Tuesday, August 31, 2010

The Return Of The King


AC Milan, last-minute signings, and rough starts for the favourites...




Once upon a time, in the nineties, AC Milan was considered the best football club in Europe. This season, after a clever (and lucky) recruiting period, having signed big names like Robinho and Zlatan Ibrahimovitch, the Rossoneri have all the tools to regain their spot at the top. With great reputation, comes great opportunities in the transfer market. If Nesta can stay fit for 30 or so games, and Pippo Inzaghi keeps his current form (he scored the goal of his career last week), Ronaldinho and company may well bring us Milan fans back to the time of Donadoni and Van Basten (picture).


Today was the transfer window's deadline. Some reshuffling has happened in Europe, and we look forward to laughing at managers for their awful judgment.

Last weekend, Barça started the season where they left off, with an easy win, Mourinho drew in his first game as boss of the Galacticos, and Rafa Benitez is trying to destroy a second club in a row. Inter Milan were held scoreless on their opener.
Who will Pep Guardiola use as a defensive midfielder, now that he signed Javier Mascherano?
Please let me know what you think.

The German Champions lost to a newly-promoted side last friday. The curse on the top sides seems to be happening in France as well, as l'OM, l'OL, and Bordeaux are still at the bottom half of the Ligue 1 table after 4 matchdays.

But no worries in France, because Laurent Blanc's Les Bleus have completed their rebranding (new coach after the World Cup), by finding the new face of the team. Florent Malouda (who was tipped by Blanc as a potential Captain), in fine form with his club Chelsea, represents the new hope of the nation, (after the WC episode they call "The Bus Of Shame"). He reportedly showed up first at the French National Team call-up for the international week, an hour and a half before the deadline. The media loved it. Big deal!

Someone should start asking questions at Arsenal's fitness department. They never have all their stars fit at once in a season. Hmm...fishy.

And finally, in Portugal, I'm beginning to believe more and more that the last-minute Nani injury at the WC wasn't real, and that people (Carlos Queiroz) are covering a bigger story. Or that Queiroz needs anger management classes.

There are international friendlies on Friday, Saturday and next week. You know what to do if you're bored.




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