Chelsea to swoop for Unneeded Trio

Chelsea only really made one notable signing this summer. That being Russian international Yuri Zhirkov who looked to be useful against AC Milan (but who hasn't) in the preseason World Football Challenge in the United States, scoring the winner in the Blue's 2-1 victory. Of course they have Sheva back from his loan at Milan. However, everyone at Stamford Bridge would rather pretend he just didn't exist. Pizarro has returned as well. After failing to impress in his last stay at Chelsea, he was shipped off to the Bundasliga on loan where he was a goalscoring hit with Werder Bremen. Recent reports have seen Chelsea finally make 3 massive swoops in the transfer market. It's a bit late in the summer for huge transfers but it's never too late when you have the money of Roman Abramovich behind you. According to Goal.com Chelsea has their eye on three potential new blues. Who are they and how would that affect the current squad? Let's take a look.

Before I get started, I think that Chelsea look fine as it is. They have so many solid and high class players that I don't think signing anyone else is necessary because then someone big is going to have to take a pine role, be upset and want a transfer when it's to late, disrupting the flow I already believe the team possesses. However, I'm not the boss, or owner. The first target rumored to be wanted by the West London club is Atletico Madrid's heavily sought after Sergio Agruero, a forward. The club seems to be making way for him by loaning out promising young Di Santo to Blackburn. Di Santo scored his first goal for the Chelsea in the World Football Challenge only a few weeks ago. Aguero looks to be a coveted prize but with Drogba, Anelka, Pizarro, Sheva, and a returning Joe Cole, is he really that necessary? The young Argentine is only 21 years of age and has plenty of time to grow. I don't think Chelsea need him quite yet with no real exits. Manchester United have also been interested in the youngsters services, and Sir Alex continues to heap praise on him but has yet to make his move.

A deal that seems all but out in the open is Andrea Pirlo to Chelsea. AC Milan president said the move would shock him if it happened. However, recently when Pirlo was asked about the Chelsea move by the press he just said he had nothing to say. Is he hiding the fact that he is leaving? It wouldn't surprise anyone if he fallowed Carlo Ancelotti to Chelsea but again, do they have the room for him? Everyone knows the midfield at Chelsea is bolstering already. As read in Managerialism 250 coaches tend to like to bring in players of their own nationality and one thing that Chelsea don't have a lot of is Italians. Nonetheless the club already has Lampard, Ballack, Essien, Mikel, Deco who already play in the center of midfield. Perhaps Ancelotti rates Pirlo better than some of the players he already has, but for a center midfielder, Pirlo hasn't scored from open play in over a year. Think to yourself where you might put him. It's difficult isn't it?

The last but I believed to be the most unlikely, however most useful in Chelsea's case, is Franck Ribery. Why is this unlikely? Clubs such as Manchester United and especially Real Madrid have been trying to get their hands on him all summer. Real Madrid are rumoured to have put in a bid greater than the one they put in for Ronaldo but it was still turned down. The Chelsea triple swoop we are analyzing right now was said to be only £100 million for all three of these players. Roman has the cash, but what has been reported on Goal.com just wouldn't be enough to lure Franck away from the tight clutches of Bayern Munchen. If he somehow did land at the bridge, he would be a good winger option. I certainly think he is more useful than Belletti, that's a given.

I'll be interested to see how this plays out over the next couple days, and remaining weeks in the transfer window. Do I see Chelsea grabbing all 3? No way. The most likely to go I believe is Pirlo. What the Chelsea boss plans on doing with the side after that is a mystery

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

Derby Day

When there is more on the line than three points, when the opposition's supporters sing insults at your team in unisen, when the whole world stops for 90 minutes to watch two teams duke it out for battle scars and bragging righst, we have a derby on our hands. Not just any derby, I'm talking about the best of them. I'm talking about the matches that turn all heads torward the same pitch. The matches grandparents tell children about. A match for the ages, instant classics, changes in power, and legendary goals. Only a couple derbies in the world possess these kinds of powers. I'm here with 3 of my favorites to break them down, throw out a little history, and guess who is coming out on top this year.

