Let's FART off the season....

So, every week we will be putting the strangest, funniest photos of football... just because.

Because I can, and I will, mwahahah....

So without further ado, here goes....

"I can fart balls, it doesn't hurt as much as it seems..."

"I pray in weird positions, join me! >: D"

"Get the f**k down!!!"

"Who are ya?!"

Supercup - Real Madrid vs Sevilla

Real Madrid vs Sevilla

Real have a new look, as they always do. Inevitably after a big tournament such as the World Cup or Euro Cup, you are guaranteed the 'godfather' of Real Madrid, Florentino Pérez will do his all (questionable methods at times) to get a new 'Galactico'.
Nevermind that the tournament in question will inflate the costs of the player 10 fold, what Pérez wants, Pérez gets. And so on this occasion, not only he wanted Kroos (which was a relative bargain), but the big one, James Rodríguez. 

A reported €80 million from AS Monaco. Few would doubt his qualities, but few would also question such 'investment' when they already have Di María, who performed exceptionally well last season to bring La Decíma to the capital.

Yes it makes for a mouthwatering squad, but does it make sense? Clearly the Madridistas don't care. They pay to continue seeing the current superstars come on board.
But it would surely make for an interesting evening in the supercup game between the 2 Spanish sides (who said Spanish football was dead?).

Yes there were some very exciting play from Real, not least the attacking combination of 'BaleNaldo'. And that came to the fore as Bale played a delightful cross into the path of Ronaldo, who could do nothing but simply score. 

Compare to the two, the other two to receive much interest were the debutants, Rodríguez and Kroos.

How did they do?

Kroos, as you would expect played a patient short passing game. Not very exciting but did the job. Though he did not show the same level of attacking ambition or freedom as he did for Germany, which was a shame. He didn't do much wrong, except for the yellow card, but neither did he do anything spectacular.
I think if they gave him more freedom to roam forward and take in turns with Modrić, it would have made for a better performance. But either the tactics, tiredness from the World Cup or simply good old nerves, made for a subdued Kroos performance.

James, well what can we say. He made people fall in love with him with his boyish looks, and brilliant touches and passing. Not forgetting the fact he finished top scorer of the tournament.
It was inevitable the gaze of big clubs would point his way. Madrid bashed into Monaco, grabbed him, promised the world and he was theirs.
Following such a tournament, much would be expected of him in a free flowing rampant Madrid attack.
The question on everyones lip was... where would he play?
He can play in many positions, but the best is probably behind the strikers in the advanced playmaker role. However in this game he played in a more left sided position, though clearly he wanted to have license to roam more.

He did not do particularly well, losing the ball a few times in unnecessary places and misplacing a couple of passes.
Having said that, he also showed glimpses of his magic, with some nice long diagonal balls and some attempted through balls.
However, much more will be expected of this season big signing 'Galactico' though he certainly has the ability and desire to live up to it. Though I think this season will be a case of BaleNaldo once again dominating.

There were certainly a little more fluidity for Real in attack, but you do wonder about their defensive side. They have not made any new signings in that department and you can only but wonder if it would have made more sense for them to invest in these positions. I would definitely choose Varane over Pepe. Varane has great pace, excellent composure for someone so young and is simply a great defender.
Pepe on his day is a very strong and pacey defender, but is too prone to lapses of concentration and moments of madness. You are always on edge to see whether he actually does something stupid to get himself sent off. 

Sevilla gave a few scares when getting into positions and given the chance to run at the Real defence, but lacked the energy and talismanic runs from defence to attack provided by Rakitić in previous seasons and it showed.  A few times Sevilla got behind the Real defences with some very nice runs and dribbling but ultimately their lack of clinical finishing cost them dear.
At the back Fazio was strong as he got involved in all high balls and getting his body in the way of shots.
However it showed the perfect poor state of affairs of Spanish football, that a side like Sevilla, who won the Europa league last season in impressive fashion are weaker now, having sold their best player, instead of strengthening and pushing for Champions League positions.
But thats another story.

As expected the relentless Real attack and pressure finally penetrated when Ronaldo took a delightful ball and flashed it past Beto in the Sevilla goal with a left foot finish that showed, at least in domestic form, he will not be stopping his unstoppable form.
And obviously he is not about to let any new additions take away his status as the star of the team.

Sevilla ran out of ideas towards the end and the rest was walking pace for Real as they sealed the first trophy of the season.

PLAYER RATINGS:

Real Madrid: Casillas 6, Carvajal 6, Ramos 6, Pepe 6, Coentrao 7; Modric 7, Kroos 7; Ronaldo 9, James 6, Bale 7; Benzema 6. Subs: Illarramendi 5, Marcelo 5, Isco 5.

Sevilla: Beto 6, Coke 6, Fazio 7, Pareja 6, Fernando Navarro 6; Krychowiak 7, Daniel Carrico 6; Suarez 6, Vitolo 6, Vidal Parreu 6; Bacca 5. Subs: Reyes 5, Aspas 5, Figueiras 5.

Russian League?

The season has already started in France out of the major leagues in Europe and more will be following in the next week, including the Premier League, La Liga and the Bundesliga.

The big news this year has been Germany winning the World Cup (The Germans just ... win), the demolition of Brazil (who can forget all those photoshopped images of Cristo Redentor).

But now those are like distant memories as the new season brightens our day and gives us all football fans around the world to look forward to.

Another mention should go to how the Russian premier league has started off recently with Zenit annihilating Torpedo Moscow 8-1. AVB (Andreas Villas-Boas) may have been vilified (perhaps unfortunately) in England, but is certainly proving himself again with Zenit.  

Which nicely moves to the point of the Russian premier league...

It is fairly unknown in the west of Europe and the rest of the world, but actually is one of the more interesting leagues with no clear cut 'dominant' team and plenty of flair players to make for interesting viewing. There are a deluge of of south American and players from different parts of the world, mainly attracted to the very low tax for high wages.

Yes there are racism problems and yes there are questions regarding the political and regional landscape. But forgetting that aside, there is much good football to look forward to week in and out in the Russian league.