trying to find the right code to crack the "Big Four" by embarking on a spending spree due to the tremendous funds that have been pushed across the table at the club by owner and billionaire Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Everyone is beginning to accept the fact that the blue side of Manchester will be a threat to for place in Europe next season. Would you ever imagine Portsmouth have a similar future? A Dubai business man by the name of Sulaiman Al Fahim has completed his take over of Portsmouth FC and will no doubt inject absurd funds into the team's budget. Al Fahim is no doubt a rich man. He was keen on trying to take over Chelsea from billionaire, Roman Abramovic not so long ago. Does it occur funny to you that we could see big names at Pompey in the future? Can you imagine Leo Messi wearing the Portsmouth strip? It seems rather comical. What effects do these kind of big money moves do to other clubs around the League? Take Everton for example. In the last handful of season the Toffees have challenged for place in the UEFA Cup, and scratching at the door of the Champions League. They have done all of this without loads of cash; they've done it the hard way. They have fought their way through every season. Now, I don't know what it means to the rest of you, but it seems a little unfair to me that a hardworking team like Everton will most likely get pushed out of these positions they have traditionally earned because clubs like Portsmouth and Manchester City have had billionaire's by their clubs. The Premier League is becoming a new game, a game run by finances. Is it a reality that in order for an EPL club to succeed in the future, they will need cash? What will happen to the clubs that don't develop take over deals? Will we slowly see them drip from tier to tier? Is it possible for them to grow and develop enough talent to match the clubs with all the stars due to their deep pockets? Do clubs like Villa, Everton, West Ham, and Tottenham stand a chance without the cash current running through other clubs? Will it be a race to attract the interest of the richest people in the world to buy clubs? Where is the EPL headed? It's an interesting thought...

• Viva el futbol y Hala Madrid

Bobby

Real Madrid Player Ratings VS Shamrock Rovers

Real Madrid kicked off their preseason with a 1-0 win over Irish outfit and host, Shamrock Rovers. Rovers played a match full of enthusiasm and were difficult to break down in the final third. They were lively and high spirited going into the dressing room at half time 0-0. It wasn't until the last few minutes that Real Madrid's new signing, Karim Benzema, who was introduced to the match at half time, scored a much deserved goal to put los blancos up 1-0. I'm rating the Real player's performances 1-10, ten being the best. I don't dish out high numbers easily and consider myself a tough grader. Those who earn eights, nines, and tens really have something to be proud of. I rank every player according to their standards and how they played in the match, mentally and physically.

Jerzy Dudek: 8. Dudek, in the absence of Casillas, really stepped up and played a solid 90 minutes he often times does not receive during the season. He had a clean sheet, which for any keeper is something to be pleased with. Although a little adventerous on the crucial save he made when Van der Vaart gifted the ball through for a breakaway opportunity, it was affective. He needs to be more control of his box. For example, the corner situation which saw a headed ball loop toward the far post, that he left for Negredo to clear off the goal line, but a great performance nonetheless.

Miguel Torres: 6. He certainly did him self no harm at right back yesterday. He didn't do himself a great deal of standout favors either, but was hard working and solid defending. I would like to see him get more into the attack. Ronaldo was the winger in front of him, often drifting into the middle, leaving the right flank wide open. He should use that space more often.

Pepe: 7. We always see our fair share of shakey Pepe moments. However, yesterday, he kept them to a minimum and was solid standing up defenders 1v1. The back line needs a lot of work though. Far too many times for my liking, they would be breached at center back.

Metzelder: 7. Partnered with Pepe in the first half, Metzelder put in a pretty convincing performance. He was affective on the double team and didn't try to do anything out of his element, but again it concerns me when Shamrock Rovers can get in behind the back line on one or two occasions.

Marcelo: 7.5. I like Marcelo has a left back rather than a winger. He has winger like qualities as we saw him beat his defender and have the first legit crack on goal but he was also on cue defensively. At times he looked to have no where to go with the ball but that's not entirely his fault.

Lass: 5.5. I'm used to seeing better performances out of Lass. He played with great pace and played well in combinations but sometimes played too quickly, giving the ball away on occasions. He needs to slow it down a little bit. The French midfielder can get a bit too adventurous at times, getting him and the back line into trouble.

Gago: 3.5. Gago was my moan of the match. I feel as if Madrid does not get enough out of him. If lass was the holding of the two center mids in the 4-4-2, was Gago the attacking? He is young and still has to develop but gives the ball away far too often. If he is going to be a top notch center midfielder he needs to create more. His work ethic is great but he is wild and needs to control himself defensively, charging around at full speed when Madrid don't have the ball. A bit clumsy and sporadic. He needs work.