AC Milan vs Inter Milan
Did this feud start because the two sides are in the same city or is their something more to this derby? Well for a matter of fact, there is. AC Milan was originally founded by British imigrants just before the turn of the century in 1899. At the time, only English players could be part of the club (maybe this is why Beckham was such a hit). Obviously, being an Italian based club, that infuriated many people. Protesters had enough of the all English nonsense and formed Internazionale, which is more commonly known as Inter Milan. The two clubs have been at it ever since. They have met 270 times when including all competions. The results are as fallowed. AC Milan have 106 wins, Internationale has 92 wins, and the side has drawn 72 times. For now, the Rossoneri, which translates to red and black, have the slight edge over their cross town rivals in derbies but who is more successful? Last season was a staple for the Nerazurri (black and blue) as they clinched their 17th league title, one more than rivals AC Milan has in their history. They are even on Coppa Italia's at 5 but AC Milan has really out-done Inter in Europe. The Rossoneri has totaled 7 European Cups, second only to Real Madrid, compared to Inter's 2. So yes over the course of history, letting the European Cups be the deciding factor, AC Milan has been better overall. Of course Inter could make the protest that they were established 9 years after Milan, but their was no European Cup between 1899 and 1908 and if their was it would be a bold statement to make saying they would have won it 5 times in 9 years. I didn't say it was impossible cause we've seen crazier things, but unlikely nontheless. Both sides play in Milan's famous San Siro. It is an awefully tense atmosphere at the derby I wouldn't dare say both teams are playing at home. It's more of both teams are playing away. Milan's most hardcore supporters, Fossa dei Leoni, are found at at the infamous "Gate 17", or more commonly known as "The Lions Den." Inter fans are known as the Boys SAN. One way to look at it is, Milan is the Red, Inter is the Blue, and they are fighting over the Black. Let me tell you the tale of Mazzola vs Rivera. Sandro Mazzola was an Internazionale playmaker in the 1960s. Gianni Rivera was the same sort of player but for Milan at the same time. Milan had tremendous success during this time. However, there still seemed to be a kind of rivarly between the clubs over which player was better. They hardly ever played side by side for the Italian National team, often being substituted for one another. National team coach Ferruccio Valcareggi started Mazzola over Milan's Rivera, depite his nickname "Golden Boy," in the 1970 World Cup Final against Brazil. Italy lost the match 4-1 to Pele and company and Rivera did not appear until the 88th minute. It is said by many if Rivera would have been in the place of Mazzola, Italy would have another star next to the national team badge. In recent years the Milan Derby, also known as the Derby della Madonnina, has been pretty even. The last 5 meetings between the clubs have issued out one draw and two wins a piece. What should we expect from the next derby? There have been dramatic changed at Milan this summer, losing a coach of 8 years in Ancelotti, Beckham, reuturning to the L.A. Galaxy and Brazilian Kaka to Real Madrid. Inter have strengthened their team with Bayern Munchen's Lucio. However, as of the last week, Ibrahimovic has been linked with Barcelona. Over the last four years Inter has been the stronger team overall. If I had to predict a winner I'd go with the Nerazzurri.

