Sports/Futebol

So far so good for Arsenal and Manchester United. Both sides came away with much needed wins. Liverpool on the other hand could only come up with a nil-nil draw against Blackburn.

The mighty Red Devils started out the match against West Ham with a whimper but in the second half Manchester United found their stride and kicked some major butt.

The tide in the matched turned just before halftime when Paul Scholes struck twelve. Scholes strike gave the Red Devils a 1-0 lead in the 45^th minute.

In the second half, it was Katie bar the door. Darron Gibson’s power strike gave the Red Devils a 2-0 lead in the 61^st minute.

Valencia discovered the back of the net in the 70^th minute to give Man U a 3-0 lead. Valencia’s shot was from point blank range. West Ham’s keeper Daniel Gabbidon never had a prayer to stop that baby.

Rooney scored two minutes later, 72^nd minute, to stick a dagger in West Ham’s heart.

Kiss this match good-bye. The final tally was a 4-0 win for Manchester United.

Wayne Rooney had a hand in all four goals.

The Red Devils have finally found their stride. Manchester United was sluggish in the first half but the Red Devils dialed it up a notch and showed that speed kills. Man U has fantastic team speed.

The Gunners ground out an all-important 2-nil win over Stoke City. Andrey Arshavin was the hero of the match for Arsenal. Arshavin sweet goal in the 26^th minute made 1-0 for the Gunners. 

Fabregas could have been the goat of the match when he missed a sure fire PK in the 21^st minute.

Redemption was sweet for Fabregas when he made up for it with a great assist to set up Arshavin’s goal in the 26^th minute.

Aaron Ramsey’s strike in the 76^th minute secured the Gunners 2-0 win over Stoke City.

Liverpool may have stuck a fork in their season. The Reds and Blackburn played to a nil-nil draw.

This match was an utter bore.

The closest score came when David Ngog’s shot rattled the cross bar in the 71^st minute. Other than that nada.

I wonder if Liverpool has given up on the season.

The Reds performance lacked heart and desire. It looked like Liverpool sleepwalked through the match.

This is not good.

Maybe it’s time to fire the team and the manager in one fail swoop.

Finally, City’s fixture in the EPL draw column is over. Manchester City upset Chelsea 2-1. Yes, I said upset for this was truly upset city baby. City did it. They finally beat one of the top four clubs.

This was truly an amazing game. Chelsea drew first blood. A crazy scramble ball in front of the City net led to an own goal by Adebayor in the 8^th minute to give the Blues 1-0. Shot. Block. Kick out. Shot. Rebound. Own goal. Score.

Many thought here we go again.

Not.

Instead of quitting City ratcheted up the pressure and took it to Chelsea.

This attacking style changed the complexion of the match.

Adebayor redeemed himself in the 37^th minute. He smashed the rebound home to tie this sucker up at one all.

Tevez nailed a free kick in the 56^th minute for what was for all intensive purposes the match winner.

There was no quit in the Chelsea dog. For the Blues turned up the heat and furiously attack City.

It almost paid off.

Drogba was leveled in the box by City defender Onuoha in the 81^st minute.

I thought oh baby here we go again. City decided to sit back and let Chelsea attack.

At this point, the Blues tilted the pitch towards City’s end. Chelsea had 90% of the possession in the last thirty minutes.

Up steps mister reliable Frank Lampard. The run up. The shot. Saved by Given. Whew baby that was close.

City escaped by the hair of their chinny chin chin.

This win ends City’s seven-match sting of draws.

Way to go garoto.

People I know what I am talking about. I have been saying this all season long. The way to beat Chelsea is to attack them with short passes. Press the ball up the pitch. Don’t play long ball and for whatever you do don’t sit back and play the wait and see game.

This tactic almost cost Manchester City the game.

Manchester United did this. The Red Devils couldn’t finish. Man U made two stupid defensive errors that cost them the match. But the Red Devils gave the rest of the EPL  the blue print on how to beat Chelsea.

Please trust me on this.

I know this stuff like the back of my hand.

Chelsea is still in first place with 36 points. Man U is in second with 34 points. Arsenal moves up to third with 28 points. Tottenham drops to third with 26 points but the Spurs have a match on Sunday. Man City moves up to sixth place with 25 points.

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Sports/Futebol

Lets get down to the business at hand. No not the World Cup draw. It’s EPL time baby. There are some huge matches with some heavy implications for several teams this weekend in the EPL.

The biggie is City taking on Chelsea at City of Manchester. This one will be a thriller.

City finally found a way to get into the win column instead of the draw column by thrashing the Gunners Wednesday night 3-0 in the Carling Cup quarterfinals.

Now let’s see if City can win in a real EPL match.

This will be a hard task. The Blues will be loaded for bear. Drogba, Anelka, Ballack, and Malouda will attack pedal to the medal to make up for the Blues horrible performance against the Rovers in Wednesday nights 4-3 shoot out loss in the quarterfinals of the Carling Cup.

You can bet the farm on this fact.

City will be looking to get into the win EPL column for the first time since Man City defeating lowly West Ham 3-1 on September 28^th.

This was way back in the time machine.

It’s put up or shut up time for City.

Will all this high priced talent finally pay big dividends? 

Will Tevez, Adebayor, Gareth Barry, and Robinho finally torch the nets as expected and lead Manchester City to the Promised Land?

Will Craig Bellamy be a force against an A team?

Or will he be a popgun against the likes of Drogba and company?

These are good questions aren’t they?

Maybe Bellamy and the City boys will fizzle out and lose or draw against the Chelsea juggernaut.

The Red Devils need to explode out of the box against West Ham. Rooney and the boys must attack and put this baby away early. Rooney needs to tickle the twines. Berbatov will be back and lets hope he can rip the twines as well.  Welbeck needs to step his scoring out put too.

West Ham is a wounded duck team.

West Ham will be without striker Carlton Cole and Mathew Upson.

Arsenal needs a big “W” against Stoke City. This is a must win. With Theo Walcott and Van Persie out the Gunners desperately need youngster Jack Wilshere to have a slam bang match. This means shove it into the back of the net baby. As my main man Dickie V would scream, “ This kids a Prime time player. He needs to step up and rip the twines. He’s a PTPer baby.”  

Eduardo needs to have a huge match as well.

