World Cup and European leagues

[sac]

Newcastle, Middlesborough, West Brom go down.

Wolverhampton, Birmingham, and playoff winners Burnley go up.  Burnley enter the EPL for the first time.

[WLCALUM83]

Wolfsburg takes the German Bundesliga title for 08-09 by beating Werder Bremen, 5-1. Bayern Munich finishes second.

Armenia Bielefeld and Karlsruher go down, and Cottbus has to play Nurnberg home and away later this week.

German Cup Final matchup:  Werder Bremen vs. Bayer Leverkusen.

[Hoosier Titan]

Quick wrapup of the EPL/CL season, as transfer gossip (and transfers!) start up.

Liverpool got their shooting boots on just a little too late for the EPL.  Too many draws; just two goals in the right matches would have brought them the title.  But next season looks good.

Words couldn't describe how good Barcelona looked in the CL final.  They were on another planet from Man U that night.

For the FA Cup Final, I discovered that I could indeed drink beer at 8:45 a.m., but unfortunately the beer didn't help either our Everton friend's team or his mood afterwards.  Fortunately it was a nice day and we were able to talk gardening afterward.

Just read about Gareth Barry's move to Man City for £12 million, and it's perplexing.  He was insistent that he wanted a team with Champions League prospects so he chose...Man City?  This morning he says he was afraid of going stale.  Personally, I'm glad Liverpool are keeping Xabi Alonso.

Now we have--what?--about six weeks before the friendlies start up again. 

[Joe Wally]

I am simply thrilled that Barry made his decision early so that we did not have to spend another summer wondering whether he would stay at Villa or not.

I am looking forward to/hoping to see the Gunners add some experienced center-backs, as well as an experience defensive midfielder.  And if Adebayor leaves, a striker as well.

Has the Kaka deal to Real been finalized, or did the press jump the gun again?

[Hoosier Titan]

I am simply thrilled that Barry made his decision early so that we did not have to spend another summer wondering whether he would stay at Villa or not.

Great point--no one wanted another summer of O'Neill and Rafa battling it out!   

I am looking forward to/hoping to see the Gunners add some experienced center-backs, as well as an experience defensive midfielder.  And if Adebayor leaves, a striker as well.

Those sound like good goals for Arsenal.

Has the Kaka deal to Real been finalized, or did the press jump the gun again?

On the BBC web page right now:  "Kaka's AC Milan future will be cleared up on Monday with the ultimate decision resting with the Brazilian playmaker, according to owner Silvio Berlusconi."  We shall see. 

[WLCALUM83]

6-06 World Cup Qualifier Final:

El Salvador 1, Mexico 0. (That match was played at El Salvador.)

[Hoosier Titan]

Has the Kaka deal to Real been finalized, or did the press jump the gun again?

Re:  the above

Today's news:  Kaka Edges Closer to Madrid Move
He had a physical.  Stay tuned, but don't hold your breath.

[Mr. Ypsi]

It never ceases to crack me up that a player willingly goes by the name 'Kaka' (and wants to play in Spain, no less)!  

He must be one wild-and-crazy guy (think-skinned, too)!

[Hoosier Titan]

It never ceases to crack me up that a player willingly goes by the name 'Kaka' (and wants to play in Spain, no less)!  

We haven't talked much about the "I'm on Setanta Sports" puppets here for a while (and the show has now become "Special One TV."  But here's an especially good clip with reference to the above-named player about a minute in:

Wayne talks about Kaka and shows off his Ronnie puppet

[Mr. Ypsi]

Have sportswriters managed to rise above the obvious jokes when Kaka plays poorly?

[Hoosier Titan]

Have sportswriters managed to rise above the obvious jokes when Kaka plays poorly?

I've only seen him in the two Champions League finals against Liverpool.  I don't remember any jokes then.  I think the name is actually pronounced ka-KA, but of course it's open to mispronunciation.  I think when you can play the way he can it helps create a thick skin.

Here's the word:  Kaka completes switch to Madrid

[Mr. Ypsi]

Have sportswriters managed to rise above the obvious jokes when Kaka plays poorly?

I've only seen him in the two Champions League finals against Liverpool.  I don't remember any jokes then.  I think the name is actually pronounced ka-KA, but of course it's open to mispronunciation.  I think when you can play the way he can it helps create a thick skin.

Here's the word:  Kaka completes switch to Madrid

Yeah, I knew that.  You think opposing fans would be concerned with 'proper' pronunciation?!

[WLCALUM83]

World Cup Qualifier Final just in:

Mexico 2, Trinidad & Tobago 1  (T & T tied this one in 1st half stoppage time- then El Tri scored 4 minutes into the second half and held on--)

Also heard England beat their opponent 6-0.

[Joe Wally]

The return of the Galacticos, and the dimming of the star power in the Premiership.

Acc. to espn soccernent, Man U has agreed to send Christiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid.

I'm a Gunners fan, always have been since I started watching the game, so in some sense I am happy to see a weaker Man U come into the EPL season next fall (although I am sure that Ferguson will work very, very, hard to fill the void left by the loss of Ronaldo).  That said, two fixtures aside, I found Ronaldo to be a truly extraordinary talent to watch, and I will miss seeing him wreak havoc throughout the EPL.

Good luck in Spain, Christiano!

[Hoosier Titan]

£80 million transfer fee, it was.  Wow.

I've never been sold on CR myself.  Yes, he undoubtedly has skills.  But too often (and a LOT down the stretch this season) he has seemed to be more concerned about himself than about the team game.  No tracking back, for example.

I suspect that some of the MU players (Wayne Rooney, for example) were getting tired of playing a support role.  My guess is the Man U locker room may be a happier place.  And you know that Ferguson would have already been putting things in order--this has been in the works for a long time.

As with Gareth Barry, we can be grateful that it didn't drag on for another two months. 

So that's £135 million Real has forked out for two players.  Again, wow.