Fergie gently beckons Van Der Vaart, Mourinho sharpens his knives, and Villareal? Really??

Aahh...there is nothing The Goleador loves more than a little bit of overseas drama. Even more than the Directv pay-per-view "special" events on television. And here, shining in the the blog's spotlight today, is Rafael Van Der Vaart. In an exclusive interview with Marca ( they really know how to wheedle out the truth, don't they), VdV said "I was offered a chance to play [at Manchester United], and with the situation that is taking place in Madrid, it would be very difficult to refuse." "Manchester allows you to fight for titles, something I value at this stage of my career." of course, who wouldn't pass up an opportunity for a fun-loving dutchie, with Galatasaray and Werder Bremen throwing their lots in. The blog wishes it couldve seen Mou's face after those remarks.

Speaking of the almighty gray-haired, spiffy Portugal man, Mourinho told Marca that he wanted to trim his squad. Currently awaiting his call-up are twenty-six players. Originally, Mourinho had twenty, but with six summer signings, the numbers are bound to go up. Many many rumours have circulated about Mourinho's starting lineup, and here is The Goleador's prediction. Casillas, Arbeloa, Carvalho, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo, Xabi Alonso, Gago, Ozil ( Mou really hasn't wasted his time with him: just a day after he was presented as a new player and one training session with his colleagues, he is already ready for inclusion), Canales, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Higuaín. It took the blog a long time to solve this, but all this means is that Alou and Mamadou Diarra, along with VdV (of course), and maybe even Karim Benzema will be heading on the transfer bus out.

Now The Goleador turns it wary eyes onto Villareal. The Pires-lovesick team beat DNEPR 5-0, amazingly enough. Who would have thought!?!

Swiveling around to Catalonia again. Hold the boos, please. Mino Raiola, also known as Mr. protect-Zlatan-at-all-costs-or-else, has spoken out again for Ibra. To Marca, he said, " I think it is easier for Guardiola to go rather than Zlatan. Guardiola is under contract for 1 year, and Ibrahimovic for four. The mathematics are clear." After hearing this atrocity, the blog went and hunted down the professor who was previously known as Raiola's math teacher. Anyone in their right mind would not say something of that magnitude to Pep, except for TG.

Speaking of Barcelona, another of their players has spoken out against Mourinho. It wasn't Gerrard Pique, but Dani Alves. That's right. The midfielder who may be transferring has said that "with or without Mourinho, the Barça way to compete will not change." that's two on the scoresheet for Barcelona, zero for old Mou.

Sevilla's CL downward spiral, and Ozil living the dream ( but is he really?)

After the whole Herculés match-fixing scandals, and all the relgation battles, and all the enourmous financial problems drowning the poor teams, The Goleador has to admit that it is tired out. So, when TG heard that Sevilla were playing a Chanpions League Qualifier against Sporting Braga, it's spirits were piqued and we decided to risk it and see if Sevilla had after a tumultous season in La Primera. And there is only four words to describe how they played: they didn't have it. hum-dee-dum goalkeeper Palop didn't even make an attempt to catch the sitter of a header from Andrés Nascmiento. Would-be "playmakers" Luis Fabiano and Freddy Kanouté played as if the World Cup had ended a week ago. This game has only served to reinforce the dreadful notion TG has had in its head for so long now that Champions League qualfiers are dull and dead-ended. Supercup, here we come.

24 hours before Werder Bremen were to play Sampdoria at the Weserstadion, the German side finally reached an agreement with Real Madrid for the sale of midfield charmer Mesut Ozil. The Goleador figures that Werder were unnerved at the fact the the pouty German had said "sell me or I won't play." Now, Now, Mesut, that's not the way your mom taught you. And if Marca's Wednesday edition cover is true ( It hardly can be, at that), Real have really landed a charmer of a footballer in Ozil. And while Ozil is flown in on a posh, private jet, the man rumored to be leaving Castle Greyskull is none other than Rafael Van Der Vaart. The dutch player was unusually serene when asked about his position at the Bernabau, which is quite unlike him. Usually he his jogging the ball down the left touchline or sniffing the inside of his boots on the bench in a sort of manaical fashion. But, with him, you never really know. But (and There's always that 'but'), TG had it doubts about Mesut. Özil had told AS that he can now say with some satisfaction that “a dream of mine has come true”, although the blog did have to pinch itself and recheck Tuesday’s news, considering Özil told ‘Bild’ last October that it was a “dream of mine” to join Barcelona as “I’ve been a fan of Barcelona, ever since I was a little boy.” More scandals to come? Now that is something that not even TG, with it's supremely intelectuall mind, can answer.

Real's tears...and how the Galaxy benefit

As if The Goleador hadn't hung it's head enough times after Spain won the World Cup, Spanish football finds a way to throw yet another monkey wrench into our plans. Less than two days before Real Madrid take on the L.A. Galaxy at the almost-guaranteed-to-be-sold-out Rose Bowl in Pasadena this Saturday, realmadridfc.com have sorrowfully announced that Kaka may be sidelined for up to 2 months with a meniscus problem. Kaka left Real's training camp for possible surgery in Belgium. If they do perform keyhole surgery on him, what TG has just stated above will all become real. No pun intended. Sure, the club's official website added that Kaka has recovered very well from the groin strain that hampered his game last season, but what now? He's out again, TG is afraid to say. But the Galaxy must be dancing in the hotel suite. Though there in much more talent on Madrid than just Kaka, that's one load off their tiny backs. Unfortunately, for anyone who plans to attend the game ( The Goleador will be, for all who are concerned), they will miss out on an oppurtunity to see a REAL superstar play. Once again, no pun intended. Hey, if this keeps happening to Kaka, the poor young man might just be put out of his misery and be sold. Mourinho has already stated he wants two or three more signing at the Bernabeau before the transfer window shuts down for awhile. And we all can remember what he was like at Chelsea.