The Gunners need to show up big time and kill em.

It’s matter of heart my man.

The other must win team is Liverpool. The Reds can’t afford to screw up against the Rovers. This match will be a blood bath. Blackburn’s manager Sam Allardyce will be back to guide the Rovers. Allardyce had heart surgery earlier this week. His return will be a huge boost for Blackburn.

Besides that Blackburn is coming off a great 4-3 PK shoot out win over Chelsea earlier this week.

Liverpool will be without Torres.

Liverpool needs to win.

These are the money matches for this Saturday.

My wife and I can’t wait to watch all the action unfold before our very eyes.

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Sports/Futebol

When I am wrong I am really wrong. I totally misread the entire situation regarding Arsenal and Manchester City. I thought the Gunners would come out breathing fire instead Arsenal played with a whimper. Vela, Wilshere, and the rest didn’t look like they even bothered to put up a fight.

There was no fight in this dog.

This is not a good sign for the Gunners.

This was a half assed performance. This was bad.

Sure, the Gunners had some good moments but this was about it.

After a scoreless first half, Tevez ripped the twines top shelf to give City a 1-0 lead at the 50^th minute.

Gunner’s keeper Fabianski never had a chance.

The Tevez goal was the result of bad turnover in the Gunners end. Rosicky was careless with the ball and flat out lost it. I can hear Dickie V screaming, “TO baby. TO Baby.”

Shaun Wright Phillips put the nail the Gunners coffin in the 69^th minute. Wright Phillips made Gunners defender Silvestre look stupid. Hey, Silvestre here’s you jock back. Walk about in the box. Shot. Goal.

2-0 City it’s all over Arsenal.

Bellamy made the Gunners “D” look foolish in the 89^th minute. Bellamy gives City newcomer Vladimir Weiss his first goal for City. Thank you very much Craig Bellamy.

Stick a fork in the Gunners. They are done.

Wilshere and Song should be rewarded for great defending.

City slaughters Arsenal 3-0.

City’s seven-match draw string is over.

The Gunners are in deep trouble.

Wenger was really pissed and he didn’t even bother shaking City’s headman’s Mark Hughes hand after the match.

Yet, reports have surfaced that Hughes was acting like an ass throughout the match. So the truth is? Who knows?

In one of the craziest matches, I have ever seen the Blackburn Rovers defeated Chelsea in a PK shootout 4-3.

This match had a little bit of everything. Two missed PK’s. Two blown for sure goals in extra time by Blackburn. Bad defending. An injury that cost Chelsea the match. Mister excitement scores and a whole lot more.

I just loved it. This was a fun one to watch.

Blackburn scored first on a great strike by Nikola Kalinic in the 9^th minute.

Blues manager Ancelotti had seen enough of Chelsea’s crappy play in the first half so he inserted superman Drogba, Gael Kakuta, and Jeffery Bruma into the second half lineup.

Magic presto, Drogba scored in the 48^th minute. Four minutes later Kalou scored to give the Blues a 2-1 lead in the 52^nd minute.

The Rovers tied this baby up four minutes later, 56^th minute, when Brett Emerton leveled the match at two all.

Regulation ended in a two all draw.

Now Blackburn and Chelsea headed into extra time.

Chelsea was a man down when Kalou injured his groin in the 71^st minute. Chelsea used their maximum of three subs at the start of the second half.

Blackburn’s Benedict McCarthy nailed a PK in the 93^rd minute to almost seal the deal for the Rovers.

But no, all hell broke loose. Blackburn took their foot off the gas pedal. David Hoilett missed two point blank shots in the 118^th and 120^th minutes that could have put a dagger in Chelsea’s comeback chances.

A misplayed ball in the box by Rovers keeper Robinson allowed Chelsea to send this baby into a PK shootout in the 120^th minute. Robinson looked like the Keystone cops when he misplayed Malouda’s free kick.  Paulo Ferreira knocked home the equalizer.

Two great stops by Robinson saved Blackburn’s bacon and thus allowed the Rovers to advance to the semi-finals of the Carlin Cup by defeating Chelsea 4-3 in the PK shootout.

Yes, dear you can now resume breathing naturally again.

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Sports/Futebol

Manchester United’s young studs showed up and shutout Spurs 2-0 to send the Red Devils into the Carling Cup semi-finals. This was about time guys.

Darron Gibson scored both Red Devils goals.

This was a complete whitewash of Tottenham.

The first was a powerful strike that flat out beat the keeper Gomes. Gomes never had a chance. Gibson’s shear power struck twelve. Actually, it was lower left corner of the net. This made it 1-0 for Man U at the 16^th minute.

Gibson struck again in the 38^th minute. A give and go between Welbeck and Gibson killed the Spurs “D”. Gibson’s curled shot landed top shelf right to stop Tottenham dead in their tracks. Gomes was as helpless as a baby.

If this kid Gibson can get on track Manchester United will be a very dangerous club down the road so the rest of the EPL better watch out. Two shots on goal and two scores. Way to go garoto.

The cats at Tottenham are very sad about this showing but hey; Manchester United had a chip on their collective shoulders. I don’t care what Gibson and the  rest tell us the Red Devils were  on a mission to prove that the young studs are for real.

Spurs will tell ya Manchester United’s young dudes are.

This just goes to prove the point that when a team plays with a chip on their shoulders they will perform at a top level.

The big difference between this year’s Red Devils and last year’s Red Devils is this. You think I am going to say the fake Ronaldo has gone onto to Real Madrid. Not!

The 2009-10 edition of Manchester United is quicker than the 2008-09 squad. Anderson, Gibson, Welbeck, and Rooney have such blazing speed that once these cats can find the back of the net on a regular basis watch out EPL for here come the Red Devils.

The one thing that cannot be taught or coached is speed. Speed kills.

What killed the Red Devils in the Chelsea match was not finding the back of the net and those two stupid defensive errors. Manchester United was so much faster than the Blues. Chelsea had a hard time keeping up with the Joneses, I mean the Red Devils.

In the other half of the bracket, Aston Villa doubled up Portsmouth 4-2.

Portsmouth started off on a great note when Villa’s Stiliyan Petrov knocked the ball in his own goal in the 10^th minute to give Portsmouth a 1-0 lead.

Villa found their stride and scored the next three goals to end Portsmouth dreams of an upset city baby.

