2008-09 Serie A Table Prediction

… the title, but reaffirm her place amongst the big clubs.
4. Milan - I’m not convinced Ronaldinho and Andriy Shevchenko are particulalrly clever signings. Good for selling shirts, but not necessarily so good on the field. Can Ancelotti organize an attack around both Kaka and Ronaldinho? Can Shevchenko remember how to play football? We’ll have to wait and see. But with quality Serie A campaigners like Pirlo and Gattusso and the exuberance of Alexandre Pato, Milan should still …

Excerpt: … not convinced Ronaldinho and Andriy Shevchenko are …

Man City Want Thierry Henry, Mark Hughes Just Wants Some Kompany

There was always something fishy about Man City’s pursuit of Ronaldinho. It didn’t feel quite right, I think for two reasons: 1) He was never really going to join, and 2) The plan to sign him up seemed to be based on his big name status, rather than what he was capable of offering Citeh on the field. Did he fit into Mark Hughes gameplan? Who cares, he’s famous!
As we all know, Ronnie went to Milan and not Manchester. But - despite Thaksin …

Excerpt: … pursuit of Ronaldinho. It didn’t feel quite …

Worst Transfer Window Ever, and Premier League Wealth is to Blame

… end of August and so far… almost nothing has happened. Robbie Keane has gone to Liverpool. Ronaldinho made his bargain move to Milan, and Rafael van der Vaart went to Madrid. And that’s about it.
The Premier League has even extended the window by 24 hours to the end of September 1st. Either because they want to give teams time to actually get some business done, or because they’re just plain mean and want everyone to suffer through an extra day.
It’s not just …

Excerpt: … gone to Liverpool. Ronaldinho made his bargain move to …

Photo: Ronaldinhosaurus

Ronaldinho mimics the facial expression of a dinosaur while an Argentinian performs an interpretive dance move behind him during the Olympics semifinal. ( Fotonet )

Excerpt: Ronaldinho mimics the facial expression …

The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

… question: Dontcha maybe think women’s football could use the publicity?
D’oh.

Ronaldinho: Senor Xavi broke the Shocking! News! that Dinho likes to party and live up the lavish lifestyle, saying:

“Ronnie has always led the same sort of lifestyle. He always told us: ‘that’s the way I am’.
“When you lead that sort of life you have to understand that when your level drops then the knives will be out. He is like that, he likes going out …

Excerpt: … D’oh. Ronaldinho: Senor Xavi broke the …

Premier League Should Have Seen Man City Mess Coming

… Mark Hughes thought he was getting in on something big - remember when they were going to sign Ronaldinho?
But now it seems the money is as lacking as the morals. There were all kinds of rumours this week, and they didn’t involve world class Brazilian superstars, they involved the club selling Vedran Coruka and Stephen Ireland in order to balance the budget - without Hughes’ permission.
Hughes could be ready to walk away from the whole mess, and you can’t really …

Excerpt: … were going to sign Ronaldinho? But now it seems the …

Daily Dose: 08.11.08

… Not like the owners a fugitive or anything now. Nope. ( Guardian )
Jury should still be out on Ronaldinho. ( Reuters Soccer Blog )
European Football Manager on the way. ( MCV )
How to be Dutch, by Russia. ( Netherlands World Cup Blog )

Excerpt: … still be out on Ronaldinho. ( Reuters Soccer Blog ) …

Daily Dose 08.03.08

… in Greece ( USA Today )
An Olympic XI ( SoccerLens )
Say hallo to our latest player blog ( Ronaldinho Offside )

- And don’t forget, last chance to vote for the winner in the Euro 2008 Fake Photo Competition. Polls close tomorrow.

Excerpt: … player blog ( Ronaldinho Offside ) - And …

The Offside Rewind: Looking Back

… and World Cup Blog in the past week:

Rafinha and Diego have gone AWOL for the Olympics.
Ronaldinho is also Olympics-bound. And he has his smile back.
But Abby Wambach won’t be going.
And Lionel Messi is still dithering.
And in a final Olympic bit, want to watch Olympic soccer in the US? Here’s your schedule.
In other news, here’s your guide to translating what agents, managers and players really mean during the transfer season.
As …

Excerpt: … the Olympics. Ronaldinho is also Olympics-bound. And …

The Enquiring Fan’s Guide to What Those Transfer Rumo(u)rs Really Mean

… issues.”
“Thierry Henry” … “French with an ego.”
“Ronaldinho” … “Hello, Jenny Craig?”
“Michael Owen” … “Keep the team doctors on speed dial.”
“David Beckham” … “No left foot, looks good in his underwear.”
“Pato” … “Puberty in two years. Max.”
“Peter Crouch” … “Really tall.” (Alternative …

Excerpt: … “Ronaldinho” … …

Footballer Fired for Being Too Fat

… are part of the modern game. Whether it’s players actually letting themselves go (see: Ronaldinho recently ) or players who get lumped with the overweight label because it’s easy alliteration (see: “Fat” Frank Lampard). It’s a phenomenon that goes all the way back to William Fatty Foulke, who really deserved the title.
But no professional footballer has ever been fired for being overweight. Until now.

Michael Keane (pictured) has had his contract …

Excerpt: … go (see: Ronaldinho recently ) or players who …

Daily Dose 07.22.08

Some news to read as you get a fish pedicure :

Red Bulls Fan of the Year gets banned for life. Another Red Bulls Offside exclusive interview. ( Red Bulls Offside )
On a related note, the US Soccer Fans’ Bill of Rights ( Outside the Box )
And the US Fan’s Bill of Responsibilities (Also Outside the Box )
An entertaining history of jersey numbers. (”Cheeky French …

Daily Dose 07.20.08

Something to read while you pay £72 million in rent …

Chelsea taking the scenic route to self-sufficiency ( Cheer Up Alan Shearer )
Premier League on US TV schedule ( EPL Talk )
Al Ahly vs Zamalek preview ( Egypt WCB )
Tapping up - all part of the game ( Football Fan Cast )
When Wolves ruled the world ( Pitch Invasion )
Will Barca regret shipping out Eto’o and …

Kaka to Chelsea Would Change Everything for the Premier League

… The sale would also help Milan’s finances after the bargain but still expensive signing of Ronaldinho.
Milan have been quick to poo-poo the Kaka (snigger) rumour, saying “Kaka is absolutely not for sale.” Call me cynical, but isn’t that the type of thing clubs say just before selling a player these days?
And if this transfer goes through, I’m tempted to see it as a watershed moment for the Premier League. Here’s why: For all the wealth in English …

Excerpt: … signing of Ronaldinho. Milan have been quick to …

Daily Dose 07.17.08

… kid kit revealed. Guess what? They’re…red. ( Toronto Offside )
The best photo of Ronaldinho’s Milan unveiling ( The Other Football )
The All-Snubbed MLS non-All-Star XI ( WVHooligan )
The gods of the ball (with video highlights ( Only Time Will Tell )

Excerpt: … The best photo of Ronaldinho’s Milan unveiling ( …