Raúl González Blanco - A Glimpse of Greatness

Almost a complete oddity witnessing the
man out of that white kit he very much
made his own.

Almost un-noticable in the rich blue colours of FC Schalke 04, last night served up ageing football lovers and aspiring kids both just a taster of real legend status in his game. 

Now 34, the Real Madrid all-time appearence and goal scoring record holder appears the heartbeat inside of a very youthful and promising Schalke side.  Working just off of another former Madrid employee Klaas Jan-Huntelaar, he very much serves the Dutch goal scoring machine with all kinds of swarve ammunition that Raul established in the days of The Galacticos.
The raw energy of Jefferson Farfan and in particular a young German winger they think very highly of, Julian Drexler - and this Gelsenkirchen club appear to hold the offensive capabilities of going a long way.

By far and away the tie of the Quarter Finals.

The 2011-2012 UEFA Europa League handed them a real tester in the Quarter Final draw - Athletic Club Bilbao - conquerers so emphatically of Manchester United awaited.  The Basque side impressing the collective eyes of the globe last time out.

The first-leg at The Veltins-Arena began in stark contrast to the script, Schalke were playing in all of the impressive triangles leaving the Spaniards chasing shadows, barely managing the string two or three passes together. 

In honesty, one thing stuck out like a saw thumb - the Schalke number 7.

When Raul accepted the move to Germany, it was almost the end of an era, most believed the end of a career.  One of those moves that didn't concern the football - but more the luxurious lifestyle.
Not with Raul.

The vice-Captain is in-or-around a goal every two league games in the Bundesliga and last night was a truly blissful reminder of those glorious Bernabau nights where he lined up shoulder to shoulder with Ronaldo, Zidane and co.

The globally known 'Galacticos'

The 102-capped Spanish forward conducted the proceedings as if leading an orchestra.  His free role in the 'hole' allowed his creativity to come to the boil and his brains and guile concocted with pace and power going forward appeared ruthless.

Ironically, it was the Spanish forward all Spaniards will be pinning their hopes on this summer at Euro 2012 that broke the deadlock - so against the run of play - it almost sparked the Raul-inspired Germans into life.  31 seconds was the gap between the scoring of Fernando Llorente's opener and Japanese full-back Atsudo Uchida firing a ball across the six-yard box for Raul to delightfully flick over the Bilbao stopper.

The veteren made his way back to the half-way line.  Inspriring his Schalke adorers and almost tutoring his team-mates "that's what we can do".

The aftermath of his beautiful
second effort.

It was on the hour mark that the Spaniard fully grasped the occasion with a full sense of belonging and after a ball broke for him in the air he steadied himself before unleashing a devastating looping volley past Iraizoz.  It was magestic, and the whole Stadium - including Raul's Manager and coaches - appeared in awe.

Indeed it could've been an even greater, perhaps more nostalgic night of European football if his next cameo had burst the net.  The number 7 danced through a couple of challenges before his trademark 'Madrid-chip' almost capped a fantastic hat-rick - the audacity and hunger of the maestro those had grown up to worship still very much existed.

One thing Bilbao showed from their obliteration of the English Champions is that they contain enough quality to always be dangerous - even on an off day.  That man Llorente again, intent on ruining his countryman's headlines, smacked a near post header in before two perfectly ruthless counter-attacked finishes from Oscar de Marco and Iker Muniain all but settled the tie with 4 away goals for the thriving Basques.

One things for sure though - anyone watching the quite beautiful, flowing football game can walk away having learnt one thing.
That is what you have to surpass to be considered a true great of the game.

Conspiracies Gone Cuckoo - The Tale of FC Barcelona & The Syrian Rebels

Conspiracy Theories are not everyone's cup of tea.  There are those out there who will attempt to find a hidden message in the most blatant of news stories, there are those who can't stand the idea of not knowing the exact truth behind everything that goes on.

Of course, we never know if everything we have been learnt via News channels and Media outlets are genuine.  Who knows who shot Kennedy? Has man ever truthfully set foot on the moon? What really happened on the fateful day of 9/11?  There are the general answers - then there are ideas created by 'out-there' individuals who claim evidence leads to monumental cover-ups.

