R & R's 25 best club teams, September 28

R & R's 25 best club teams, September 28

1) Barcelona

Barcelona hasn't looked great lately. Against the only good teams they've played this year, they have two draws (Valencia and Bremen) and one loss (Sevilla). They lost Eto'o for three months and they just don't look all that sharp. That having been said, they're still the best. But there's no question that they are vulnerable right now, both in La Liga and in the Champions.

2) Chelsea
Looked a little iffy at first, but the juggernaut rolls on. They're having some line-up adjustment problems with their new arrivals, but they have enough talent where they can still plow through teams anyway. They were lucky to win at Liverpool, but they've done what they've been supposed to do. Now in first in the group stages ahead of Barcelona. Two clashes of the titans awaits. Without Eto'o, you' d have to think that Chelsea would be favorites to get the upper hand.

3) AC Milan

With positive points in Il Calcio and a solid start in the Champions, it doesn't seem as if the slap on the wrist has affected the rossoneri all that much. Screw it, Inter doesn't want to win anything, so you gotta think that the 8 point blip at the beginning of the season won't hinder them from winning it all, again, in Italy.

4) Arsenal

Started slowly, but I'm still sticking with these guys as one of the best in Europe. Somehow Arsenal went from a creaking old powerhouse to one of the youngest and most talented teams in Europe. It was a seamless transition. Hand it to Arsene, he's got these guys on the right track. They're the most serious challenge to Chelsea and one of the few teams that could beat Barcelona or Chelsea on a good day. They nearly won the Champions League last year, and with that confidence, expect to see more this year. Looked good in the first Champions League qualifier.

5) Lyon
Just because they throttled Real Madrid a few weeks ago doesn't mean they're better than Real Madrid. But they keep winning, so they get the nod ahead of them.

6) Real Madrid

Forget the new faces and Capello, the team seems to have a different attitude this year. There's bodies flying all over the place. These guys are looking fit and intense. And no matter how old they are, they're hungrier than Barcelona. It breaks my heart to say it, but I'm thinking that it might be the Blancos' year to hoist La Liga.

7) Bayern Munich
I said before the season started that I wouldn't be surprised if they got better with Ballack gone. They beat Inter on the road, which is the kind of big win against a major club they haven't had in a while.

8) Manchester United

I should preface this commentary by saying that everything I've said about ManU this year has proven wrong, and not say anything else.

9) Liverpool

Peter Crouch with the crazy-style bicycle kick. You gotta love it. Benitez has gone a little over the deep end with his rotations strategy, but I feel like he'll lay off it a bit now that he knows that only his top guys are giving him the results. Fabio Aurelio looks like a fantastic fit for them. He hooked up extremely well with Crouch against Galatasaray.

10) Valencia

Nearly beat Barcelona in the Camp Nou. Tops in the La Liga and handed Roma their lunch yesterday in the Champions League. These guys have got it going yet again. They sure can cause a ruckus in the summer, but they always win more than I think they will when the games are played.

11) Sevilla

They've been beating everybody this year. Lost their first game to Atletico on the road last week, which is hardly anything to be ashamed of. It's sad these guys didn't qualify for the Champions, instead of the rather fortunate Osasuna team from last year. These guys would probably be a low seed in the draw, and would have made for some very, very interesting matchups.

12) Inter Milan

Inter sucks. But they're leading Il Calcio. I suppose that's pretty impressive.

13) PSV
Mr. Koeman, these guys have been the team to beat in Holland and tough in Europe. You didn't do so well at Ajax, can you get the job done at PSV? They always play well in Europe, but they don't have the talent the top dogs have.

14) Atletico Madrid
I know that this goes against the grain for most people, but this team has so much talent. So much talent. It's sick. They are hands down the third best team in Spain. Torres, Maxi Rodriguez (did you see how good he was in the World Cup?), Kezman, Aguero, Pernia, Manuel Pablo, and then with Aguirre at the helm. Atletico Madrid probably has three players valued at more than 20 million euros, and then three more who are worth more than 10. These guys are fricking loaded. These guys have no excuse not to qualify for the Champions League this year.

15) Aston Villa

Martin O'Neill likes to downplay what these guys are capable of doing, but I won't. They've got good players, and a great coach, and they seem to be having fun this year. I like their defense, and they've got a squad that's well-heeled a familiar. It's a good combo for a good. They smell like UEFA material to me.

16) Lille

Not exactly tearing it up in France this year, but they held Milan to a draw, and they'll raise up the tables. Give 'em time.

