Real Madrid vs Tottenham : Recap

What did we learn about yesterday's game? Finally after getting beyond the haunted round of 16, Madrid can really be seen as contenders for the title. They sure did play like it. I'll give Spurs some credit for the first half performance and also playing with 10 men for such a long time but all in all they were outplayed by a way better team with better players and a better manager. As simple as that. Madrid was as fluid as ever seen this season and constantly peppered Gomes' goal. Defending by Spurs was constantly last ditch and this was premise to the domination of Madrid in the match. The European adventure was sweet and entertaining while it lasted for Spurs and hats off to them as they shocked the two strongest teams in Italy to get where they are and played great football, but they must now step aside as the greater teams make way. If Real Madrid can stay healthy and get all of their players back to peak form, especially the likes of Higuain (Great to see him back) and Ricky Kaka they will seriously have to be contenders for the title at Wembley. Madrid will have no excuses for not putting in a great showing in the next round (given they see off spurs) who ever they play as they are practically out of the La liga race. It will be all champions league and copa del rey final for las madridistas.This being said, how do you rate Real Madrid's chances of winning back their beloved Champions League trophy?

What's left of Italian Football?

Did Inter Milan single handedly save Italian football today from the ultimate shame? Or maybe just for a couple weeks until they play their next opponents, who knows, but all we can say based on what we have seen is that Serie A is on the drop. As we all know by know Germany's Bundesliga will be 3rd ranked league in the world and will be granted that 4th CL spot opportunity while only 3 Serie A teams will be competing for European's Football most prestigious competition. The League will have a long way before it can get back to its dominating years like in the recent past such as the 90's, when Juventus was probably the most feared team. Now Juventus can't even scare Bari...or Cesena. Teams like Juventus and Roma are in disarray, Milan a top european team now hasn't been past the round of 16 since they last won it in 2007. Italy seems to be depending on growing teams such as Napoli and Udinese to carry the torch but it seems Napoli's Europa dream was short lived. Who knows how long Serie A will be in a slump? I sure can't give an answer but I will admit i like the direction teams such as Napoli and Udinese are heading and with a little more money invested in teams like Roma, Milan and Lazio...I surely believe they all will be reckoned with in the future. For now, and for the past few years Italy has been riding on Inter's back but how much longer can they carry it? Let's wait and see.....btw Super Win for Inter vs Bayern...amazing come back! Leave comments...tell me what you think.

Top 10 Summer 2010 signings with the biggest impact?

Last summer there was a lot of transfer activity as usual and now we are more than half way through the season. Now I'll take a look and give the top 10 most impacted summer purchases, in my opinion for the European clubs of the world.

10. Milos Krasic - The tumbling ballerina as he may be known with his extremely exaggerated dives, the Serbian playmaker in my eyes have been a difference maker for the Bianconeri. Although he has only scored 5 league goals and attributed with 6 assists, his overall play has been good and Juventus rarely looked good without him if good at all as they continue their indifferent season.

9. Shinji Kagawa - The Japanese summer signing for German league toppers Borussia Dortmund has been great for them in the league, scoring 8 league goals, 2nd top scorer for the team in the league. In total he has scored 12 goals in all competition from 27 appearances and his early season form had given Dortmund great momentum for the season.

8. Ricardo Carvalho - The Portuguese summer signing from Chelsea FC has been a rock at the back for the Bernabeu outfit. Madrid has improved defensively this season ( bar the super classico) and much of that had to do with the acquisition of the consistent CB from Chelsea FC.

7. Borja Valero - The Spanish midfielder joined on loan from West Brom on a season long loan and has had a fantastic impact from the middle of the park, scoring 4 goals and assisting 8. His form is part of the reason for the rejuvenated Villarreal side we have seen this season. ( didn't mean to rhyme)

6 Yaya Toure - In my opinion, money well spent. 25 million large Man City splashed for the Ivorian. He just might be the fastest and strongest midfielder in the Premier League and has been ever present in the Man City line up from day 1. His midfield presence this season has made Man City one of the tougher teams in the league and is no shock they are well within the title race.

5. Javier Hernandez (Chicharito) - Another great piece of transfer business done by Sir Alex Ferguson where he got the little Mexican before the summer World Cup where he would go on to show his great potential and scored two goals. For united this season he has been a savior with the name tag of Ole Gunar! He has been a superb impact substitute and has scored 11 goals this year for the team becoming the 2nd top scorer for them. From those 11, 5 of them have been GAME WINNERS!