A particular comment summarised perfectly exactly what I'd read; "I can find a conspiracy in a church bake sale. But this is nuts."

Spain's current World and European Champions, FC Barcelona - have been hysterically accused of sending secret signals to Syrian Rebels during a televised game with arch-rivals Real Madrid.

Pedro just before burying his terrorist goal.

While most sit back, admire what they are seeing and acknowledge they could be witnessing one of the greatest Sports teams of all time - there are those who would rather pick through a classic Barcelona-style flowing goal and suggest it was subject to some sort of terrorist movement!

Seemingly suggesting that the entire of the Camp Nou squad are not satisfied with their pay-roll and thought they'd earn a bit on the side mixing with some Asian freedom fighters.

A real worrying insight into
Barcelona's contacts in Asia.

While the rest of the world scratches their heads in sheer bewilderment - I attempted to unnearth that link, that catastrophically concrete evidence that fixes Lionel Messi and co with the Rebels.  Now I'm going to be honest with you - in about 10 minutes worth of thought I came up with their oil grabbing sponsers 'Qatar Foundations' but didn't get much further.

On a serious note - Has the world gone bonkers?  The thought of Pep Guerdiola instructing World Cup Final winners Andres Iniesta to collect the ball in that exact central midfield spot and then to lay the ball into the Argentine Messi who shoul then beat four Madrid defenders to mark the drection in which the Rebels used to smuggle guns from the Lebanese border - is beyond comical.

We can clarly see Messi receiving the arms -
sorry ball on the border before travelling
through Homs and feeding Pedro who was coincedently
waiting at Dayr Al Zawr who then perfectly slotted to Al
Magadin - sorry the net!

Finally the ball was slotted into Pedro, who ignored 80 odd-thousand capaticy stadium - the countless million fans right across the globe and reminisced back to his Syrian pay-cheque, and finished the ball under Iker Casillas - making sure the ball travelled the exact same route as the Syrian arms.

The atrocity that Syrian national television was able to air the following "Here we see the first stage where arms are loaded from Lebanon. Then they pass through Homs and are delivered to another terrorist. We also see how they warn that they will face some obstacles until they reach Dayr Al Zawr" - is gobsmacking, the idea of the thing has thoroughly blown my mind.


Perhaps it genuinely explains to the world just why Syria have found themselves in the situation they have.  Their Government was so intent on catching a bit of Spanish football on their local network that they allowed their proposed work in catching the Rebels slip - 'Why not kill two birds with one stone!?' they must have thought.

Here is the actual news clip from Syria TV Station 'Addounia' -

admittedly it's all foreign, yet the analysis and work is so painfully thorough,

the message is soundly drilled through.

I'm not sure about all you out there, but this has to be one of my favorite footballing stories of recent memory - for sheer outrageousness and levels of desperation - it's a genuine classic!

Read the original breaking story here: http://offthebench.nbcsports.com/2012/03/21/lionel-messi-accused-of-sending-secret-signals-to-syrian-rebels-during-match/

Shoot! Magazine Liverpool FC blog

http://www.shoot.co.uk/news/latest_article/C48/premier_league/liverpool_must_fight_on

Post-Wembley Carling Cup final reaction and looking to vital Arsenal league game.

The Poisoned Chalice - When oh when will Roman learn?

Deep, deep down in any Chelsea supporter's mind - post-Mourinho times haven't quite felt right.  Sure, it's not the lack of honours, Guus Hiddink and Carlo Ancelotti bagged four trophies between them - one a Premier League title.

The age old question remains 'How do you replace The Special One?' - Jose almost became part of the furniture at Stamford Bridge, he wasn't in charge for a particularly substantial length of time, nonetheless he gave the supporters what they wanted, created a structure, a squad from scratch.

It was never hidden just how close Jose Mourinho was with his more senior squad members, the likes of John Terry, Frank Lampard, Petr Cech and Didier Drogba all held a notoriously friendly relationship with their boss - something so precious when times are high, but so dangerous when things begin to turn sour...

