There Is Only One Sinnacle

Barcelona forward Ronaldinho will sign for AC Milan on Wednesday in a deal that is worth €21 million, possibly rising to €25millon.

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Thankfully these rumors of Ronaldinho to Manchester City can now be put to bed. Even if City did sign him it wouldn’t be worth it. Do you really think Ronaldinho would go all out at Manchester City. He has played and won at the highest levels. If he wasn’t motivated at Barcelona there would be little chance of that passion returning at Manchester City.

One place where that passion can return is A.C Milan. Ronaldinho will be playing along side Kaka and Pato but with the likes of Gattuso, Pirlo, Ambrosini, and Flamini he can solely focus on the attacking side of the game. With A.C Milian looking to over take Inter Milan as the best team in Italy they will need Ronaldindo to reclaim his previous form in order to do so.

Part of me is “footballed out” since the European Championship. It seems that I repeat the same news over and over again that don’t seem to be any closer to happening than the day before. On the flip side with friendlies just getting started and knowing the European season is just over a month away I’m getting excited for the upcoming season.

Basically what I’m saying it that sorry for being on auto pilot the last week. I’ve been enjoying the lull that is this time in the football calendar. As always however thanks for taking the time in checking out the site. Any comments, ideas, things you like, things you hate are always welcome.

Hope you enjoy the long weekend. Below is a highlight clip of Team USA 2002 World Cup run.

Milan priced out of move for Adebayor

AC Milan accept they have been priced out of the market for Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor by the Gunners’ ‘impossible’ valuation of last season’s top scorer.

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First Ronaldinho and now Adebayor. I’m getting tired of Adriano Galliani talking to the press about players he wants to buy, talking to the players agents about signing those players but when it comes time to talk to those players team about a transfer fee he is shocked about the price tag. Galliani could save me time in this dog and pony show by talking to the clubs first before talking to the press.

Raises a Labatt’s Blue to the True North Strong and Free. Below is a clip of our soccer history. Sadly it’s only three minutes long but maybe one day the Canadian Soccer Association can get its act together to the point where Canada can qualify for a World Cup again.

NEW YORK (AP) - Spain’s 1-0 victory over Germany in the European Championship final got a 3.1 overnight rating on ABC.

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ABC must be happy drawing that number on a Sunday afternoon. Personally I think its only a matter of time before ESPN purchases the right to broadcast EPL games when that contact comes up for renewal in a couple of years.

Of Course all these were for entertainment purposes only.

First Prop Group Winner

Group D winner

Spain -110

Spain bowed out in the group stage at Euro 2004. I just don’t see history repeating itself here. If all things go to form and history is correct Spain will display the same type of form as the World Cup. That is, look like World Beaters in the Group stage and then get sent home during the knockout rounds.

Spain just has the talent to break open either Sweden, Greece and Russia. The latter two they have a history with since Spain, Greece and Russia where all in the same group at Euro 2004.

Yeah, I look foolish now saying Spain was going to be sent home in the group stage but I did nail this one on the hail none-the-less. Winner

Total Goals

Czech Republic under 4.5 +104

Knock on wood by the Czech Republic are not going to score more then one goal each against Portugal and Turkey. Both of those teams play well at the back. The Czech strikers (Baros and Koller) can’t create chances on their own. They each need the service in the midfield to set them up. With Arsenal mdifielder Tomas Rosicky hurt the Czech Republic will be hard pressed to create much in the way of scoring chances. Take into account that Koller is deadly on set pieces but its Rosicky who is the one floating in the box thus Koller will have a hard time making an impact. Unless they can crack open Switzerland the Czech’s should be bounced in the first round with a goal total under 4.5.

You will soon see why Turkey was far and away my favorite team at Euro 2008 - Winner

Netherlands under 4.5 -106

I’m not on the Dutch bandwagon, yes they have a ton of offensive weapons but Italy and France have the players to counter act that. Good D bets a good offensive applies in soccer too. Since I think Holland will be knocked out in the first round I’ll go with the under.

Netherlands scored nine goals in the group stage alone. Can’t win them all. Loser

Romania over 2.5 goals -103

I am on the Romanian band wagon however. I think the other three teams in the so called group of death will let up against Romania thinking they are the easy team in the group. With Holland having a shaky back 4 I have a feeling they can put two goals in during that game. From there I’ll keep my fingers cross that they can score against either Italy or France.

Damn you Mutu for missing that Penalty. Turkey and Romania were my dark horses going into Euro 2008. One made me look smart, one let me down. Loser

Head to Head scoring match ups

L. Toni +130 over M. Klose

Toni is a dog due to being in a much tougher group. Both team on the same club team (Bayern Munich). Even if they play a 4-5-1 like they did against Scotland Luca Toni is the choice up front.

Since I expect Italy to make it out of the “group of death” I’ll hang my hat on Toni at plus money.