Guti: 6. Guti worked well in combination play but often times gave the ball away when playing in tight spaces. He is going to need to do more if he really wants to establish his place on this new look Madrid. He came close on a first half shot he took and placed a great through ball that Higuain misjudged and could not get onto the end of but we need to see more creativity from him

Ronaldo: 6.5. Not a typical blinding performance from Ronaldo by his lofty. Everyone is being hard on him because he failed to score goals but I think he has a lot of positives to take away from the match. He played more as part of a unit when with Madrid. Lots of touches when he received the ball but often passing and moving, opening up space for others. He wasn't spectacular on free kicks, missing and hitting the wall. He found Raul wonderfully in the box before late in the first half and scuffed a shot of his own but the look like warning shots for what's to come.

Raul: 6.5. The "Golden Boy" did well to find the ball, checking deep into the channels to dig it out of Madrid's own half. Raul linked up well with the midfielders. He didn't have his usual finishing touch about him, blocked when Ronaldo found him in the box. He did well with a header from some ways out but didn't look like scoring.

Higuain: 4.5. He should have done better, and I expect better.. He looked a bit off his rhythm. He played decently linking up with the midfielders and Raul at times but just seemed to be off a step from the off season. Perhaps shaking off some rust, the final ball often failed with him.

Salgado: 5.5. Picked up a stupid yellow for diving in a friendly. He played tidy offensively for the most part. He did well to get forward but worried me defensively a bit. Often the Rovers attack, which was clever at times in the second half, broke down his side of the defense.

Garay: 6.5. Showed nothing spectacular, but didn't play badly at all. He gets the ball forward and plays quickly. He didn't look as solid as Pepe or Metzelder but he is still getting used to the new club. At times, as in the first half, he as well as other center backs, were made to chase toward their own goals when rovers were on a counter attack.

Hienze: 6.5. For some reason Hienze always worries me, but yesterday he played alright. He was at center back apposed to left back. For the player he is, I think that center back is a better fit for him. He played a similar match to the rest of the center backs but as a veteran i expect more out of him and to take control over an out of the ordinary back line.

Drenthe: 7. If you would have asked me if I thought Drenthe would have earned a 7 at pre-match yesterday, I would have said no. He impressed me. His work ethic was good. He was on defensively as well as offensively, up and down the left wing all half long. He seems to be regaining some confidence that he lost last season. He was caught out a few times defensively but used his pace to make up the ground effectively.

Parejo: 8. I was extremely impressed with this youngster. At 20 years old trying to break into a star studded Madid team is difficult but he really made a claim. He helped run the midfield. He never did anything to outrageous, keeping it simple and changing the point of attack. He worked hard and popped up everywhere, filling in holes and connecting possession spells. Hopefully there is more to come. Well done!

Van der Vaart: 7.5. Despite the horrific give away that almost put Shamrock Rovers up 1-0 on a breakaway, I very much liked Rafael Van der Vaart's performance. He was an engineer in the midfield. He linked up well and stirred up plenty of trouble. His over head kick was delight to watch but he is really showing Juande Ramos and Bernd Shuster what they were missing out on last year. Good performance.

Sneijder: 7. He started very well and injected pace and creativity into the game. The commentators took the words right out of my mouth when they mentioned he had been deliever cutting passes that reeked havoc for the Rovers back line. He often fancied himself on the dribble when a simple pass would suffice, but not bad from Sneijder at all.

Marcos Tebar: 5.5. Not a lot is known about Tebar. He came on for Lass about 15 minutes into the second half. Never really made an impact or put his stamp on the game. There was much to be desired from his performance. He seemed a bit nervous and gave away a handful of balls.

Negredo: 7.5 A good performance from returning Negredo. He showed goal scoring ambition as a forward with a good attempt on a volley and tried to curl one in as well. He even cleared a ball of the line on a corner. He had a good work ethic and I think he deserves more than just one look, even with all the talented strikers at the club. Good work.

Benzema: 8.5. Clearly the man of the match and not just because he scored either. He was everywhere. Benzema was a hard man to mark and worked for his chances that he earned a handful of in the second half. Perhaps, unlucky with the volley off the post. He was hardworking and a key part of combinations, he found space for himself and found his first Madrid goal which was pretty and well deserved. As a forward, he seemed to be lively and active, constantly moving and finding areas to cause defenders stress.

Man of the Match: Benzema
Moan of the Match: Gago

Madrid have a lot to work on to live up to high expectations as Shamrock Rovers, much respect to their performance, should have been an easier win. Pellegrini is still toying with tactics. He decided to go with a 4-4-2 with a condensed midfield, leaving wing play mostly to the ouside backs, especially on the left. Did anyone else notice the absence of Robben? I don't remember reading an injury report. Madrid's next match is against Al Ittihad at the Bernabeu a week from today as the Peace Cup gets fired up.

Viva el futbol y Hala Madrid

Bobby