Heskey’s strike in the 12^th minute tied this sucker up at one all.

James Milner scored the go ahead goal in the 27^th minute to give Aston Villa a 2-1 lead.

Stewart Downing’s goal in the 74^th minute made it 3-1 Aston Villa. This goal nearly put the match out of reach for Portsmouth but Pompey inched ever so closer when Kanu nailed a winner in the 87^th minute to cut the Villa lead to 3-2.

Ashley Young found the back of the net in the 89^th minute to put the kibosh to Pompey’s dream of finding the equalizer.

This was all she wrote.

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It has all come down to this. Win and Flamengo is the Campeonato champ. Lose and all hell breaks loose in Rio de Janeiro. The pressure is on baby. This is more important than winning.

Rio’s pride and reputation is on the line.

This is what us Flamenguistas have been waiting for since 1992. Mengao’s last Campeonato title.

Mengao has won Campeonato titles in 1980,1982, 1983, 1987, and 1992.

The 1987 title is counted by Flamengo but not by the official governing Brasil futebol body the CBF.

Flamengo won it so it counts.

Maracanã will be rocking on Sunday afternoon. All eyes will be turned to Adriano, Petkovic, Ze-Roberto, Moura, and the rest of the guys.

Please God no screw-ups.

Campeonato titles don’t come everyday. The only side to win a three peat is Sao Paulo. Sao Paulo has won a record six Campeonato’s.

Sao Paulo lost 4-2 to Goias on Sunday and Alviverde lost 2-0 to Gremio on Wednesday November 18. These two losses paved the way for Mengao to move into first place in the Campeonato.

Tricolor can become the first side to complete a four-peat but three things have to happen Internacional, Palmeiras, and Flamengo all have to lose.

Let’s hope not.

It is now time for Flamengo to step up to the plate and knock it out of the park.

Andrade says the tie with Goias taught Mengao a valuable lesson. This helped Flamengo to become more mature. Rubro Negro needs to go after the title.

Principal interessado, o técnico Andrade prefere ser imparcial. “Aquele empate com o Goiás deixou o time mais maduro, calejado, experiente. E há tropeços que vem na hora certa. Aquele serviu de alerta. No campeonato inteiro não conseguimos a liderança. E conseguimos agora, na penúltima rodada. Acho que isso é um grande passo que demos. Mas temos de buscar o título, que é o mais importante para o Flamengo”.

It is now or never for Flamengo.

This is put up or shut up time for Rubro-Negro.

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Sports/Futebol

Flamengo did what they needed to do on Sunday. Mengao came up with a huge 2-0 shut out victory over Corinthians.  Sao Paulo lost to Goias 4-2. Rubro-Negro is now in first place of the Campeonato with 64 points.

Way to go garoto.

The entire Flamenguista nation is very happy.

Ze-Roberto led off the scoring with a great drive to the rack. Ze-Roberto spilt the “D” in two. He flat out beat the keeper Felipe with a great strike top shelf left to give Flamengo a 1-0 lead after the 26^th minute.

In the 88^th minute, Leo Moura had a clear run into the right side of the box. Dodo shoved Moura in the back. Moura nailed the PK to salt this baby away for Mengao.

All Flamengo has to do is beat Gremio at home in Maracanã next Sunday and Mengao will win their sixth Campeonato crown.

Rubro-Negro started the season off like crap. At one point Mengao was on the verge of getting the heave-hoe. Cuca was leading Flamengo into ruins. Cuca was given the voce vai amigo. Enter Andrade mid-July and magic presto Flamengo goes on a seventeen match unbeaten string.

League leaders Palmeiras, Internacional, and Atletico-MG went into a huge nosedive and thus paved the way for Rubro-Negro to climb up the table into first place in the Campeonato.

During the final months of the season, Palmeiras completely fell apart. Alviverde won four, lost five, and tied three. Sao Paulo on the other hand worked their way up the table but when push came to shove Tricolor lost four matches in October and November. These losses may have cost Sao Paulo’s chance for a four-peat.

Sunday’s match against Goias is a prime example of what I am talking about. Tricolor could have moved one point clear of Mengao but no; the Evil Empire got their clocks cleaned by Goias 4-2. Tricolor has lost two straight. Tricolor have lost two out of their last three. In October and November Tricolor has four wins, four losses, and two ties.

You don’t win championships playing this way.

This crappy play opened the door just enough for Flamengo to barge through. Mengao is now on the verge of winning their sixth Campeonato.

One more win is the Flamenguista cry.

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Sports/Futebol

What started out with such promise ended in utter disaster for Arsenal. The matched started out great for the Gunners. Arsenal had most of the possessions but little to show for it.

But once again, mister money player showed up. Didier Drogba punished the Gunners in the 41^st minute. Cole’s great low cross into the box was struck home by Drogba to give the Blues a 1-0 lead.

Can you say game, set, and match?

Four minutes later, an own goal by Thomas Vermaelen sealed the Gunners fate. Ashley Cole fired ball into the box. Bing. Bam. Boom. The ball ricochets off of Vermaelen’s shin into the Arsenal net to make it 2-0 Chelsea at the break.

Turn out the lights the party’s over.

Stick a fork in Arsenal for they are surely done on this Sunday.

Arsenal thought they had cut the lead to 2-1 but Arshavin’s smash into the back of the net was disallowed due to Eduardo’s high boot on Blues keeper Cech.

Drogba’s lightening quick strike from twenty-five yards out in the 86^th minute sealed the deal for Chelsea. The Blues 3-0 win over Arsenal places Chelsea into the drivers seat in the race for the EPL title.

Chelsea is in the pole position with 36 points. Man U is in second place with 31 points.

The Spurs are now in third place with 26 points. Arsenal is in fourth place with 25 points.

Liverpool jumped into fifth place with a huge 2-0 win over Everton.

Everton completely outplayed the Reds but Liverpool won on an own goal by Joseph Yobo. Reds Javier Mascherano fired a great ball into the box Yobo made a bone head play. Yobo deflected the ball past keeper Tim Howard to give Liverpool a 1-0 lead after the 12^th minute

Dirk Kuyt nailed the winner off another defensive boo-boo by the one and only Yobo in the 80^th minute to make it 2-0 Reds.

Can you say I would rather be lucky than good?

