Ronaldo Debut

Ronaldo makes his long-awaited debut for Real Madrid tonight as they take on Shamrock Rovers in a friendly in Ireland.

Do We Really Care?

The picture has nothing to do with the following, but do we really care?

I like it!

Do we really care that Ronaldo doesn't care when he gets jeered and abused?

Do we really care that he is off to Spain?

No not really

One cheat gone, lets get the rest packing!

Kaka Joins Real Madrid for £59m

Next on Real Madrid's shopping list? Cristiano Ronaldo

Ouch, Ouch and More Ouch

OUCH - Chelsea's Joe Cole is out for the rest of the season after injuring his anterior cruciate ligament against Southend in the FA Cup Wednesday night.


OUCH - Real Madrid are charging top dollar for the pending meeting against Liverpool in the Champions League next month - £785 for ONE seat.


More OUCH - Beware. Julian Dicks, West Ham legend is back in football. He has taken up the manager's job at Wivenhoe Town who play in the Ridgeons Premier Division. Cross him at your peril.

Cups!!! - And The New Season is Drawing Nigh

Not long to go now before the big kick-off.

Next Sunday is the Community Shield between Man Utd and Portsmouth. Next Saturday the Championship and Football League's kick off.

This week we have had a plethera of friendlies, UEFA Cup and Champions League qualifying rounds and this weekend we have a couple of tournaments - one in England and one in Russia.

The first tournament to kick off is the Russian Railways Cup in Moscow. The teams playing are AC Milan, Chelsea, Lokomotiv Moscow and Sevilla.

AC Milan v Sevilla is the first game, followed by Chelsea v Lokomotiv Moscow. Both games being played on Friday 1st August.

On Sunday 3rd August, there is the final and 3rd/4th place play-off.

On Saturday 2nd August, Arsenal, Juventus, Real Madrid and Hamburg kick off for the Emirates Cup.

Arsenal play Juventus and Real Madrid play Hamburg.

On Sunday, Arsenal play Real Madrid and Juventus play Hamburg.

Both Arsenal games kick off at 16:15pm UK time and both Arsenal games are SOLD OUT.

Frank on his Toes... Bye bye

After Barca's REAL tonking in Madrid last night, Barca's coach Frank Rijkaard will leave Barca at the end of this season.

His replacement will be Pep Guardiola.

See you at the Bridge... Frank?

Real Madrid (La Liga Champions) v Barcelona LIVE from 9m (BST)

I am going to try and get pictures from the telly of Barca performing the 'Guard of Honour.'

Updates as usual will appear in the comments section.

Bernabeau's Guard of Honour

It's bad enough having to qualify for next season's Champions League competition, but to have

to go to the Bernabeau the home of your fiercest rivals Real Madrid, and perform a Guard of

Honour to salute the 2007/08 La Liga champions (Real's 31st title) ... well..... and then you have

to play a game doesn't bear thinking about unless you are a Madridian.

Last season I had to laugh when Chelsea did it. ManURE played mostly reserves.

Insignificant really!

If there is any interest, the game kicks off at 9pm BST and there will be updates throughout

Wednesday evening.

Three Red Cards and a West Ham Funeral

Only a week after the unfortunate (and I can only describe it as unfortunate) injury to Arsenal's Eduardo, this weekend AGAIN saw the inconsistencies of match referees.

First up: We have Chelsea's Makelele's ankle high challenge on West Ham's Julian Faubert. No Card - Should have been at least a yellow

Next up: Andy Griffin of Stoke City, his tackle which TV cameras showed he won the ball fair and square get the straight red card by ref Andy D'Urso - a Premiership referee - relegated to the Championship for one weekend - NEWSFLASH. Stoke City has appealed.

Then we have: Real Madrid's Arjen Robben, almost getting one of his 'glass' ankles broken in a clumsy challenge by Recreativo's Quique Alvarez - Red Card. No arguments, Alvarez has since apologised. Robben will be out for how long he wants to be!!

And here comes the funeral part: Frank 'Super Frank' or 'Fat Frank' (depending where your loyalties lie) Lampard getting the red card on the advice of the assistant ref, for pushing down West Ham's Boa 'constrictor' Morte after a rough and tumble on the edge of the Chelsea penalty area - At worst a yellow card. NEWSFLASH. Chelsea has appealed.

Dangerous ground Chelsea, look at what happened to Middlesbrough and Aliadiere last week - appeal and get an added one match ban.