Mourinho definitely has caught the Spanish insanity!!

By the way, Yellow Frog has officially changed it's name to The Goleador, or TG for short. But that's just a side note. For
now, TG would like to bring up a few questions. First, is Mourinho really at the helm of Real Madrid? Sure, the Spanish giants have been promised great (and not so great) players like Gerrard and failure winger Angel Dí Maria, but does Mourinho have control of the steering wheel here? Second, is Mourinho so underconfident of his position that he asked a Kenyan juju man to help him with his coaching life?

Jose and his family recently travelled to Kenya on a three week vacation, and with that he dishonoured the Spanish. What, our country isn't good enough for you, Jose?? But, to advise him on Real Madrid coaching affairs, he talks to a alleged juju man. The man is often confronted by political figures and soccer players on tactics and such but this, thus is atrocious! His mind really must be warped, because any manager who signs players like Pedro Leon and Angel Dí Maria must have some problems!! For now, TG will leave all of this discussion to the viewers, as it is to busy to discuss itself. But post comments, and maybe we will start chatting!!

The cacophony has not resounded in Spain!! VIVA ESPAÑA!!

After some 90+ years of shin-kicking, sweat, dirt, and tears, hundreds of qualifiers, and a greuling, nail-biting 120 minutes had to pass before Spain could finally lift the the Cup that they all call the World. Of course, YF gives credit to tearful Fabregas and our very own Catalan compatriot Andres Iniesta, but we also give credit to mastermind Del Bosque. Yes, he may frequent many of the local pizzerias, an may enjoy his choice food and drink, but how did he get his team through this far? Surely it wasn't physic, like our now dearly loved geezer Paul the Octopus. No, ladies and gentleman, it was tactics that got us through and that left YF and perhaps millions of people worldwide still wondering if this all really happened.

YF would love to thank South Africa for this most enjoyable experience. There wasn't the Zidane send-off, but in a way, France got sent off. There wasn't Italy lifting the trophy again, but Italy did lift their bags to go on the plane home. There wasn't Cafu holding the World Cup for Brazil, but there was (somewhere out there) Cafu holding his head in shame. Then we had the Kiwi's, the All-Whites, whatever you want to call them, suprising most with an almost-win against Slovakia (hey, YF is being naïve here). We had Brazil out in the quarter final, as well as England. Raymond Domenech was summoned to Parliament to fight for his rather ill-fated excuse of a team. Then, there was Shabalala's 'hold the wheel and turn it' celebration with his pals to open up a truly magnificent World Cup. Of course, there was more to discuss and butt heads over, but YF still has a hangover from July 11. We now eagerly await to see La Furía Roja crowned world champions a second time in Brazil four years from now. But for now, keep your eye on La Liga, which YF will be covering season in and season out.

And by the way, we really enjoyed Iker's interview smooch with his girfriend. Thank you for your last-ditch efforts to maintain the World Cup atmosphere, Casillas.

Spain shocked by Swiss

La Furia Roja kicked off their campaign for a first World Cup title with a horrific loss. Spain, who stayed unbeaten in all their warm-up matches, were not able to best 24-ranked Switzerland. A scrappy goal by Hernandes gave the Swiss the lead and unfortuneatly almost made it two, when one of the Swiss players slid the ball past Iker in the goal only to see it denied by the post. One of Spain's closest chances came from Xabi Alonso, who blasted a shot that took a huge richcochet off the crossbar. Yellow Frog really hates to say this, but good job, Switzerland. We never thought you could do it. And a shoutout to Mr. Del Bosque- THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE!!!! Straighten it out! It's to bad he can't hear us.

We will start Spain's World Cup coverage later today, but for now...

Yellow Frog is sure that everyone was a tad but more excited about the World Cup before it started than they are now. Come on, a series of draws and defeats and only a handful of wins, and with those wins coming the glorious showing that Germany gave when they played Australia. Also among those wins was a amazingly outside-curved kick from almost-Real Madrid defender Maicon. And to top it all off, a few of the teams that are winning were the teams predicted at the start to drop out and lose every single one of their games. Look at Group C. Slovenia, the country not many people had heard of, were firing balls that apparently the Algerian goalkeeper couldn't "reach." then the Group of Death, as it's known. This was supposed to be the most active and goal-bringing group, but all we have seen have been provided by North Korea and Brazil. And, of course, Drogba's shooting was definitely off yesterday, otherwise Ivory Coast had a shot at winning against Portugal. As for our beloved La Furia Roja, we will begin documenting and covering all the Spanish team news as well as mulling over the results of the games. Spain play Switzerland today at 7:00 AM, Pacific time. So stay here to watch Spain's world cup journey!