The Reds now have 23 points.

This win may have saved Liverpool’s season.

Chelsea looks like the class of the EPL so far however there is still a lot of futebol to be played. The EPL champ will have anywhere between four and six losses.

Please don’t forget that the Blues will be without out Drogba for the month of January due to the Africans Cup.

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Sports/Futebol

Three penalties. One questionable PK awarded. All and all Manchester United came away with a hard-earned 4-1 win over bottom feeder Portsmouth.  Wayne Rooney finally got off the schnid and had a hat trick. Two PK kicks and a powerful strike by Rooney led the Red Devils to an all-important win.

Rooney’s second goal was a classic futebol play. Buda bing Buda boom right down the pitch. A great give and go at the top box between Giggs and Rooney made Pompey look really stupid. Shot. Score. Kiss this baby bye-bye for Portsmouth.

Pompey made it interesting when Red Devil’s defender Vidic was called for a Mickey Mouse penalty on a free kick in the 32^nd minute.

The ref said that Vidic tugged Frederic Piquionne shirt. Give me a freakin break. This was an insane call. Why not put a dress on Piquionne instead.

Kevin Prince Boateng connected on the PK to send shivers down Manchester United’s collective spines.

Not to worry The Red Devils came out smoking in the second half and scored three goals to salt this puppy away.

Manchester City recorded their seventh consecutive tie a one all draw with Hull City. Seven consecutive draws by City set a new EPL record for kissing your sister. This is getting patently ridiculous for City.

This begs the question. With all the big bucks spent to buy a title, was the money spent wisely?

I will give you three guess and the first two don’t count.

City now has more draws than wins. City has five wins and seven draws.

Spurs fell behind early to Aston Villa. Villa’s Gabriel Agbonlahor knocked home a scramble ball in front of the Spurs net in the tenth minute. Shot. Block. Rebound. Block. Score. 

Tottenham rallied in the second half to tie this baby up on great strike by Michael Dawson in the 77^th minute.

Villa keeper Brad Friedel was the hero of the match. He made several point-blank saves of for sure Spurs goals late in the match to preserve the tie for Aston Villa.

I love the style of futebol Spurs and Villa played. This was racehorse futebol up and down the pitch. Punch counterpunch. Attack counter attack.

Spurs needed three points but a tie will do in a pinch.

Tottenham has 26 points.

Villa has 23 points.

This tie still keeps Spurs within striking distance of league leader Chelsea.

Chelsea has an epic struggle with Arsenal on Sunday.

If Chelsea wins, there will be a ten-point spread between the Blues and Spurs. If Chelsea losses the spread will only be seven points.

In the survival race in Brasileiro Series B America, Ipatinga-MG, Juventude, and Fortaleza are fighting to avoid the last two heave-hoe spots. The bottom four clubs get 86^th.

It all comes down to this final Saturday to see who gets the final two heave-hoe invites.

ABC and Campinense-PB are already booked their demotion spots.

American tied Ceare zero-zero.

Ipatinga-MG defeated Vasco 2-0. Vasco didn’t have that much to play for since Gigante de Colina has already secured first place in Series B and will be promoted to the Campeonato for next season.

Juventude had a chance to leap-frog out of the heave-hoe zone but Verdao lost to Guarani 2-1.

Gone are ABC, Campinense-PB, Juventude, and Fortaleza. America just missed being sent down by a mere two points. Juventude had 44 points. America had 46 points.

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It is nut cutting Saturday and Sunday in the EPL and Campeonato Brasil. The grand daddy of em all happens on Sunday at Arsenal’s house Emirates Stadium. League leader Chelsea takes on the Gunners.

This is a must win for Arsenal.  Even though the Gunners have a game in hand, Arsenal trails Chelsea by eight points. The Blues have 33 points. Arsenal has 25 big ones.

The wild card player in the Blues Gunners match up is Drogba. If Drogba has his typical match, it will be a long one for Arsenal. The Gunners have to put the clamps on Drogba. Do not give him space to operate and set the table for Anelka, Deco, and Lampard.

With Van Persie out Arsenal needs to have Walcott, Wilshere, and Eduardo rip the twines.

Fabregas will have a huge role in the match against Chelsea as well. Fabregas will be wearing the Captains armband. Cesc Fabregas has scored six goals so far so it is imperative for him score as well too.

I have this sense the match changers will either be Drogba or Fabregas.

Flamengo has a huge match against Corinthians as well on Sunday. Mengao is in second place with 61 points.  Sao Paulo is in first place with 62 points.

Rubro-Negro travels to Sao Paulo take on Corinthians at Timao’s house Brinco de Ouro de Princesa. 

Adriano needs to come up big. So does Petkovic and Ze-Roberto. Ties not wins are a must if Flamengo wants to win their sixth Campeonato.

Adriano said that Mengao must forget what Sao Paulo does against Goias and concentrate on Corinthians. Adriano said Flamengo has to come away with the win.

“Não podemos ficar pensando no São Paulo. Precisamos fazer a nossa parte diante do Corinthians. O nosso confronto será muito complicado. Esperamos fazer um grande jogo e sair com a vitória de Campinas”, salientou Adriano, acrescentando.

So there, you have it from the Emperors mouth. It is put up so shut up time for Rubro-Negro.  We have to play together. The only way Mengao can win is if Flamengo plays together as a unit.

 ”O grupo é muito unido. Todos se respeitam e isso é muito importante. Sabemos que só vamos conseguir o nosso objetivo se estivermos juntos. Queremos o título brasileiro, mas se ele não vier, tenho certeza que todos ficarão com o sentimento de um bom trabalho”, emendou o Imperador.

Palmeiras has a hot date with Atletico-MG on Sunday. Sport and Internacional battle it out on Sunday as well.

Three points separate the top four clubs Sao Paulo, Flamengo, Palmeiras, and Internacional.

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Fluminense is on the verge of getting the heave hoe from the Campeonato but before this happens, Po-de-arroz battled Ecuadorian side LDU Quito for the Copa Sudamericana title.

In the first leg of the championship, LDU blew out Fluminense 5-1.

Po-de-arroz started out well. Fluminense scored first. Fred fired a great ball at the LDU keeper Alexander Dominguez. Shot. Rebound. Score. Marquinho pounced on the rebound and scored to give Fluminense the early 1-0 lead after one minute.

