The Offside 22 November @ 09:44 AM EST
Fernando Amorebieta would make Hulk Hogan get all misty eyed with this performance. But where is
the follow up leg drop? (I hope some of you watched wrestling as kids . . . if not? That reference
just flew straight over your head) Now somebody get Messi an ice pack!
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The Offside 16 November @ 07:30 PM EST
Easily the greatest penalty shootout celebration in history. (0.20) Fabio Capello is not such a hit
in Spain. (La Liga Loca) The dam is breaking in Manchester. (EPL Talk) Raymond Domenech: not so
smart. (The Spoiler) Amaral writes a nice, though curious, parting letter. (SoccerLens) Robin van
Persie to get mystery placenta juice treatments.
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The Offside 11 November @ 06:00 AM EST
Real Madrid beat Alcorcon 1-0 at the Bernabéu last night, which wasn't nearly enough to prevent
Los Galácticos losing 4-1 on aggregate and exiting the Copa del Rey. So the team that spent nearly
a quarter of a billlion euros this summer has been bounced out of the cup by a team from Segunda B,
[...
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The Offside 10 November @ 11:20 AM EST
I hope everyone has seen Zlatan Ibrahimovic's magical assist for Barcelona vs Mallorca this
weekend. I saw it live on TV and instinctively applauded. Even though I was alone. Bit odd maybe,
but a testament to Zlatan's talents. Chris spotted the above YouTube vid of the clip over at
Unprofessional Foul and posted it on Water [.
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goalpost.tv 09 November @ 01:29 PM EST
The Ligue 1 in France showcased one of the most important clashes of the season, as Olympique
Lyonnais and Olympique de Marseille clashed to produce a game that will be remembered for many
years to come. There were five goals scored in the final 15 minutes of the game, and Jeremy
Toulalan scored an own [.
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The Offside 05 November @ 08:30 AM EST
While all were oohing and aahing over Barcelona's sex on a pitch football and the free-spending
ways of Florentino Perez returning to Madrid, the biggest difference maker in Spanish football was
lurking under the Spanish limelight. In fact it was lurking so far under the Spanish limelight it
was in Britain.
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The Offside 13 October @ 06:30 AM EST
As it stands, Barcelona are the darling of the football world. They're brilliantly effective and
alluringly stylish. They have likable players, the best in the world even, and a young, vibrant,
passionate maestro at the helm. They're even financially prudent, what with only spending €66m or
so on Zlatan and €25m on Dmitryo Chygrynskiy in [.
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goalpost.tv 05 October @ 11:09 AM EST
.Real Madrid felt the absence of Christiano Ronaldo, as they suffered a comprehensive 2-1 defeat at
the hands of rivals Sevilla at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan. Sevilla lived up to the
expectation of the players in Los Galácticos and completely outplayed the touring side. This loss
not only took apart the 100 percent win record [.
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The Offside 29 September @ 04:00 AM EST
Lionel Messi gets kicked. We know this. Some are even trying to earn the Hack-A-Messi term global
acceptance and use. Didn't really work out all that spectacularly last year though, did it? Nay. A
historic treble in the rear-view mirror and a jaunt to the podium for his first Ballon d'Or in
short time.
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The Offside 24 September @ 10:32 AM EST
Never, ever forget: it's always about the money. When doctoring up a schedule for the week's
domestic games, what should be taken into consideration? Other games, such as the European variety,
and the effects of travel should be paramount, and often they are. Then there are the wants and
desires of the broadcast companies who pay [.
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The Offside 20 September @ 02:57 PM EST
Alot has been made of Barcelona and Real Madrid's rivalry this season, rightly so, as the starting
XI's are surely the best two starting XI's in the world. And after Barcelona stuck 5 past Atlético
Madrid yesterday, we all might have wondered how Real would react. Well, by putting 5 past [...]