No longer have a hat after this bet. Toni never got it scoring and Klose opened his scoring account against Portugal. All and all a bet I’d like to forget. Loser

F. Torres +100 vs Cristiano Ronaldo.

The line is right since other factors come into play such as Ronaldo will take the free kicks and penalty kicks for Portugal I’ll still favour the natural striker in this match-up. Mind you I wouldn’t mind being wrong.

Needless to say Torres goal against Germany had extra special meaning to me. Still wish I lost this bet. Winner

To advance further in Euro 2008

Germany -238 vs Netherlands

Yes I know chalky. While it may not be the cake walk some expect it to be I do believe Germany will advance out of a group that also features Croatia, Poland and Austria. I don’t expect Holland to move on. Even if both teams move on and let’s say both go according to plan. Germany finishes 1st and there group and Holland finish 2nd. Germany would meet the second place team in group A (either Portugal, Turkey, Czech, Switzerland) where as Holland would most likely go up against Spain in the other group. Provided Germany avoids Portugal they would still be favoured to advance to the semi finals hence I’ll lay the chalk.

After the group stage I was hating this bet but thanks to Russia alls well that ends well. Winner

Turkey +169 vs Greece

Turkey on the other hand is exactly the type of team that will give Portugal trouble and I still don’t understand why the odds are so high here. I don’t think the Czech Republic will be much of a factor in group A and Switzerland are not quite ready for prime time yet despite being at home.

Thanks to the Turkish miracle I cashed this one as well. Had a feeling midnight had struck for this Greek team. Winner

To advance from group stage:

As you can tell I’m not on the Czech bandwagon. Part of me does think because they are under the radar they may do something in this tournament. But then part of me goes nah. Both the Swiss and Turkey can take points off the Czech any day of the week. With Portugal knock on wood again I hope this goes to plan but they have no one in the midfield that can naturalize Portugal. If Portugal can control the midfield against the Czech they will break them open during that game. So hopefully its 3 and out for the Czech Republic.

Add this one to the list as well. Winner

Romania to advance from group C Yes +370

I like Romania, people are sleeping on them but I’m not. The last time Romania was in the European Champions was back in 2000 and they were also in the group of death with Portugal, England and Germany. Well Portugal and Romania may it through to the knockout round. There is no reason history can’t repeat itself with them tripping up France and Holland along the way.

This was looking so good going into the final game but in one of the worst performances I’ve seen at Euro 2008 Romania came out flatter than a training bra against Holland and got sent home. Loser

France to advance from group C No +150

French coach Raymond Domenech never met a 1-0 lead he didn’t like. I’m hoping that will come back to bite him in the ass as 1-0 late leads turn into 1-1 draws instead of pushing on for the second goal. In this group one bad result can send you home.

Didn’t like Raymond Domenech going into this tournament and he gave me every reason not to like him going forward. Winner

Points in Group Stages

Italy over 4.5 points -114

I trust Italy to get the points a lot more then I do France or Holland.

Four points didn’t get it done. The phrase “didn’t get it done” pretty much summed up the Italian Euro 2008 experience. Loser

Decided on penalties

How many games will be decided on penalties ?

I’ll side with history and hope it comes through.

History came through thanks to Turkey’s last second goal against Croatia and Italy playing for Penalty kicks against Spain. Winner

Red cards

Wording should be changed in my opinion. Technically while you would have to be a goon to do so, a player can get two red cards during the tournament. The number seemed high when I looked at it, then saw that Euro 2004 had only 6 red cards and pulled the trigger.

Didn’t get much easier than this. Only 3 red cards in the entire tournament. Pats myself on the back. Winner

So to sum it record wise. Nine wins and fives losses. If every “fake” bet was made for $100 that would lead to a profit of $513

Chelsea Sign Deco - Official

Chelesa have officially announced the signing of Portuguese midfielder Deco, who signs on after a torrid final season at FC Barcelona. Player and new club alike have been seeking each other out for some time, and just days after Euro 2008 they have completed their deal…

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In a move that surprised few, Chelsea have signed Deco from Spanish giants Barcelona. Considering the transfer fee this is a move that offers very little risk and major rewards for Chelsea. Looking at Deco you would think with his fame that he wouldn’t be up to the physical nature of the EPL. Deco however has no problem mixing it up in the midfield and his passing is world class. Chelsea fans will now hope that a Ballack/Deco midfield partnership will link up better than Lampard/Ballack who never quite got on the same page.

Emmanuel Adebayor has insisted he is ’staying at Arsenal’ and that money would never be his motivation to move clubs.

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Well that should put this transfer rumor to bed until next summer at least. Not sure if it’s a good thing or bad thing that Arsenal won’t cash in on Adebayor but I would think most Arsenal fans are happy with the news.

No fancy 4-5-1 or a make believe 4-3-3 like Italy and Chelsea play which is really a 4-5-1 because they are two wide players up front tying to support the lone striker. Spain on the other hands keeps with old school with a flat 4-4-2. You have a static back line with only Ramos making the run up field but that is usually covered by Senna who’s role in the midfield is to do the dirty work. The other three midfield players are all trying to create for the two strikers up front instead. That is unlike the popular lone striker holding play up trying to connect with his midfield players.