Then all hell broke loose. LDU went on a scoring rampage and scored the next five goals in route to a 5-1 slaughter of Po-de-arroz.

Edison Mendez scored a hat trick for the home side.

Many on the Brasilian side blame the 3,000-meter altitude on the loss. Yes, being nine thousand feet in the air has an effect but Cuca get your team butts up in the rarefied air at least two days before match time to prepare for this insanity. Don’t be an idiot like Maradona Argentina’s head clown whose side was blown out by Bolivia 6-1 in La Paz. La Paz is twelve thousand feet in the air.

Yes, I do believe that playing at nine thousand feet had a huge effect on the outcome of the match but the real reason Fluminense was blown out Po-de arroz was missing Maicon and Digao.

Even with these two players present I think Po-de-arroz would have lost but not by 5-1. I believe the final score would have been 3-1.    

Still even if Maicon and Digao come back in time for the December 2^nd rematch it will a monumental task for Po-de-arroz for Fluminense has to score at least four goals and keep LDU Quito off the scoreboard at Maracanã if Fluminense wants to win the Copa Sudamericana title.

This is a rematch of last year Copa final between LDU and Fluminense. Do you remember what happened? Po-de-arroz lost in a PK shoot out at home to LDU.

On top of that, Fluminense is in 17^th place with 42 points in the Campeonato. Po-de-arroz is staring the heave hoe zone in the face. Fluminense has no room for error.

Po-de-arroz must win on Sunday against Vitoria, then turn around, and play LDU on Wednesday December 2^nd. This is a hard turn around but Fluminense’s future hangs in the balance.

Po-de-arroz must hope that Botafogo loses to Atletico-PR. Both Fogao and Furacão have 44 points. 

The race for the heave hoe zone is very intense.

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Sports/Futebol

In a match that really didn’t mean a hill of beans to Manchester United the Red Devils sent out their second team and lost 1-0 to Besiktas 1-0 at home in Old Trafford. This was not the result Sir Alex was looking for.

Rooney, Berbatov, and Valencia were given the day off. Still I though the Red Devils young guns would perform better than they did.

Sure, Manchester United has already qualified for the knockout stage but to lose in your house is not cool. This is bad.

The only marker of the match happened in the 20^th minute. Rodrigo Tello strike from just outside the box tickled the twines to give Besiktas the win. Tello’s ball did a little dipsy do and fooled Red Devils keeper Ben Foster.

The Red Devils peppered the Besiktas goal with twenty-eight shots. Many of them were off target but jeez at least one or two should have found the back of the net.

This was a horrible display of offensive futebol. Welbeck, Macheda, Owen, and Park couldn’t hit the broadside of barn with a machine gun.

I know the big guys were not playing but still this result is bad.

Here’s a thought. Sure, the result stinks.

Maybe the old fox knows what he is doing. For crying out loud, someone has to find the back of the net on a regular basis.

Rooney, Berbatov, Anderson, or Valencia needs to step up to the plate and start hitting some home runs instead of the big whiff.

This loss ended Manchester United’s twenty-three match unbeaten streak at home in Champions League play.

Chelsea sneaked past FC Porto 1-0. Nicholas Anelka close range header in the 69^th minute provided the Blues with the slim margin of victory.

Chelsea fielded pretty much their first team in this match.

The Blues performance was lack luster. Chelsea seemed to be just going through the motions. Sure, both FC Porto and the Blues are on to the knockout stage but if you are just going through the motions play the second team. Why risk getting a star player hurt when the Blues have a huge encounter with Arsenal at the Gunners house on Sunday at Emirates Stadium.

AC Milan and Marseille tied one all.

Real Madrid defeated Zurich 1-0.

Group C is still up in the air as to who will advance to the knockout stage. Real is atop Group C with ten points. AC Milan is in second place with eight points. Third place is Marseille with seven points.

Marseille battles Real on December 8^th. AC Milan has a hot date with Zurich on December 8^th as well.

It will all come down to the final matches of the group stage to determine who will advance.

Marseille’s tie with AC Milan on Wednesday may come back and bite the French club in the butt.

Marseille needs to beat Real and hope the AC Milan will either lose or tie with Zurich.

The one comfort Marseille has is that the match against Real is being played in the French’s house.

However stranger things have happened.

For Real now has the fake Ronaldo back.

Let’s see if he shows up or does his classic disappearing act in crunch time.

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Sports/Futebol

For the life of me, I couldn’t figure out that if Liverpool defeated Debrecen and Fiorentina lost to Lyon that the Reds would qualify for the knockout stage. I kept on looking at the table to see how this could possibly be.

I went back through the fixtures to make sure and guess what. A loss by Fiorentina and win by Liverpool would still leave the Reds two points short.

Do the math.  Four plus three is seven. Seven is still less than nine.

This would mean that Liverpool would have to defeat Fiorentina in their final match in December. But remember that Fiorentina beat Liverpool in Italy.

This is a moot point.

The Reds kept up their end of the bargain by beating winless Debrecen 1-0. David Ngog’s goal in the fourth minute kept Liverpool’s chances alive of making it into the knockout stage. These dreams came crashing down to earth when Fiorentina defeated Lyon 1-0.  Juan Vargas nailed the PK in the 28^th minute to salt this puppy away for the Italian side.

For this is bad reporting. This stinks. The sports press is just as wild and loose with the facts just like the state run media. This is totally misleading. Why let the facts get in the way of a good story.

Oh, Yeah, I forgot the sports media and state run media are all one in the same.

This kind of crap makes me crazy. Sure, I get kinda lose and easy with describing a match. I like to embellish a lot. This is the old radio announcer in me. Radio paints word pictures for the audience.

The facts are the facts.

I even asked a couple of my futebol expert friends and they didn’t have an answer either.

With that said there is no harm no foul.

Arsenal came up big in their match with Liege. The Gunners won 2-0. Samir Nasri and Brasilian Denilson scored for Arsenal.

Way to go garoto.

This was a huge win.

The team that needed to win Barcelona did just that. Barca bageled Inter 2-0. I bet the wonderful one Jose Mourinho is crapping in his pants. Barcelona was on the verge of getting the heave hoe from the Champions League. Gerard Pique and Pedro came up big to keep Barcas’s dreams of a two peat in tact at least for now.