Real Madrid vs Barcelona

Where do I even begin when it comes this bloody affair? Catalonia vs the mainland Spain. As a Madridista, I'm going to do my best to state the facts and stay away from biasness. You can trace this rivalry back to when Spain was run by dictator Francisco Franco from 1939 to 1975. Franco frowned up Eastern Spain's region of Catalonia. He was stubborn and wanted Spain to be a united country. Because the Catalonians had their own language and a seperate culture than the rest of Spain, they were a target for Franco's criticism. The Catalan's often liked to support their way of life through football at Barcelona. Barcelona adopted the motto "Mes que un Club" which translates to "more than a club." Franco supported Real Madrid. Of course, being in Madrid, there is a pretty good chance you are a Real Madrid fan. They are one of the most supported clubs in the world. Nowadays, just under half of the entire Spanish population supports Real Madrid. In the early 1930s Catalonia along with a few other regions wish to exercise their right to autonomy, to stand as individuals, which started the conflict that enventually lead to the Spanish Civil War. They formed the C.E.D.A. (Confederacion Espanol de Derechas Autonomas). The dictator's goal was to fight for the country of Spain and bring all of its people back together under one language, one rule, on identity. The Republicanos headed by Franco, were supported by Mexico and the Soviet Union. The Nacionales, supporters of the rebellion, and C.E.D.A were teamed with Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany. In the end, in the year 1939, Franco's Army over took Catalonia. The Catalans have never forgiven the capital for this. Catalonia had the right to autonomize by law, but the government wanted to unite it's people under one powerful regime. Despite having a dictator in the Spanish Capital, the influence of anarchism and communism that appears in Spains history started primarily in Catalonia. Presidents of both Real Madrid and Barcelona suffered losses at the hands of the nacionales. Both sides, in a way, were fighting for what was right, just not what the other wanted. This feud started one of the greatest football derbies of all time, El Clasico. The two sides have met a total of 158 times. Stats stand with 68 wins for Real Madrid, 60 wins for Barcelona, and 30 draws between the two. Los Blancos or the Merengue have performed ever so slightly better in El Clasico but the rivary does not stop there. The Copa del Rey has been dominated by the Blaugrana. They have 25 compared to Madrid's 17. However, Real Madrid has been more succesful in the league, claiming 31 to Barca's 19. Barcelona took down what was said to be one of the greatest sides ever, last season's Manchester United in the Champions League Final, when they went on to be the first ever Spanish side to win the treble. Barcelona have tallied up 3 European Cups in their history, 2 in the last 4 years. Real Madrid have the most European Cups of any team at 9. The most recent arriving in Madrid in 2002. Remeber earlier in the artical when I mentioned "crazier things have happened" when I noted the possibility of Inter Milan winning 5 European cups in 9 years? Well this is one of those crazier things. Real Madrid won the very first 5 European Cups back to back. Helping them triumph was Real Madrid great, Alfredo Di Stefano. The Argentine born player is often disputed because he originally signed for both clubs, finally choosing Real Madrid. Bad blood remains between these two sides to this very day. One of the most controversial transfers ever in football occured in 2000 when Portugese winger, Luis Figo, transfered directly from Barcelona to the capital. In a recent FourFourTwo interview, Figo said that Barcelona and him had no problems except for the fact that they did not want to pay him a fair ammount of money. He said Barcelona thought he was joking about transfering to Real Madrid. Obviously not as the winger made the move and enjoyed many successes at the Bernabeu. He was greeted at the Nou Camp by having a pigs head thrown at him from the stands when Barca hosted Real Madrid the next season. If you are looking for a prediction out of me here you won't get one. The match is almost impossible to predict at this given time, but as a Real Madrid supporter, I'll be behind los blancos at all times.

Paris St. Germain vs Olympique Marseille

This rivalry doesn't date back decades in history. It's not really that old at all. I mean Paris St. Germain or better known as PSG were only established in 1970. There is no massive, violent, political conflict or an exclusive club only kind of deal either. So what causes such a stir up between these two sides? This hatred is simply football related. In the 1988-1989 season, the two teams were tied at 70 going into the last match day. Their opponents? Eachother. The match was even at 0-0 up until the last five minutes of play when Marseille's Franck Suazee slammed one home with a blast from outside the area giving Marseille the title. That title was the first of five in a row for OM (although the 5th of which was stripped for a scandle). The Paris based club was crushed. I could never live down a loss like that and they haven't either. The rivalry is often times violent when supporters get to into it. I remember several years back, one of of the teams bus was attacked and a player said he had feared for his life. I watched the derby a couple years ago on TV and Marseille sent their reserves and youth players to play the derby to ensure the safety of their first team footballers. The game ended in a draw and the PSG fans were not best pleased. Violent crowd stories plague this football match, and it looks like they always will unfortunately. The two rivals have met 71 times and have been fairly evenly matched. OM has 28 wins, PSG has 25 wins and there are 18 draws between them. However, Marseille's history topples the Paris based club. OM has 8 leagues to PSG's 2, 10 French Cups to PSG's 6, and 1 European cup to PSG's 0. In all fairness to the Parisian club, Olympique Marseille was established 73 years before PSG. Paris St. Germain enjoyed some fun against Marseille with Brazilian Ronaldinho, before the PSG coach Luis Fernandez claimed Ronaldinho was too into the party life and his Brazilian holidays never ended when he thought they would. After two years with the club, Ronaldinho left for Barcelona. Marseille have traditionally just been all around better than PSG, and even though I fancy the Paris based club over the South of France's OM. The light blues have a stronger side and should handle PSG this year in the Classique.

Those are some of my favorite derbies. I hope you enjoyed them as much as me. Lots of history comes along when football is in a conversation. Never forget where we came from but let us strive for a brilliant future.

Viva el futbol y Hala Madrid

Bobby