Who do we turn to in our hour of need? Steve McClaren!
It’s been a horrible few days. Firstly, Man United flopped when all the long shots in our Champions League accumulator delivered and then Lyon once again mugged Liverpool in injury time yesterday.
When your luck is down, you probably don’t want to be relying on a Goodison Park goalfest, Spanish strugglers finding form and Steve McClaren. The Spoiler loves a long shot though…
Over 2.5 goals in Everton/Benfica
Six of Everton’s last seven European games have produced three goals or more. Benfica are the most prolific team in Portugal by miles and thumped five
The Madridistas have found a new hero, says our Spanish media spy
If he scores against Villarreal tonight, Cristiano Ronaldo will make history, by becoming the first ever Real Madrid player to score in his first four consecutive league clashes. With the Primera season well underway, The Spoiler’s Real Madrid mole Valentine Fell tells us how the Spanish capital has responded since his ceremonious arrival…
The media
Despite the obligatory negative swipes he has been receiving, the press are desperate to speak to C-Ron: the ‘mixed zone’ at the Bernabeu turns into a full-on rugby-scrum every week in an attempt to get so much as a soundbite from him. There’s no doubt the city’s physiotherapists will be getting a few more visits in the coming months, due to the contortionist-like positions the media are having to put themselves in to get their mics anywhere near his little pocky face.
The Portuguese media
A batch of mentalists that warrant their own group. The press conferences are head-banglingly annoying as the Portuguese press seem to have camped out at Valdebebas (the team’s training ground) to ask every single player and staff member about the perma-tanned one. It’s a little like watching an overbearing parent at an open evening. The rest of the media are all waiting patiently for the player who blows his fuse first. My money is on Raul!
His teammates
Watching Cristiano in training is like watching a machine. Before
A further helping of transfer gossip, rumours and damned lies
Gokhan Inler to Arsenal
With primary target Melo almost certain to join Juventus, Arsenal have been forced to look elsewhere for a new midfielder. However, reports suggest Arsene Wenger is restricting his search to Serie A and now wants to sign £10 million-rated Gokhan Inler from Udinese.
The Spoiler truth-o-meter: Arsenal were linked with the Swiss international a lot last summer so hopefully this doesn’t drag on as long as the Andrey Arshavin saga did, especially as this transfer window has been fairly interesting and unpredictable so far.
Tuncay to Everton or Aston Villa
Middlesbrough’s local paper the Evening Gazette states that Aston Villa are looking to complete a £20 million double deal for Stewart Downing and
Which division would triumph in an MLS All-Stars style match?
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The Spoiler was surprised by the results of yesterday’s poll, where 76% of you disagreed with Cristiano Ronaldo’s claim that La Liga was stronger than the Premier League.
That poll took into account a number of factors: for example the difference between the best and worst teams, entertainment value and European success. Today, we want to focus on which is the better league in terms of galacticos.
Let us know which of the two teams we’ve created to represent each league is stronger - and if you disagree with our line-ups tell us who you would pick instead - with a vote and comment below:
Former West Ham star takes it easy on the sidelines
Barcelona won their 19th La Liga title this weekend without even having to kick a ball, thanks to Real Madrid’s loss at Villarreal. The game reached a thrilling conclusion, with the Valencian side stealing a 3-2 win in the 90th minute.
Everyone in attendance found it to be an exciting affair, except for Julien Faubert, who was too busy scratching his nuts and falling asleep to notice.
In case you missed it on Wednesday night, Arsene Wenger showed his players that he too can break out some dance moves when celebrating a goal [Youtube]
Sir Alex Ferguson has accused Rafael Benitez of “arrogance” and “contempt”
[F365]
Jose Mourinho taunts Alessandro Del Piero ahead of tomorrow’s Derby d’Italia
[Goal]
West Ham are about to be taken over by a consortium of international banks
[The Guardian]
The FA have assured David Moyes that Mike Riley is not a Man Utd fan
[The Sun]
Platini despairs as English teams guarantee a place in the final
Arsenal 3/ Villarreal 0 (Arsenal win 4-1 on agg.)
Hopefully, you followed The Spoiler’s astute advice and backed an Arsenal/ Manchester Utd win double last night. The Gunners booked a semi-final bout with Fergie’s men after a comprehensive victory over the Yellow Submarine. “That was a comprehensive victory over the Yellow Submarine,” Arsene Wenger was not heard to remark.
Porto 0/ Manchester Utd 1 (Manchester Utd win 3-2 on agg.)
Over in Portugal, Manchester Utd rediscovered the ability to make accurate passes to one another that was so severely lacking in the first leg. After Cristiano Ronaldo’s piss-takingly long-range strike, it seems the Estadio do Dragao is no longer a scary place.
Arsenal/Villarreal, Champions Lge QF L2, 7.45pm, Sky Sports 3
Arsenal’s biggest worry tonight is how their defence will cope without Manuel Almunia, Gael Clichy, William Gallas and Johan Djourou. It is with that in mind that we have decided to stick with the 4-2-3-1 formation from the first leg, ensuring that the patched-up back four are adequately supported:
Emmanuel Adebayor was isolated at times in Spain but with Villarreal needing to commit bodies forward, there should be more space for Samir Nasri, Cesc Fabregas and Theo Walcott to exploit, while Robin van Persie and Nicklas Bendtner will be ready to do damage off the bench if the visitors score.
Do you agree with our formation or do you think Arsenal should start with two strikers? Let us know who you would pick with a comment below.
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