José María del Nido is high on something confidence

Since Sevilla’s surprise defeat of a Ronaldo-less Real Madrid at the weekend, many have suggested that the traditional Spanish two-horse title race will have an extra runner this year. Among those backing Los palanganas as genuine contenders is club presdient José María del Nido, who believes the squad is superior to that of the current champions. Marca reports:

The Sevilla president said “Barcelona are a great team,” although he added, he was not sure if the club “has the same quality of squad” that is currently at Sevilla.

Granted, the likes of Luis Fabiano and Didier Zokora are working wonders in Seville right now, but we think it a bit of a stretch to consider their squad stronger than Barcelona’s. Equally, we can’t see Manolo Jiménez’s side breaking the dominance of La Liga’s big boys this season. Would anyone (whose name isn’t José María del Nido) care to disagree? Let us know below…

“Tek a bow, son(s)”

With the end of the 2008/09 campaign only 24hrs away, The Spoiler takes a look back at the season’s finest goals and reveals our picks for the twenty greatest efforts. Part one documents goals 20-11…

#20: Ryan Taylor - Wigan 2-1 Newcastle, 26/12/08

Ramos eager to Spursify Real Madrid, but finds much of his work already done

Of all the Spurs players new Real Madrid manager Juande Ramos dreams about at night, the one he’d most like the chance to bewilder in Spain, according to the Spanish press at least, is Didier Zokora.

Madrid could certainly do with a holding midfielder to “sit” in front of their defence, as the sitting abilities of Mahamadou Diarra, the man currently tasked with that job, don’t currently extend beyond lolling in front of the telly, nursing his very game knee.

The idea that Ramos might “raid” Spurs for talent is like trying to cheer yourself up with videos of your unhappiest holiday - does he really want to be reminded of the nightmare by Zokora’s a) presence, b) fear of the half way line and c) crude passing technique?

Even without Didier Z, however, Ramos’ time at Spurs will have prepared him nicely for the chaos he’s going to find at Real M. A recent board meeting showed Madrid to be more than 500 million Euros in the red, there’s a president - Ramon Calderon - the fans can’t stand, and there’s a sporting director - Predrag Mijatovic - who wields all the power but in whom the president has no confidence.

So if Ramos wants Zokora, it’s Mijatovic he has to talk to, virtually guaranteeing he’ll get someone else. As another vexed Spaniard, Rafa Benitez, once observed of Liverpool’s kooky transfer policy, “I asked for a sofa and they got me a lampshade.” Expect to see the name “Lampshade” on the Madrid teamsheet any day now. Zokora, you’re going nowhere.