Ricardo Oliveira is Loaned to Zaragoza

Just saw the news that the Brazilian striker Ricardo Oliveira has been loaned out to Zaragoza for a year. I would like to spend a little time talking about Real Zaragoza. When I think of them, I get reminded of Spurs. A top five side that does not have the high profiles of Valencia, Real Madrid and Barcelona.

But without a doubt a team that boasts a lot of talents. They are used to getting star players that the other teams discard and have done a great job putting everyone into the same team. Aimar is one. Diego Milito and previously Gabriel Milito are two great players in their own right. Andrés D'Alessandro is another top class playmaker that can't get into the Argentina national team because of Riquelme and Messi. Albert Celades played previously for Barcelona and Real Madrid and isn't too bad a defensive midfielder.

Come to think of it, it is a pretty good strategy. Target those players that are good prospects and have been bought at high prices by the big clubs or came through the ranks of the youth academies. But because of the huge competition at such clubs, they find themselves warming the bench most of the time. That is how Zaragoza ends up at its current league position.

Real Madrid, I Hate You!

I have to admit, Real Madrid is MY team, my favourite team, my childhood team, the team I worship. And it pains me to see what Real Madrid has been doing all this while. I can't wait for the transfer season to end, because I don't see any player coming that I would like to see. I cannot see how Real Madrid can challenge Barcelona in the upcoming season. And here is why.

Where is Capello?
Well, if there is one thing the management of Real Madrid likes, it is to sack coaches. Win things and we sack you after one season. Lose against Barcelona and you lose your job the next day. Start losing and we are still going to sack you. We had probably the best coach in Spain and we sack him when he wins the Spanish La Liga after a four year drought. He gave us a reason to believe that we can win after conceding a goal and he loses his job. Well, at least he knows he will have a huge paycheck and the likes of Jose Antonio Camacho, Vanderlei Luxemburgo, Mariano García Remón, Vicente del Bosque and Carlos Queiroz have all been sacked before him. At least he lasted one whole season. And his replacement - Bernd Schuster. Oh, the guy whose team went to the Nou Camp and got thrashed by Barcelona?

Where is Kaka?
Ever since Zidane left, we have lacked a natural playmaker to dictate play. Kaka could have been a natural replacement - someone who has both the profile and the skills to match possibly the most famous soccer club in the world. Guti is simply too inconsistent to do the job. At times, he looks like someone who can do the impossible. Most of the time, he is busy complaining to the referee. But I guess AC Milan is never going to let Kaka go. But what about Cesc Fabregas? Well, he looked like a possible replacement and given Arsenal's turmoils, it seemed like there couldn't be a better time to rob the London club of their prize assets. That was until Arsene Wenger stepped in and persuaded Fabregas the London club is the best place for him. So we are left with no one again.

Contrast this with our arch-enemy, Barcelona. They lost the Spanish Cup to Getafe in one of the biggest upset of the season. They failed to defend both their Champions League and La Liga championship titles. And what did they do next? They shocked the world by buying Thierry Henry, Yaya Toure, Eric Abidal and Gabriel Milito. One is Arsenal's all-time leading goal scorer. Another is one of the best defenders in La Liga last season. Yaya Toure is an upcoming midfield prospect while Eric Abidal - he can only enhance Barcelona's defence.

I have had enough. Why did I support this club in the first place?

Spanish FA Releases 07-08 La Liga Schedule

The Spanish FA has released the schedule for the upcoming La Liga season.

Real Madrid will face city rivals Atletico Madrid in their first game.
Barcelona is away to Racing Santander.
Sevilla is at home to Getafe, without their manager though.
Valencia comes up against Villarreal.

Is anyone interested in a public Google Calendar of the match-ups?

Barcelona Reject Arrives in Real Madrid

Barcelona reject Javier Saviola has arrived in Madrid where he is expected to be revealed as Real Madrid's newest signing. After signing Liverpool reject Jerzy Dudek as backup for Iker Casillas, the Spanish giants have moved fast to sign up Saviola. They don't actually have to act that fast in my opinion, since Barcelona doesn't really want Saviola and he has practically nowhere else to go to.

Thanks Real - after firing one of the best managers around, you start to sign rejects from Barcelona. Saviola ain't exactly Luis Figo you know. When you guys signed the Portugese, he was arguably one of the best players in the world, Saviola, on the other hand, has been warming the Barcelona bench. I am quite confident of where the La Liga title will end up next season.