If you're heading to the bookstore this weekend, look out for Leo Messi on the cover of the latest 'TIME' magazine (International Edition). When your face graces the cover of TIME, you f**king MADE IT! Unfortunately, the lovely Yanks don't seem to think a Messi cover is worthy of the USA edition.

I awake from a two-day coma, just in time for the magic of the FA Cup. Provided this magic includes Romelu Lukaku and, of course, Josh McEachran I'm all in. Bring forth some elaborate illusions at the expense of our third-round opponents, Portsmouth.

Setup, the performance, and the prestige.

Just this week, in a podcast we never got to post Managing Madrid's Gabe Lezra asked me a question: "Imagine this: Barcelona wins, Real Madrid loses, the lead has been cut to 3. It's the morning of December 11th – how are you feeling?" I no longer remember what answer I gave, but here I am today in exactly the same question.

So finally we've gotten this game out of the way. After Madrid's Burger King Boys (Getafe) knocked the wind off the sails of Barcelona, opening up a SIX (6!) point lead between us and them, the trolling from Cule trash talkers seems to have gone on overdrive (check out the last few posts at RMFB) – pushing the pre-clasico fever a couple of days too early.

It was Inevitable - Kim Jong Il thought so soo - hahahah.
. In a way, even after Adrian scored the opening goal in last night's El Derbi Madrileno, Madridistas the world over (and perhaps even Rojoblanco supporters) didn't feel too rattled (or euphoric in the case for Atleti supporters).

.
The lousy folks at Singtel's Mio TV who charge me a fortune to watch the EPL and the Champions League didn't have the courtesy to show the match live. So I was forced to try to stream it... . When I finally managed to hop onto a stream, the score was already 1-0. . When I opened a new web browser to check who scored that goal, it became 2-0.

Despite the String of Missed Chances especially in the first half, I would say that we generally played well last night.
Last season, when asked about who I'd like us to face in the Champions League on our way to the final, I asked for the following teams: Olympique Lyonnais, AS Roma, Bayern Munich and Arsenal – I would have asked for Liverpool or Juventus too if possible.

I don't get it. . Racing and Levante did it EXACTLY the same way. Wait for Madrid in your own half. Defend deep. Frustrate them. And with a bit of cleverness and luck, through a quick counter, or a set piece: you just might nick that goal that gives you a point – or 3. . Espanyol instead, chose to do it EXACTLY the same way as Ajax and Rayo.

Pipita Scored and Kaka had another good game. Great Signs ‘Assumptions are the mother of all Fuckups!' – I once heard my brother (who's an associate Regional Director of a Fortune 500 Company) scold one of his subordinates. Filipinos have a similar adage: ‘Maraming Namatay sa Maling Akala' (Many have died from the wrong assumptions), I was often told when I was young.

No, Real Madrid is NOT in Crisis. We are merely in a slump. 5 dropped points over 2 games against La Liga teams whose objective is to stave off relegation is proof of that. Maybe Jose Mourinho's sarcastic remarks prior to the Levante game about just wanting to stay up were taken seriously by the team: prompting them to play as if we were a team battling relegation.

Optimism to follow, but it would be remiss to begin proceedings with anything other than the nasty business of a post-mortem...

The Arnie Approach

In the absence of our recognised midfield enforcers, our glorious leader adopted the cunning tactical ploy of leaving the back-four without any protection to handle a City front-line so shiny and expensive they had Tevez on the bench, while the rest of our team was crammed with attacking types .

The Insider: Joey Barton, Lassana Diarra, Raul Albiol, Erik Pieters

Simon Jones is Sportsmail's man on the inside of all the major transfer moves this summer. Don't miss your daily Insider instalment here for Thursday, August 25.

View the full story here: The Mail

A news article on 2011-08-25 14:37:34 from: The Mail

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

Harry Redknapp's attempts to strengthen his Tottenham Hotspur squad ahead of the closure of the transfer window could prompt a surprise move for the unsettled Liverpool midfielder Joe Cole.
Lassana Diarra and Emmanuel Adebayor are on the verge of completing switches to White Hart Lane but Redknapp has also expressed a desire to sign Cole.

Tottenham's Harry Redknapp admits desire to be reunited with Joe Cole

• Cole keen to return to London after frustrating year • Liverpool look to get former England midfielder off wage bill Harry Redknapp's attempts to strengthen his Tottenham Hotspur squad ahead of the closure of the transfer window could prompt a surprise move for the unsettled Liverpool midfielder Joe Cole.

