Managers are temperamental sorts, and certainly not the kind of people who like to bury hatchets. Various Man United alumni will attest to the cold breeze that exists on the wrong side of Ferguson, and a ruddy-cheeked rugger fan who happens to talk endlessly to The Spoiler when all that is really needed is a few minutes fresh air and the throat bite of a crumpled Benson insists that Kelly Brook’s bed partner would be an England international, were it not for a few personal issues with the monster from The Goonies who runs the team.
Another sportsman enduring a cold winter in the international desert is Ronaldinho - currently moving somewhere close to his best at AC Milan, and yet completely ignored for last night’s Brazil match against the plucky Irish.
Dunga said this after the match, in reference to his exclusion:
Sometimes in life, you can have too much of a good thing - so much so that some crackpot even came up with a phrase about these situations often leaving a man/woman wanting less.
All of which leads completely seamlessly to Brazil’s World Cup side, which will clearly feature many good things, but perhaps too much of one particular thing - namely showponies who like to operate on the left. Even more namely, Robinho and Ronaldinho. Can they both play in the same team?
This wasn’t a problem when the latter - who, by the way, could probably devour a pumpkin through a tennis racket - took the decision to become increasingly bulbous and less good at football, but now that he’s hit something of his old stride over in Milan, Mr Dunga is faced with a real mind-melter.
But what would YOU do? That’s the question. Let us know with a vote and a comment.
For those having trouble deciding, you can see both in action after the jump.
It’s hard to know how to correctly refer to the next decade - “the tens”? The “two thousand and tens”? The “teens”? No one honestly knows. Either way, below is a compiled list of the greatest players of the “noughties”… or the “noughts”… or just “the last ten years”. Your choice.
Feel free to express your agreement with a comment.
Oh yeah, or your disagreement.
Goalkeeper, Gianluigi Buffon (Parma, Juventus)
Lots of goallies have impressed in the last ten years. Iker Casillas is pretty nifty, Shay Given deserves a moist handshake for sticking with Newcastle through thick and thin, and Petr Cech was on magnificent form before skullgate. Plus, of course, there’s always that lovable Oliver Kahn character. But, looming large above all of those safe-handed warriors is Gianluigi Buffon - probably the best around, who also benefits from looking a little bit like Al Pacino in Frankie and Johnny.
Right Back, Cafu (Roma, AC Milan)
Cafu played in something like four World Cups, became the most capped Brazilian footballer of all time, and he spent pretty much all of those games absolutely rocketing up and down the right hand side. If there has been a better right back in the last decade, feel free to pipe up, and hats shall be eaten. But FYI: “Gary Neville” is not a correct answer.
Centre Back, Fabio Cannavaro (Parma, Inter, Juventus, Real Madrid)
It was tricky coming up with the right pairing at the back, especially once it became clear that very few outfield players (ie. none) were going to be English. Rio and Sol very nearly made it - and there was even silly talk of JT - but in the end, Italy’s finest took the honour. So far, Cannavaro is the only defensive player to be crowned Fifa World Player of the Year. Hence, yeah, he’s pretty good.
Milan, Juve and Inter well represented at ‘worst player’ ceremony
Serie A’s least coveted award has revealed its ten player shortlist.The Bidone d’Oro (Golden Bin) award annually recognises the terrible efforts of some of Italy’s worst performers. Past winners include Christian Vieri, Adriano and Rivaldo.
Most of the 2009 list will read like a who’s who of dodged bullets for Premier League clubs.
Last year’s winner, Inter Milan and Chelsea reject Ricardo Quaresma, is back in contention, along with Arsenal’s summer target Felipe Melo. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, who Spurs are currently eying up, continues to have the worst year of his life and there’s a customary appearance from the world’s biggest disappointment, Ronaldinho.
Brazilian caught livin’ it up for the zillionth time
With Milan languishing in the bottom half of Serie A, now would be the worst time for Ronaldinho to be caught out partying in the early hours before a game. Oh hey, guess what happened at the weekend?
Unable to resist the prospect of samba rhythm and alcohol, the King of Nightclubs flew to Paris on Saturday afternoon to take part in a “percussion concert”. He continued to bang his drum well into the wee hours of Sunday morning, and French paper L’Equipe reports that he had “some difficulty” leaving the bar.
Ronny played for the Rossoneri against Atalanta later on Sunday, and undoubtedly excused himself from punishment by slotting home a superb equalising goal…
Ibrahimovic receives a record breaking welcome in Spain
Barcelona have finally ended their search for a Swedish striker with incongruous tattoos and a tendency to bottle big games by securing the services of Zlatan Ibrahimovic this week. And as a Brucey Bonus, the Catalan giants sent that pesky Samuel Eto’o off to Inter Milan as part of the deal. Everybody wins!
To celebrate the arrival of their new striker, Barca fans turned out in force at his official unveiling last night. In the biggest player presentation in Barcelona history, a whopping 60,000 people piled into the Nou Camp to see the Swede turn up two hours late, say thank you, kiss a badge and do some keep ups.
When Ronaldinho was unveiled in 2004, just 20,000 fans turned up. Therefore, Ibrahimovic is exactly three times better than Ronaldinho in his prime. Fact.
Referee suffers temporary bout of colour blindness
Having lost all three of their matches in the Americaland World Football Challenge, including a 2-0 defeat at the hands of fierce rivals Inter Milan last night, it’s fair to say that Post-Ancelotti AC Milan have not enjoyed the greatest of form.
Rossoneri fans, however, were given something to smile about in the Milan derby, however, as Ronaldinho was mistakenly given a red card. It was shortly replaced by a real yellow card. Oh, such fun times.
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