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The Offside 20 September @ 07:28 AM EST
Anyone watching Barcelona's midweek game in the Champions League against Inter, hoping to see the
side that bought beautiful football all around Europe last season might have come away a little
dissapointed. A 0-0 you say? That doesn't seem the Barca way. Of course it isn't, and they do seem
to [...]
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The Offside 18 September @ 12:19 PM EST
Big news on the official Barcelona website today is that Leo Messi has signed a new, improved
contract with the Blaugrana. They even have a photo of him putting pen to paper (which I've stolen
and embedded to your left) so it must be true. Young Leo (he's still only 22) already had a
contract with [.
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The Offside 14 September @ 10:15 AM EST
Normally, a massive transfer fee is a good omen for future. Big money means big abilities and this
usually translates well. However, this is not always the case - Andriy Shevchenko says hi - and
even if the money does ring true, it doesn't always happen right from the start. But when you put
[...]
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The Offside 08 September @ 02:30 PM EST
Real Madrid fanzine Marca has done it once again, trumpeting the next brilliant move by the most
bestest football club in the history of ever (officially). Today's front page offers up
Florentino's manifesto, a list of rules by which Galacticos 2.0 must abide. Most are tame, some
present a few problems for certain members of [.
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The Offside 01 September @ 10:30 AM EST
European champions Barcelona had an extra special day yesterday. Not only did they kick off the La
Liga season at the Camp Nou with a 3-0 win over Sporting Gijon, but they signed defensive superstud
Dmytro Chygrynskiy from Shakhtar for a cool €25m to pair with Puyol for the hairiest defensive
partnership ever.
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The Offside 30 August @ 07:49 AM EST
So after all the hoo-ha about Eduardo's stumble and fall, this weekend bought up a few more similar
incidents (inevitably) that made me question the keeper's role in all this. I mean, although
Eduardo clearly dived, he wouldn't have had the chance had Boruc stayed up on his feet, made
himself [...]
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The Offside 25 August @ 08:00 AM EST
The constant oneupsmanship off the pitch between El Clasico lovers Real Madrid and Barcelona might
be as entertaining, if not more, than anything the two do on the pitch - even when unintentional.
Be it in the press, the transfer market (Would Zlatan have landed in Barcelona had Florentino Perez
not returned to Madrid?
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Futbolita 24 August @ 02:51 AM EST
Oooh, what a way to start the season... by winning the Supercopa! Aplausos,
por favor! Yet another brilliant show from Los Cules after they pulled off this
convincing 3-0 win over Bilbao last night. The Messiah scored twice and your best friend
Bobojan netted in the third!
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Last weekend the Premier League kicked off a new season and this weekend it was the turn of the
Serie A to start a new season.
Italy
With the fixture list handing them a comfortable-looking opener against promoted Bari, Inter coach
José Mourinho had reason for optimism ahead of the Italian champions' first 2009/10 league
fixture, but Sunday's game was to be a big let-down.
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The Offside 21 August @ 12:36 PM EST
Raúl González and Bojan Krkić. Two players at different ends of their careers, but with a lot of
similarities. They're both forwards. They both play for the club that thinks it's the biggest in La
Liga. They're both famous enough to be known internationally by just their first name (see also:
Madonna).
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The Offside 21 August @ 08:00 AM EST
Valencia CF is probably growing some fierce dislike for the country of Norway. In the fall of '07,
back when Valencia were supposed to be good, they were humiliated twice by super Cinderella
Rosenborg, who also achieved infamy by morphing The Special One into The Jobless One, with double
2-0 defeats.
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The Offside 08 August @ 03:31 PM EST
A recent classified found in the Spanish press: Cash-strapped football club in TOP DIVISION needs
to sell NOW! Right NOW! Plucky little side which is destined to hover around mid-table, and perhaps
even poke and prod at a European spot before backing away in terror. Will not challenge for
silverware, but that will be easily forgotten [.