The Insider: Scott Parker, Lassana Diarra, Alberto Aquilani, Amauri

Simon Jones is Sportsmail's man on the inside of all the major transfer moves this summer. Don't miss your daily Insider instalment here for Wednesday, August 24.

View the full story here: The Mail

A news article on 2011-08-24 15:01:43 from: The Mail

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

Spanish Sports paper "Marca" has published in its online section that REAL MADRID & English Premier League Club TOTTENHAM HOTSPURS have come to an agreement to transfer French International midfielder LASS DIARRA Lass Diarra The Clubs are said to be finishing now a few "minor" technical details before making an official announcement at a price speculated to be around 12M€.

With just over a week to go before the transfer window closes, the papers at the weekend were talking of ten deals in ten days for Spurs before the end of this month.

The reports included the proposed moves for Lassana Diarra and Emmanuel Adebayor which seem to grow closer by the hour and there is talk of one more signing, but most of the focus is on the exit door and Daniel Levy's streamlining of the dead wood.

One of the stranger transfer stories yesterday emerged out of Talksport with suggestions that Spurs had failed in an audacious swoop for Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko. Whether the whole business was a hoax or not is unclear and it appears that the story isn't accessible from the station's website.

Football transfer rumours: Gary Cahill to Liverpool

All today's Rumours are feeling sick Summer's gone. You can tell because it's raining outside, and football's coming back. Oh summer! Cycling, cricket, golf, even the odd shaft of sun finding its way through the cracks in the curtains every now and then.

Reports coming out of Spain suggest that Real Madrid could provide the answer to Spurs' striking problems, but it will come at a price – and that price is Gareth Bale.

Spurs have been linked with Lassana Diarra at various stages throughout this transfer window and while the player has said that he wants to stay at Real, his employers may not share that view.

Spurs are linked with two Real Madrid players once again today – one of whom is already at the club while another starred on loan in Spain last season and by all accounts is desperate to return there.

While Lassana Diarra may have publicly stated his desire to stay at Real Madrid, he seems surplus to requirements as far as Jose Mourinho is concerned, but if all the Spurs midfield men are staying at the club this summer, there seems little need to pursue this one.

Real Madrid "re"-announced their World Football Challenge roster today, and it has some noticeable changes.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Ricardo Carvalho, Xabi Alonso and Mesut Ozil, the headliners of the Madrid side, are all still set to play in Real's USA tour.

When the Philadelphia Union agreed with Real Madrd for a friendly on July 23, the team promised its fans that they would see the stars of Madrid and not just back ups. After releasing the official Madrid roster, it's clear that the Union managed to keep that promise.

The Madrid World Football Challenge roster is as follows:

Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas (Spain), Antonio Adán (Spain)

Defenders: Ricardo Carvalho (Portugal), Pepe (Portugal), Sergio Ramos (Spain), Marcelo Viera (Brazil), Alvaro Arbeloa (Spain), Raul Albiol (Spain), Ezequiel Garay (Argentina), David Mateos (Spain)

Midfielders: Fernando Gago (Argentina), Kaká (Brazil), Lassana Diarra (France), Xabi Alonso (Spain), Sergio Canales (Spain), Pedro León (Spain), Mesut Özil (Germany), Sami Khedira (Germany), Hamit Altintop (Turkey), Nuri Şahin (Turkey), José Callejón (Spain), Roysten Drenthe (Netherlands)

Attackers: Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Karim Benzema (France), Esteban Granero (Spain)

Manager Jose Mourinho will also be making the trip with Madrid.

Real Madrid is bringing the cavalry for its summer tour of the United States.

Madrid has chosen a first-choice squad for its three games in the World Football Challenge, which includes the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Mesut Ozil, Kaka, Sergio Ramos and Iker Casillas.

The biggest omissions are Argentines Angel di Maria and Gonzalo Higuain, who will be participating in Copa America.

Out of all of Tottenham's supposed transfer targets, we can now probably remove Lassana Diarra from our lines of enquiry as the midfielder, via his agent, has publicly come out and pledged his future to Real Madrid.

Speaking to the press, John Williams said: "He has two years left on his contract and is feeling well in Madrid.

*Galaxy defender A.J. DeLaGarza was re-signed to a new multi-year contract, the club announced today.

The versatile 24-year-old, who can play either full back or in central defense as he did in college at Maryland defender, is on track for a career high in starts and minutes in his third year with the club.