Mourinho’s boys had a chance to deliver a knockout blow but wound up whiffing big time.

The victory lifts Barcelona into first place with eight points. Both Inter and Rubin Kazan each have six points.

This means it will be a scramble between Inter, Barca, and Rubin Kazan to see which two clubs will advance to the next round.

This is truly nut cutting time. I love it.

However, I gotta admit that I was hoping Liverpool would lose. Why? I am not sure. Yes, I am. The reason is that Rafa and his merry band of men always come up short in the EPL. I wanted the Reds to lose to force management to crap or get off the pot. Rafa needs to go. He has taken Liverpool as far as he can now its time for another manager.

Liverpool is in a huge rut. They are always close but no cigar in their quest for the EPL title. Lets start his rumor. It’s time for “The Special One” to come back to the EPL. Jose Mourinho.

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Sports/Futebol

Spurs 9-1 win over Wigan was totally unexpected. I never expected this score and I don’t think anyone else did either. I can see three, four, or maybe five goals but nine this is ridiculous.

Jermain Defoe had five of those babies. Defoe began his scoring spree in the 51^st minute. He added another marker three minutes later in the 54^th minute.  Defoe scored another four minutes later in the 58^th minute.

Wigan’s Paul Scharner stopped the Defoe scoring barrage in the 57^th minute. This was the Latics lone goal of the match. 

Not to be deterred Defoe scored in the 69^th and 87^th minute as well.

This was one of those classic butt whippings administered by Spurs to the Latics. 

The win keeps Tottenham within striking distance of Chelsea. Both Spurs and the Gunners have 25 points each but Arsenal is in third place due to a better goal difference.

The Gunners are plus 21 while Tottenham is only a plus 14.

The Brasileiro futebol pundits are making book on who will win the Campeonato. Almost to a tee, these so called wizards of smart are conceding the title to Sao Paulo. Not so, fast garoto. Do the math. One point separates Tricolor and Mengao. Sure Mengao had a horrible tie on Sunday against Goias but Flamengo’s unbeaten streak is now at sixteen matches. Sao Paulo lost to Botafogo on Sunday so take that you clowns in the media.

The race for the Campeonato will be a dogfight between Tricolor, Rubro-Negro, Palmeiras, and Internacional.

So you media pundits can blow it out your, you know what.

Side bar. This style of writing is hated by many of the stuffed shirts who think they are God’s gift to futebol blogs. If you are, why aren’t you household names?  You’re not so deal with it.
Most of these so-called expert futebol blogs sound all the same. Boring.

For me this blog is meant to be fun. I know what rules I am breaking. I write the way people talk. It makes it easier to read. Read it out loud and you will see how well the language flows.

This blog is a combo of Chick Hern, John Madden, Bob Saam, Harry Kalas, the hood, playground hoops, football, ice hockey, Brasilian giria, and futebol all rolled into one. 

Now back to the cool junk. Flamengo has a hot date with Corinthians at the Brinco de Ouro. Sao Paulo takes a little trek to Serra Dourada. Palmeiras extended an invitation to Atletico-MG in Alviverde’s house Parque Antarctica. Internacional and Sport square off in Recife.

With fire in our eyes, all us Flamenguistas will be in full throat on Sunday rooting our Mengao to victory.

Adriano, Petkovic, and Ze-Roberto will come up big.

This is my dilemma. Fiorentina has nine points. Liverpool has four points. Suppose Fiorentina losses and the Reds win Liverpool will only have seven points as compared with Fiorentina’s nine points. So how can Liverpool beat out the Italian side?  Do the math four plus three is seven not nine or ten.

I don’t get it how Liverpool will advance while Fiorentina won’t.

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Sports/Futebol

Vasco, Atletico-GO, Guarani, and Ceara all got promoted to the big dance.

For Ceara this is a dream come true. It took Vovo sixteen years to make it back to the Campeonato. Ceara was sent down in 1993. The Vovo fans will be partying well into the night.

Vasco was sent down to Series B in 2008. Vasco turned it around and came storming back to the Campeonato.

Gigante da Colina kicked some major butt in D-2 and won the whole shebang. My wife’s father and my good friend Gil are very happy campers. I love to give them a rash of crap. Their team was worse that bad but now I am happy for them.

Corinthians looked like world-beaters at the start of the season but look at Timao now. They are playing like crap.

My wife and I watched the entire Corinthians Nautico match on Directv. You gotta check em out. http://www.blogtelevision.net/

Catch all your favorite national and international futebol action on Directv.

The old fat man Ronaldo scored his first goal in more than two months but this was not enough as Nautico came from behind to beat Timao 3-2. 

The killer. Corinthians was up 2-1 with eight minutes to go. Boom. A goal. A dumb penalty in injury time and kiss the three points bye bye. Instead of at least one point you clowns get zippo, nada, nothing, fool.

Carlinhos Bala rips the twines in the 85^th minute to tie this puppy up at two all.

Corinthians master dumbo Escurdero commits a stupid penalty in injury time. Timbu’s Ailton stutter kicks home the PK winner to stick a dagger in Corinthians season.

Timao started out with so much promise now look at em. Timao spent the first month of the season in the top five now they are lucky to be mid table.  Corinthians is in tenth place with 49 points.

This is horrible.

But hey, this could be worse.

Timao could wind up like Fluminense and get the heave hoe.

Sao Paulo has a hot date with Botafogo on Sunday. My wife and I watched this baby on Directv. http://www.blogtelevision.net/

Botafogo drew first blood. Jobson ripped the twines in the 14^th minute to give Fogao the early 1-0.

Tricolor found the equalizer in injury time of the first half. Sao Paulo kept up the pressure. Cesar fired a great crossing ball into the box. Washington skillfully headed the ball past the helpless Fogao keeper in the 45^th minute to even this puppy up at one all.

You can watch all the EPL, Campeonato Brasil, German Bundesliga, Italian Serie A, and French Liga One on Directv. http://www.blogtelevision.net/.

A scramble ball in front of the net resulted in a goal for Tricolor. Jorge Wagner knocked home the gimme goal in the 56^th minute to give Sao Paulo a 2-1 lead.

From my vantage point of Directv, http://www.blogtelevision.net/ it looks Tricolor is in the drivers seat.