'The Special One' - Jose built up such a solid relationship
with his stars

Avram Grant began only as a stand-in, much as Roberto Di Matteo is now, filling the gap before Abramovich can lure another puppet to his collection.  Things were running smoothly for the Israeli Manager and he got the post full-time, only to stear the ship to a trophyless end and placed in the firing line, before being stabbed firmly between the shoulders.

 Luis Felipe Scolari next, former Brazil and Portugal Manager - this in many Chelsea eyes were when things began to spiral downwards.  A regime that has held much in common with that of recently diminished boss Andre Villas-Boas, the Brazilian lasted a matter of days less than AVB.  The tenures of Grant and Scolari were beginning to take toll on the London club.

Hiddink came in, grew extremely close with fans and players alike - and memorably ended his interim position with a FA Cup trophy.  The Russian was always only there to help compatriot Roman until the end of the term - it perhaps wasn't presumed that he'd become such a cult figure for the Blues, it was hard to say goodbye, but was never going to be forever.

This was the make or break time for the owner - 6 years on from his revolutionary takeover and his most prized asset was still not won, the UEFA Champions League trophy remained just a dream.  Quite aware that his chopping and changing of Managers was beginning to appear rather farcical in the media, Roman needed another Mourinho figure - one he could rely on for the next five years.

The moment Terry slipped and Roman's dreams were shattered

Carlo Ancelotti was the man with the European pedigree, if anyone knew how to collect the biggest prize in club football it was this Italian.  It was all going smoothly, more than that - fabulously, Mourinho-esque, Ancelotti stormed to the Premier League title in his first term.  That just wasn't enough however as Champions League defeats to Inter Milan and Mancheser United all but sealed his fate.

While all this was going on in West London, a sort of Mourinho incarnation was revolutionising Portugal.  Eerily, 34 year old Andre Villas-Boas was smashing all sorts of records Mourinho has built whilst in charge of his Porto side - going a whole Primeira Liga term unbeaten and demolishing the lesser European competition. 

Turn to AVB - the young, fresh faced Boss lead Porto
to domination, just like Jose before him.

By this time Terry, Lampard and Drogba had all turned the wrong side of 30 and the once strong spine of Jose Mourinho's empire had been slowly deteriorating and the fleeting appearences of Managers coming and going were less than comfortable embarking on a whole new regime.

AVB bought with him youth, energy and a modern spark that would freshen Stamford Bridge and blow away cobwebs of the previous few years.  38 games in all competitions later - following a dismal showing away at West Bromwich Albion - he ended up right where Mourinho, Grant, Scolari and Ancelotti had before him, in the firing line.

There are many reasons why Villas-Boas failed so spectacularly, 3 wins in 12 were the stats before his sacking - a simply abysmal record for a club the stature of Chelsea.  Was he indeed too young and inexperienced to carry the responsibility of a 'big' club? Sure, it would look impressive when things were flying but under scrutiny - the spritely young man from Porto appeared to be going greyer than Grant, Hiddink and Ancelotti before him - at half their age.

The word around is of players controlling what happens at Stamford Bridge, senior players, who have been there in the thick and thin of it - throwing a wobbler when not selected, all kinds of news stories of Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard being left on the bench - when things were going right, the youth policy was great - when wrong, the whole place needed a thorough sweep through.  The man simply couldn't win...

Dejected and defeated, the British press and half
his Chelsea squad were attacking from every angle

It has got to the sickening point now, when one wonders 'where can Roman turn to?' we are in March and Chelsea appear appaling, with central defenders unable to defend, £50m centre forwards unable to hit a barn door (Fernando Torres has only notched 6 goals under the whole tenures of his last 6 managers).  A stand-in Manager will only be deemed a success if he grabs that final Champions League spot - with neighbours Arsenal seemingly picking up a bit of form, it seems highly unlikely.

Roberto Di Matteo has been handed the task, he has known the players since the summer - did a steady if not spectacular job in The Midlands with West Brom and holds at least that bit of Premier League managerial experience.

All we can say is good luck Di Matteo, not a lot to work with, most probably unable to achieve right from wrong and barring a footballing miracle will be replaced by a 'top class Champions League able boss' in the summer.  Following that, there's only one thing to consider...

Will he ger longer than 8 or 9 months to prove to the mighty Roman he can rebuild an empire?