Real Madrid midfielder Lassana Diarra has confirmed he would only leave the Spanish giants for a return to the Premier League.
The French international has been linked with a move back to England with Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham reported to be interested in the former Portsmouth man and he has refused to rule out a move.

SPANISH FOOTBALL is relatively quiet today in the Sports press, except for news in reference to tonights International Friendly between Venezuela & Spain, the dozen or so transfer rumours which are already known & cannot be confirmed & LASS DIARRA of REAL MADRID Lass Diarra with Real Madrid Real Madrid Coach Mourinho has not put the French International on the market, but Diarra does not wish

Welcome to The Weekly Five. Each week I address a topic by presenting a list of five examples that support, oppose or simply relate to the subject.
There is no doubt that the English Premiership, one of the top (if not the) best soccer leagues in the world, is better than Major League Soccer.

Liverpool is reportedly monitoring West Ham midfielder Scott Parker in their pursuit of summer reinforcements.
According to The Mirror, the Reds are keen on the Football Writers' Association Player of the Year, as well as Real Madrid enforcer Lassana Diarra.
Parker's performances have earned him plenty of plaudits this season - not least the accolade from the FWA - with his industrious and inspirational displays also rewarded with a place in Fabio Capello's England set-up.

(This article of mine was first posted on Real Madrid Football Blog) - Feel Free to post your thoughts and comments on either site :) )
Ronaldo's Goalscoring Numbers have just been Awesome
.Fighting to win games when the outcome of the season for your team is already decided is a very tricky one – and this is exactly the case for Real Madrid version 2010-2011:.

(This article of mine was first posted on Real Madrid Football Blog) - Feel Free to post your thoughts and comments on either site :) )
Ronaldo's Goalscoring Numbers have just been Awesome
.Fighting to win games when the outcome of the season for your team is already decided is a very tricky one – and this is exactly the case for Real Madrid version 2010-2011:.

(This article of mine was first posted on Real Madrid Football Blog) - Feel Free to post your thoughts and comments on either site :) )
Ronaldo's Goalscoring Numbers have just been Awesome
.Fighting to win games when the outcome of the season for your team is already decided is a very tricky one – and this is exactly the case for Real Madrid version 2010-2011:.

I don't know about you but I think we've had enough in-depth analysis of the team, for now at least. Today I shall content myself with superficial remarks and pithy observations.

Lots of headlines this morning about how Man City would like Cesc. Quite why this is news is beyond me. I don't imagine there's any team that wouldn't like a bit of Cesc.

Some quick game summaries of 2011's El Clasicos:..El Clasico 1 – 2011-04-16, Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, MadridRaul Albiol was sent off for takedown of David Villa. Barca the played their favorite brand of football: 10 vs. 11 for most of the 2nd half. We fought back with our 10 men though, Marcelo wins a penalty but Alves is not sent off for his dangerous lunging tackleResult: 1-1 Draw.

Some quick game summaries of 2011's El Clasicos:..El Clasico 1 – 2011-04-16, Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, MadridRaul Albiol was sent off for takedown of David Villa. Barca the played their favorite brand of football: 10 vs. 11 for most of the 2nd half. We fought back with our 10 men though, Marcelo wins a penalty but Alves is not sent off for his dangerous lunging tackleResult: 1-1 Draw.

Some quick game summaries of 2011's El Clasicos:..El Clasico 1 – 2011-04-16, Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, MadridRaul Albiol was sent off for takedown of David Villa. Barca the played their favorite brand of football: 10 vs. 11 for most of the 2nd half. We fought back with our 10 men though, Marcelo wins a penalty but Alves is not sent off for his dangerous lunging tackleResult: 1-1 Draw.

So here I am, half-disgusted-and-sick-and-tired of these El Clasicos, but also half-nervous and begging for a miracle tonight. The realist in me tells me that it's game over. But I am overcome with the desire to dream. Call it the spirit of Juanito, call it the heart of Pipita (Real Madrid's current Patron Saint for Refusing to Lose).

So here I am, half-disgusted-and-sick-and-tired of these El Clasicos, but also half-nervous and begging for a miracle tonight. The realist in me tells me that it's game over. But I am overcome with the desire to dream. Call it the spirit of Juanito, call it the heart of Pipita (Real Madrid's current Patron Saint for Refusing to Lose).

So here I am, half-disgusted-and-sick-and-tired of these El Clasicos, but also half-nervous and begging for a miracle tonight. The realist in me tells me that it's game over. But I am overcome with the desire to dream. Call it the spirit of Juanito, call it the heart of Pipita (Real Madrid's current Patron Saint for Refusing to Lose).