Odds and Sods

Apparently, Madonna let Guy Ritchie out of his gimp suit long enough to shoot this amazing Nike commercial.

The PFA Player of the Year nominees are a formality.  Ronaldo will in it.  No contest.

But one has to ask.  Where is Wayne Rooney?

Rooney has 11 goals and 11 assists in just 23 league appearances.  Despite Ronaldo’s grandiose stats, one can still make the argument that Rooney was equally as valuable.  United were far worse without Rooney than without Ronaldo this season.

He should clearly have been there ahead of Gerrard who scored 30% of his goals and was pants much of the season, as well as David James.

The slight from the young player nominees is even more ridiculous.  Rooney isn’t a better player than Ashley Young? (5 goals in 32 starts) or Gabby Agbonlahor? (8 goals in 32 starts).  That’s absurd.

What does the poor kid have to do to get a nomination?  Juggle the ball blind-folded while solving a Rubik’s cube and singing Opera?

Ave Maria!

Liverpool and Arsenal had an Oscar and Felix feel.  Both clubs are each other’s bogey teams.  Arsenal’s Frenchified fancy dans cannot break down disciplined defenses and remain prone to adept counterattack.  Lump and pray Liverpool struggle when forced to play chess on the ground rather than checkers in the air.  The clash can create soccer nirvana or reaming vulgarity.  This 1-1 draw had a bit of both.

If a side should feel aggrieved, it is Arsenal.  They dictated the second half, only to shoot blanks.  The Carragher rules apply to Dirk Kuyt, who pulled Hleb down in the penalty area without reprimand.  Kuyt also picked this one match to maraud around the pitch like a crazed baboon, rather than remain oblivious.  The match could hinge on the Pool’s away goal.

Apparently, Avram Grant rowing down the straits on his sinister raft of skulls failed to shock the obstinate Turks, as Fenerbahce beat Chelsea 2-1.  The Dark Lord has vowed “not to rest” until the rematch next Tuesday, because he looked like he was sleeping well before.  The match is more tabloid fodder than demonstrative, however.  Expect Chelsea to close them out 1-0 next week at Stamford Bridge.

Roma tumbled without their talisman Francesco Totti, beaten 2-0 by Manchester United.  The two teams play a similar style, but United is the seven diamond version.  Isn’t Rooney overdue for his bi-monthly metatarsal injury

Arsenal beat Bolton 3-2 at the Reebok, keeping mathematical title hopes alive. The Gunners, with 10 men on the pitch, scored three goals to reverse a 2-0 deficit. Diaby deserved his red card for raised studs. Poor fortune averaged itself through an unmarked corner, a penalty and a deflection.

Cristiano Ronaldo is the best in the world right now. He scored one, set up three and could have had two more as Manchester United beat Aston Villa 4-0 to retain a five point clearance. Rooney should have had four goals, only managed a brace. Had Maloney made use of his attempts, it could have been closer, but Villa got played off the pitch.

Newcastle are charging toward the top half, with a 4-1 defeat of Tottenham at White Hart Lane. Both teams forsook caution with 4-3-3 formations, but it was Newcastle that capitalized on their chances. Obafemi Martins looked light and rejuvenated.

It was another muck of Merseyside Derby, as a fortunate Torres gift gave Liverpool the 1-0 victory over Everton. The Champions League six pointer pushed Liverpool ahead by five points.

No tan from standing

in the English rain, many

bald spots exposed though