The Spoiler

Landon Donovan criticises David Beckham for treating MLS as a joke


American star launches an attack on his LA Galaxy teammate

David Beckham and Landon Donovan

David Beckham has already been warned to expect an angry reaction from MLS fans when he returns in a fortnight but it looks like the reception from his teammates will be even frostier.

LA Galaxy star Landon Donovan has heavily criticised his captain in Sports Illustrated journalist Grant Wahl’s new book The Beckham Experiment.

Some of the 27-year-old’s gripes - that as captain Beckham should have supported his teammates more, got back from England duty quicker and

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Posted: July 2nd, 2009 by Michael Lintorn

Birmingham target Spurs defender, Beckham will be booed, Madrid sign Benzema


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Frank Lampard in Vegas

We’re not sure what kind of Vegas pool party Frank Lampard is attending, but he appears to approve of the female clothing ban
[Corriere dello Sport via Kickette]

The bands who have sponsored teams
[The Guardian]

David Beckham has been told to expect attention from the boo boys when he returns to the MLS later this month
[The Telegraph]

Portsmouth let five players go
[Sky Sports]

Real Madrid have agreed a deal with Karim Benzema
[CNN]

Birmingham want Gareth Bale. In other words, Birmingham don’t want to win any games.
[EatSleepSport]

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Posted: July 1st, 2009 by Ryan Bailey

Vote: Will Cristiano Ronaldo regret moving to Real Madrid?


Could C-Ron’s dream move end up being a nightmare?

Cristiano Ronaldo

“After Manchester United it is downhill.” Those are the words that David Gill last month claimed to have heard roll from the tongues of many former Old Trafford employees (although presumably not Gerard Pique!).

The example of David Beckham has been used to comfort Manchester United fans as they come to terms with Cristiano Ronaldo’s imminent departure. With the Red Devils he won six titles, two FA Cups and the Champions League but since leaving for Real Madrid in 2003, he’s claimed just one significant trophy - La Liga in his final season in Spain.*

C-Ron has finally been granted his dream move but will he continue to win trophies and Ballon d’Ors or will it turn into a Beckham-esque nightmare? Let us know what you think with a vote and a comment.

*It shouldn’t be forgotten though that United also endured a barren spell after Beckham’s exit, going three years without winning the Premier League or reaching the last eight of the Champions League. 

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Posted: June 18th, 2009 by Ryan Bailey

Real Madrid to pay Cristiano Ronaldo €250,000 a week


The Spanish capital’s escort agencies won’t know what hit them

Cristiano Ronaldo

C-Ron is now so wealthy that he employs someone to ‘flip him from six to midnight’

According to our Spanish friends at Marca, Real Madrid are all set to make Cristiano Ronaldo the highest paid footballer of all time, by remunerating him with an annual salary of €13m. That works out at €250,000 every week, or in proper money, around £212,000 every seven days. Going even further, that’s nearly £1,300 per day, and £21 for every single minute.

C-Ron’s new deal will eclipse that of of Inter Milan’s big-stage-bottler Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who earns a paltry €12m per year. Also, it is nearly double the pay packet taken home by Madrid legend Raul.

In addition to his stupendous wage, the Portuguese star will also rake it in from image rights. In a similar deal to that which Florentino Perez struck with David Beckham, Ronaldo will receive a proportion of sales of all the official tat with his name on it. If fans buy enough Cristiano Ronaldo shirts, posters, action figures, radon detctors and eye wash stations etc., he could potentially double his income.

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Posted: June 17th, 2009 by Ryan Bailey

Fergie’s £80m spending spree, Villa target £6m Spurs star and über- WAG Abbey Clancy


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Kaka, Henry and, er, Joe Cole will be joining Steve Nash in New York for this year’s Showdown in Chinatown. You can win an all-expenses paid trip to see them by entering this competition.

David Beckham invites you to the pants party
[Kickette]

Ronaldo could make his Real Madrid debut in Dublin
[Daily Mail]

Abbey Clancy
attends an awards ceremony or something
[Epic Carnival]

With £80m in his pocket, Sir Alex has drawn up a shopping list
[The Guardian]

Aston Villa have their eye on Jermaine Jenas
[The Mirror]

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Posted: June 12th, 2009 by Ryan Bailey

Video highlights: England/ Andorra


That was easier than Danielle Lloyd at a Spurs Christmas party

England 6/ Andorra 0
The Spoiler takes intends to take nothing away from a good England performance, but we’ve never seen a side as poor as Andorra on the international stage.

The part-timers had absolutely no intention of attacking, and gave the Three Lions all the space in the world to do their business. At some points, David Beckham - who has been playing for England for longer than Andorra have actually had a national football team - had no one around him for twenty yards. He could have tied his shoe laces or nipped off for a quick haircut and no one would have challenged for the ball.

We don’t wish to be cruel, but having a team like Andorra in World Cup Qualifying seems is a waste of everyone’s time. They should be made to participate in a pre-qualifying tournament before they get the chance to be smashed up by the rest of Europe.

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Posted: June 11th, 2009 by Ryan Bailey

Pick your England team to face Andorra tonight


England/Andorra, World Cup Qualifier, 8.15pm, ITV1

The Spoiler’s England team to face Andorra

The Three Lions are ever-so-slight 1/200 favourites to make it seven wins out of seven in the World Cup qualifiers against an Andorra side who have never won away from home. This is how The Spoiler would line up.

We disagree with the idea of playing Gary Neville ahead of Glen Johnson, who is a yellow card away from suspension. Fabio Capello wants everyone available to face Croatia at home but we feel having players ruled out for the game after that away to Ukraine could prove just as dangerous.

The biggest talking point is who will partner Frank Lampard in midfield with Gareth Barry suspended and Michael Carrick, Owen Hargreaves and Scott

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Posted: June 10th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn

Revealed: David Beckham’s passion for pig’s bottoms


The headline that launched a thousand Rebecca Loos jokes

David BeckhamNow that David Beckham has finished his extended loan spell in Milan, he leaves behind a half decent standard of football, some brilliant TV shows and his favourite Italian delicacy. It’s called “little bum”, and it’s made from pig’s rears. Apparently, Mr B can’t get enough of it:

David - who has been in the European country since January without wife Victoria - was first given the food by his club’s former manager Carlo Ancelotti, and the pair have been spotted eating it on a number of occasions.

A source said: “David can’t get enough of this fine delicacy. It’s got a much lighter and less meaty taste than most other prosciuttos.

He’s dying to get Victoria to try some.”

Victoria Beckham hasn’t eaten a carb since 2003, so it’s fairly unlikely she will be tempted to eat something made out of a fat-laden pig’s arse. If he wishes to ween his wife into the world of pork, perhaps he should try weening her in with some of Luca Toni’s sausages.

Thanks to Vanessa@Kickette for the tip

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Posted: June 5th, 2009 by Ryan Bailey