4. Mesut Ozil - Although Cristiano Ronaldo and Higuain contribute the goals and snatch the headlines, the German play maker has been the silent star and arguably their most important player this season thus far (bar Casillas lol) So far this season he has made a great impact, scoring 9 goals and setting up 12 others in the absence of kaka. He is a favourite of Mourinho as he regularly gets the nod and he justifies this with his silky play and clinical passes.On Form...Currently probably only 2nd to Iniesta in his position.

3. Rafael Van Der Vaart - A great coup from Harry Redknaap late in the transfer market in the summer of 2010 for Tottenham. Although he hasn't been their more important player, he has statistically made the biggest impact and has brought a bit of consistency and a winning mentality to the ever improving London based club. He has scored 12 goals and assisted 6 more for the team. At least 5 of them being game winners and game changers. He made his biggest impact for Spurs against local rivals Arsenal in the Derby after being two goals down at the break, he brought spurs back by supplying two assists and converting a penalty.

2. Zlatan Ibrahimovic - The big Swede has been a revelation for the Rosseneri this year. He has scored plenty of goals, and assists including a stunning volley for Milan against Lecce. It is hard to see where AC Milan would be this season without his contribution. He made a significant impact since game 1 and has been ever present in the team. Made the right choice to leave Barcelona and is playing at Milan as if he feels at home.( Although he is an ex Juventus and Inter player) He has scored 13 league goals and supplied 9 assists. Great from the front man.

1. MR. EDISON CAVANI - Mr. Napoli himself. This Uruguayan super star has easily been the best signing of the summer and money well spent by Napoli. He just may be their heir to the void unfilled by Diego Maradona years ago. He is for sure one of the best strikers in the world right now and shows no weakness. Great with his right, left and fantastic with his head! He just scores goals and have single handedly kept Napoli in the Serie A title race. So far he has is the top scorer in the league with 18 but has a total of 25 goals for Napoli in the season thus far. Top Player!

so that is my list for the top 10 summer signings with the biggest impact thus far....what's your take on this latest blog? any Notable Absentees from my list? ...maybe David Villa, Quaresma and Guti at Beskitas?...Chamakh for Arsenal? Fabio Quagliarella? Fabio Simplicio? Asamoah Gyan? Please give me your opinions....I feel i have been close to spot on...

Tommy Smyth's top 25...agree?

As of Thursday, February 3, 2011...will be updated by him on Thursday, Feb 10th 2011

1 Barcelona
2 Manchester United
3 AC Milan
4 Arsenal
5 Napoli
6 Borussia Dortmund
7 Real Madrid
8 Inter Milan
9 Manchester City
10 Chelsea
11 Porto
12 Tottenham
13 PSV Eindhoven
14 Roma
15 Estudiantes
16 Fluminense
17 Lille
18 PSG
19 Shakhtar Donetsk
20 Copenhagen
21 Atlas
22 Villarreal
23 Zenit St Petersburg
24 Lazio
25 Udinese

After the past weekend there might be a bit of a shuffle. I have to disagree on some of these placings. For one, Napoli has had a great season thus far but Borussia Dortmund has been sensational. They have totally dominated Germany so far and have hardly slipped up. They have ever presently been better than Napoli this year in my opinion, even within the past couple weeks. I actually would give them 4th spot based on their year. The ever improving Udinese is really getting up the table and should climb much higher than that 25th place. Chelsea continue to stutter, should they lose their top 10 place? Surely Inter may find themselves in the top 6? What about Arsenal and Man United? after losing a 4 goal lead and ending a 29 unbeaten streak respectively, should their position be lowered? One thing is for sure, Barcelona has been the best for the past two months comfortably and deservedly are number one! Give me your ideas on this.

Record Weekend of Premier League goals...Good or Bad?

Must admit I'm a huge fan of high scoring games, its really good on the eye but is there as much bad as good of this? This past weekend there were many high scoring games and pretty exciting ones but did this record weekend highlight the quality of attack in the EPL or the lack of defense from various teams. In most games I watched or saw the highlights for there were many set piece goals as if they teams have forgotten how to defend them. Once again Arsenal struggled from them (poor referee I might add) Man United, Sunderland, Aston Villa...it is an alarming trend..

How Credible is La Liga? (Spanish Football League)

Lets not take anything away from the quality that is Barcelona and Real Madrid, but let us be serious. How credible is this league? These two teams average almost 4 and 3 goals a game. How often have these teams had to fight for a result? 90% of the time the result is a given. People always like to call the names of players at the various spanish teams but are they really that good. The English Premier League and Italy Serie A have shown what a competitive league should be and is like and still giving quality football. Please Give me your opinion