Not so, fast buckaroo. Botafogo raced down the pitch. Pass. Shot. Block. Rebound. Open header into the net. Goal. Renato equalized this baby up in the 58^th minute. It’s two all. Baby hold on to your horses for this match is surely a horse race.

Botafogo may have salted the match away in the 90^th minute. Jobson broke free inside the box and beat two Tricolor defenders to give Fogao a 3-2 lead.

Jobson was a give a second yellow card for taking his shirt off in a wild celebration. Sure, the rule states no stripping your shirt off but jeez give em a break will ya.

Now Fogao gets another red card. This makes three red cards on the day for Fogao. Can Botafogo hang on for the win?

Botafogo did and won 3-2.

This gives Flamengo a chance to move into first place.

Flamengo battles Goias. This should be a good one. Check out the action on Directv.

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Mengao had a chance to move into first place in the Campeonato but no the bums came away with a nil-nil tie with Goias. Rubro-Negro had many chances to find the back of the net instead Mengao came up empty.

I am not a happy camper.

This stinks but a tie is better than a loss.

Flamengo now trails Sao Paulo by one point.

Tricolor has 62 points.

Mengao has 61 points.

Internacional moves into third place with 59 points.

Palmeiras drops to fourth place with 59 points.

Colorado has a plus 17-goal difference. Alviverde is only a plus 12-goal difference.

Two more matches left so a loss in either one of Flamengo’s final two matches will be fatal.

Rubro-Negro’s unbeaten string is now at sixteen.

We need wins not ties.

All is not lost.

Adriano had at least three great scoring opportunities each time he came up empty. One of those was a clear shot on the naked goal. Miss big time. Not good garoto.

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Sports/Futebol

This is not the result that Liverpool and Manchester City wanted a two all draw but hey, a tie is better than a loss. A loss would have been a fatal blow to the Reds chances of hanging near the top five or six or let alone have a chance for the EPL crown.

City on the other hand is wasting golden opportunity after opportunity to move up table. This makes six ties in a row for Manchester City. Not good garoto.

How is all that money spent on this high priced talent working for ya City?

City remains in sixth place with 21 points. The Reds are in seventh place with 20 points.

Before we get away for the Reds result I still think Liverpool has a chance to win the title. Why? Do you ask. Let me tell ya. The EPL champ will have anywhere between four and six losses maybe as many as seven. This year’s race will be one of the craziest in history. You think I am nuts? I am and I have the papers to prove I am but you have to trust me on this. It will happen.

Chelsea kicked some major butt. The Blues destroyed Wolves 4-0. This was one of those old-fashioned butt whippings. Michael Essian had the daily double. He scored in the 12^th and 22^nd minute to salt this sucker away.

The surprise match so far. The Gunners 1-0 loss to Sunderland. This match was nip and tuck throughout. The match breaker happened in the 71^st minute. Darren Bent’s up close and personal shot tickled the twines to lift the Black Cats to the win.

Can you say, this stinks Gunners. This is not the result that Arsenal was looking for.

The killer. Van Persie’s gone. No one stepped up to pick up the scoring lack. What did ya expect? A miracle.

The result. Three points lost.

Manchester United and Everton are battling it out at Old Trafford. The difference so far Darren Fletcher’s one time volleyball that ripped the back of the net in the 35^th minute to give the Red Devils a 1-0 lead.

Evra fires a cross into the top part of the box to Valencia. Valencia headed the ball to Fletcher. Shot. Goal.

I can hear Dandy Don Meredith singing, turn out the lights the parties over. The Red Devils have just salted this puppy away. Shot. Save. Rebound. Kick out. Pass. Shot. Block. One timer. Score. Yep baby that’s what happened. Michael Carrick’s one timer from the top of the box ripped the twines to give Man U a 2-0 lead after sixty-six minutes.

Double bubble boil and trouble for Everton. Valencia received a great pass from Scholes. Valencia drove the right wing. Shot. Ball is deflected off of Everton’s Baines. Goal 76^th minute. Stick a fork in Everton for they are surely done. 3-0 Man U.

It’s all over. Manchester United picks up a much needed three points to stay with in striking distance of league leader Chelsea.

Chelsea is the top dog with 33 points. The Red Devils are in second place with 28 points. The Gunners are third with 25 points.

My wife and I watched all this great futebol play on Directv. This is the best deal into town. I can watch any of the EPL matches I want on Directv. The cost is low and I am in charge of seeing what I want. Check out  Directv out and you will see what I mean. This is money well worth spent especially if you are a huge futebol fan like me.   http://www.blogtelevision.net/

 

Sports/Futebol

There are some huge matches taking place in the EPL on Saturday. Let’s start with the lethal death match between Liverpool and Manchester City. The implications are massive. If the Reds stink the joint and lose you can kiss your season bye bye. If Liverpool draws with City, this result would not be fatal but you can put the Reds season on life support.

If Liverpool wins, it won’t be, happy days are here again but the patient will be removed from the critical list. Liverpool has no room for error from now until seasons end in May.

Liverpool has five loses in their first twelve matches. This stinks.

For City it is a completely different matter. City has five wins, five draws, and one loss. That’s it for all the high priced talent. Give me a break fool. You clowns break the bank spending all kinds of bucks and what do you have to show for it. Zippo, Nada. Nothing.

Sixth place in the table. Ten points behind leaders Chelsea. Can you say money not well spent. The saving grace is this. City has a game in hand and if they can win against Liverpool City will get well.

Manchester United needs to clean Everton’s clock. A tie or a loss will kill the Red Devils chances for a historic four peat. Rooney and the guys need to score a boatload of goals.

Let’s hope Old Trafford will prove to be a magical place for Man U.

Arsenal travels to the Stadium of Light to take on Sunderland. The Gunners will be minus their leading scorer Robin Van Persie. The idiots at Dutch National Team used Van Persie in a meaningless international friendly. Van Persie will be out for at least six weeks. Can you say, Dude do you have shit for brains.”  I am sorry for the language but I am using it for effect.

The Gunners should win.

Still, the Dutch coach needs to shot for stupidity.

Chelsea will battle Wolves. This match should be a walk in the park for the Blues.

But hold on to your horses because anything can and will happen. Wolverhampton is one step above stink. 