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goalpost.tv 08 August @ 05:39 AM EST
After weeks of speculation, rumours and gossip Xabi Alonso finally completed his £30m move to Real
Madrid to join the likes of Ronaldo, Kaka, Benzema, Arbeloa and Albiol as part of Galacticos II.
This post is not going to criticize Florentino Pérez and his spending for this author believes
that Madrid can spend money on [.
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The Offside 28 July @ 10:44 AM EST
It's been a big, big summer for transfers headed to Espana, in case you hadn't noticed. Whilst many
in Spanish football checking the couch cushions for the next payroll, Barcelona and Real Madrid
have been spending their recession-proof euros as though featuring an expiration date. More than
€150m for the Crissy & Ricky dreamboat team [.
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The Offside 27 July @ 12:05 PM EST
This was the scene but two months ago. Real Betis fans, much like their team, going head to head
with a force - the police here, La Liga in Real's case - and not quite coming out on the right
side. In the team's case, they have money. Plenty of it. Perhaps not Florentino Perez [...]
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We're glad to report that NY Times Goal blog is reporting that Goal.com is reporting that Greek
club Olympiakos are interested in bringing Jozy Altidore in on a year-long loan. "There is also
interest in Spain (La Liga), Germany and the EPL," says Altidore's agent. So...the news is that a
number of clubs are interested in Altidore.
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The Offside 09 July @ 01:00 PM EST
This had the potential to be one of those epic quotes shoved in the faces of Barcelona's most
despised Clasico rivals for years and years on end. Joan Laporta so swiftly hurtling the gavel down
and declaring his Cules the superior. "We make Ballon d'Or winners and others have to buy them." It
even sounds sexier in [.
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The Offside 07 July @ 03:30 PM EST
A commentator mentioned this game on television last night and it brought back a flood of memories.
Memories from the days when Ronaldinho wasn't just good, but @#$%ing brilliant. A player unlike the
current crop duking out for world's best. Cristiano Ronaldo & Lionel Messi can do amazing things
and are magnificent players, but their [.
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It looks as though Liverpool are facing a huge battle to hang on to midfielders Javier Mascherano
and Xabi ALonso this summer. Both players are targets for La Liga clubs , with Mascherano
interesting treble winners Barcelona, while Alonso is a target for Real Madrid. Liverpool boss Rafa
Benitez is keen to keep the pair at Anfield [.
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The Offside 08 June @ 06:15 PM EST
It's official: Kaka has signed for Real Madrid (pretty self-explanatory above even if you don't
speak Spanish). The fee has yet to be officially announced but there's little question it's the
highest fee ever paid for a footballer (assumed somewhere in the €70m+ range) - an honor
Florentino Perez has pushed through how many times [.
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The Offside 03 June @ 12:30 PM EST
Chances are you've forgotten and we could've gotten away without assuming any responsibility
whatsoever, but there's no integrity in that and we're nothing if not...nevermind. Back in
September we listed the ten biggest transfer bargains of the summer and though one year is hardly
enough time to properly assess a player's impact on a squad, it's [.
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The Offside 01 June @ 12:00 PM EST
Everybody began the Atletico year talking about Kun Aguero. We did. And rightfully so. But nose
into a discussion about Madrid's second team and you'll hear them gushing on one name - and it
ain't Kun. It's Diego Forlan, the 2008/09 ESM Golden Boot winner for the second time in five years
and perhaps the [.
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The long story short: Athletic Bilbao [shameless advertisement: AB needs a blogger] and Barcelona
are from Basque Country and Catalonia, respectively. Both would like independence, Spain would like
to hold them close to its bosom for as long as possible. So when King Juan Carlos showed up as the
national anthem was bellowing out of [.
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In the summer of 2007 Barcelona were going after a couple of defenders who could play on the left -
one primarily a centerback (Cristian Chivu), the other primarily a fullback (Eric Abidal). Though
Chivu is arguably the more gifted of the two, I argued (mostly to myself) Barca should choose
Abidal because Chivu has [.
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