Having a dream of playing for Real Madrid and for what?

Dream of playing for a shite team?!

Would would anyone wanna leave Manchester United.

Not so fast, mate.

Liverpool appeared to have torn RM to shreds – they were just as good in Madrid but then they let Arjen Robben go to his left so it looked as if RM had a clue (i.e., never let Robben – or Adriano – go to their left side since they are one-legged players). Last night, I was astounded that Torres was not penalized for pulling his marker out of the way (Rodney Marsh might have said “pulled off” his marker but that’s another story). Then they got an absurd penalty decision. At that point, the players for Franco’sFascists were wondering about their flight plans. It reminded me of “that night” in Milan when Gabby Heinze – the common link ? – played cowboy in our penalty area and the game was over almost before it began.This is not to say that L’poo weren’t superior but it is to say that everything went their way last night.

Chel$ki did not dominate Juventus in either leg. But, fortunately for the RentBoyz, Claudio Ranieri continued to make bizarre coaching decisions. Why not start Amauri ? Why take off Trezuguet ? Being nil-one down after the game in London, Juventus needed goals and Amauri is their leading scorer this season; Trezuguet is a fantastic poacher whose marvellous overhead kick sent Iaquinta free for the first goal. And, come to that, why take off Iaquinta when they were chasing the game ? For the RentBoyz, their first goal was lucky but they deserved it since they had been wrongly denied a goal two minutes earlier (what about instant goal-line technology, eh ?). Their second goal was a beauty but, even with Michael Essien, they had real trouble containing little Alessandro del Piero and were constantly on their back feet. By no means a remarkable victory; a hard-fought victory.

TheArse should beat ASROma without Daniele di Rossi and with a few others – including Totti – being questionable. But with TheArse, you never know what team will walk out the tunnel.

UTD/InterMilan should be a stroll based on the “evidence” of the match at the San Siro but I’m not counting my chickens. The good news for TheLads is that the InterMilan back four is in a shambles – kinda like “that night” in Milan in reverse, I hope. JoseTheMoaner will have his team set up for penalties and defending deep; can UTD break down a packed box – this is a constant source of concern with our lot. I expect a match in which UTD boss the possession – 60/40 – but there is no reason to believe that that will turn into goals IF Julio Cesar is again stupendous.

Overall, then, the English teams – i.e., those that represent English cities – have been superior so far but the margin has been rather less dramatic than you suggest. And, of course, there are more games to play. Which is why they play the games.

I personally don’t like to see any other English team get through and certainly don’t want all english semi finals (unless its the dippers) but on recent evidence European football is dead.

He will get paid by the bushel-load to stay at OldTrafford.

By private jet, I would imagine that the time/distance from Madrid to his island home is hardly much less than from Manchester. He might be “Portuguese” but his home is not on the mainland. So, we’re probably talking about a thirty-minute difference in flying-time.

IF/When Ronaldo goes to Madrid it will be because it represents his boyhood “dream” and the very fact that RM is in shambles would make that “dream” all the more compelling for someone who is “nice kind of arrogant” since he could imagine himself to be the knight on the white charger who will turn the club around.