I have seen this before. The crummy team upsets the league leader. Watch out Chelsea for the upset bug a boo can bite ya in the butt.

I don’t think so but…..

When the dust settles at the end of the day Chelsea, Gunners, and Man U will all win.

 

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Sports/Futebol

Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines. For the race of a lifetime is about to begin. There are  three matches left in the Campeonato. Sao Paulo has a big date with Botafogo on Sunday afternoon. The outcome of this puppy will have a direct bearing on the outcome of the Flamengo Goias battle later Sunday night in Maracanã.

You can bet dollars to holes in a donut Flamengo will be scoreboard watching.

By the time, kickoff rolls around Mengao will know how the evil Sao Paulo did.

My advice forget that crap and kick butt baby.

A mere two points separate Tricolor and Mengao. Neither Rubro-Negro nor Sao Paulo can afford to screw up. For if they do you can wave the Campeonato Title bye bye.

I am a Flamenguista. I want to see Tricolor get their lunch handed to them by Botafogo. I will be rooting for Fogao to kick some major butt.

Adriano, Petkovic, and Ze-Roberto need to kick this sucker into high gear and score a ton of goals. Shut em down early. Score. And leave Maracanã with three points in your hip pocket when it is all said and done Sunday night.

Sao Paulo will be without three key players in their Sunday afternoon tilt with Botafogo. Given the you’re outta here is Borges, Jean, and Dagoberto.

Mengao will be without midfielder Maldonado when Rubro-Negro takes to the pitch Sunday night against Goias. Maldonado was injured in the Flamengo Nautico match.

With Palmeiras’s painful 2-0 loss on Wednesday night to Gremio, this opened the door just a bit wider for either Sao Paulo or Flamengo to walk away with the title.

Sao Paulo has 62 points. Mengao has 60 points.

Palmeiras is still in the hunt with 59 points. But remember if Sao Paulo wins on Sunday Alviverde will trail Tricolor by six points.

Palmeiras will have to run the table and hope Sao Paulo losses their last two matches. If this does happen Sao Paulo and Palmeiras will be tied for first place.

Lets hope Sao Paulo gets blown put and Mengao wins. When this happens Flamengo will be in first place all by their lonesome.

I am so lonesome I could cry. Not!

With this said, the Campeonato race is still a wide-open affair.

Internacional and Atletico-MG have an outside chance to win it all. Colorado and Galo have 56 points apiece. Wins are a must. If not you can kiss your dreams of winning the whole shebang goodbye.  

This is nut cutting time times three.

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Sports/Futebol

The EPL will get back into action this Saturday and Sunday. I can’t wait to watch these puppies on Directv. I like choosing which games I want to watch. This is really cool.

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My wife and I will park in front of the TV.  We’ll watch Manchester United take Everton on Directv.  Liverpool will battle Manchester City. The Reds City match will have huge implications for both sides. Directv will have this baby as well too. If the Reds lose you can almost kiss their chance of winning the EPL goodbye.

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Arsenal battles Sunderland. The Gunners need a full three points to keep pace with front-runner Chelsea. Spurs entertains Wigan on Sunday. You catch this baby on Directv as well. 

Front-runner Chelsea has a hot date with Wolves. The Blues are currently in first place in the EPL with 28 points. Link up to Directv and watch this as well. http://www.blogtelevision.net/

This is nut-cutting time for several clubs. Man U needs three points. Liverpool cannot afford to lose again. Chelsea is in the catbird seat.

Oh, glory days for the fun part of the season is just beginning.

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Sports/Futebol

You can almost stick a fork in Palmeiras chance of winning the Campeonato. Mid level Gremio took it to Alviverde 2-0. This was more like a good old-fashioned butt whopping issued by Gremio to lowly Palmeiras.

Gremio took Alviverde to the woodshed and spanked em bad.

Third place Palmeiras played like a bunch of clowns. Muricy you stink as a coach. This is why the evil empire fired your butt.

Two red cards and dumb play cost Alviverde dearly.

Gremio scored just before the break. Rafael Marques knocked home the gimmie rebound in the 45^th minute to give Gremio a 1-0 lead at the break.

The initial shot was a thing of beauty. Maxi Lopez avoided touching the ball with his hands and arms. He one timed the shot. The shot went boom off the keeper Marcos straight into the waiting eager feet of Marquez.  

Stupid defending by Palmeiras set up this first goal. Hey, guys you don’t give a free entry pass right in front of the goal to the opposition.

What did you expect? A miss. Not on this day you dunder heads.

To make matters worse dumbos Daniel and Obina both got the heave hoe at the same time. These two clowns instead of fighting the opposition duked it out with each other. 

The 45^th minute proved to be very self destructive for Palmeiras.

This is the result of poor coaching.

Maxi Lopez’s goal salted this baby away in the 70^th minute.

The idiots from Palmeiras dropped another match and thus you can sing Turn out the lights the parties over. 

The party is over for Muricy and his merry band of knuckleheads.

You don’t win the Campeonato by going winless in your last four matches. Get this Alviverde’s record is two loses and two draws since November 1^st. Way to go garoto.

Can you say Flamengo Campeonato?

I sure can.

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Sports/Futebol

Mengao has a real good chance to move into first place in the Campeonato. All Flamengo has to do is to have a kick butt performance against Goias at home in Maracanã on Sunday night. And then have the Evil Empire lose to Botafogo earlier Sunday and we’re in like Flynn. First place is ours baby.

I love it.

Then to top that sucker off have Alviverde lose to Gremio on Wednesday and this will make for us Flamenguistas a great end of the week present.

Let’s not put the cart before the horse or better yet don’t count your chickens before they are hatched.

Wednesday night is not here yet so lets hold on to our horses and see what happens.

Rubro-Negro players have it right. Let’s take care of the business at hand. Beat Goias and let the rest of the garbage sort itself out.

Adriano, Petkovic, Ze-Roberto, and the rest of the guys need to put the pedal to the medal play lights out futebol.

Preparation is the key. I love hype but the players must not fall into the trap of reading all the crap the sportswriters write.

Put the press clippings down. Concentrate and leave all the smack talk to people like me.

Go to Gávea and wall off the CK Vultures Nest so none of us crazies can get in.

When game time rolls around Sunday night Mengao will know exactly where they stand and what result is needed.

It’s wins baby and nothing less than that.

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