17) Schalke 04
I guess these guys are doing well in Germany. Yea! for them. Germany sucks.

18) Werder Bremen
Struggling at home, but should have beaten Barcelona the other day. That's worth something. Now that they have their stars back, they'll pick it up in the dull as hell Bundesliga.

19) Ajax
A bad year last year for these guys, but looks like Ten Cate (great name, by the way) might be getting them back where they belong. I know they pooped out to Copenhagen, but that was a fluky, fluky result. I think they'll with the Erdevisie this year.

20) Boca Jr.'s

Winning titles and leading the the torneo apertura. Another strong year en la bombonera.

21) Villarreal
They're already out of Europe, and they aren't doing that well in Europe, but they're still better than half the teams on this list. Riquelme, Nihat, Pires (scratch that), Forlan, Senna. There is top level talent here. With only two competitions to play (and the Copa del Rey barely counts), they'll give people troubles in a super-competitivev top-half of la liga.

22) Porto

Good team, year in, year out. Tearing it up in Portugal, but got a little torn up themselves by Arsenal. No shame in that, though.

23) Roma
They suck, but with Inter sucking, too, and without anyone else not wanting to suck, you've got to put them up there.

24) Sao Paulo
They had the Libertadores so close they can smell it. But then they lost it. And Oliveira. Still think they have a strong argument for best team on this continent, however.

25) Marseille
Good team, playing super well in France, and we all saw what Ribery is capable of doing. They'll make it to Europe, and they'll do well once they get there if they can keep the squad in tact.

Honorable mention: AZ, Benfica, Portsmouth

The Five Winners and Losers at the Transfer Deadline

Big Winners
1) West Ham
With the exception of Barcelona and Real Madrid, I think every major team in Europe was looking to sign Mascherano and Tevez. Lyon, AC Milan, Arsenal, Chelsea, Man United. Who got them? West Ham? Excuse me? West Ham? They haven't won any silverware in 26 years. These two guys are probably worth as much as $50 million US. Where on God's green earth did they get that kind of cash? The answer is that they didn't. Media Sports Investments is retaining the rights of the players. Huh? How does that work? The terms of the deal were not released, and will not be released. Football 365 reported the following via the Guardian.

'Corinthians are partially owned by the mysterious Media Sports Investments company, in which Roman Abramovich is said to have a significant holding. It has also been reported that MSI owns the contracts of both players and can therefore block moves to, say, clubs likely to rival Chelsea for domestic or European glory' - The Guardian.

Huh? Conspiracy theory? Perhaps West Ham has agreed to become Chelsea's farm team for the next few years.

2) Atletico Madrid
These guys have picked up Maniche, Aguero, Costinha, Pernia, and managed to hold on to their brightest star in Fernando Torres. Not a bad summer. Plus they pilfered Osasuna's standout coach Javier Aguirre. No excuses now. If these guys can't pull together a huge season, the sha's going to hit the fin.

3) Inter Milan
Took advantage of a wonderful garage sale out in Turin. Ibrahimovic and Vieira are a couple of huge names that, six months ago, were about as accessible as Jessica Alba for a porta-potty maintenence man. Now, they've been signed on the cheap. Add Hernan Crespo, and it seems as if Inter have been Karmicly rewarded for their relative honesty.

4) Real Madrid
Cannavaro, Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Emerson and Diarra are all excellent additions to the notoriously overloaded and overbloated squad. Of course, they've bought up great players every year and the final result hasn't worked out as they had hoped. With Capello in charge, they may be terribly boring, but their defense is going to be more of a military blockade than a back line. You can just imagine Diarra, Emerson, and Cannavaro removing layers of skin from the agile legs of Messi, Ronaldinho, and Deco. So it goes.

5) Manchester United
Some times no signing is better than any signing at all. Continuity is often better than a new treasure trove of flashy superstars. Think about it. Last year, neither Barcelona nor Arsenal made any major signings, and things worked out fairly well for them. Sir Alex only brought on Michael Carrick, and while he probably paid too much for him, he managed to prevent a full-scale team-wide implosion after this summer's Ronaldo-gate incident. He has Scholes and Solskjaer back from injury, and the team chemistry looks great. I was the first person to say they looked doomed two weeks ago. Now, thanks to the magic of Sir Alex, all looks well at Old Trafford.


Biggest Losers
1) Corinthians
Excuse me while I put my lawyer hat on for a second. In the US and in Britain, there are laws that prevent the board members of a corporation from engaging in self-interested transactions that hurt the corporation. Here, the owners of Corinthians MSI have engaged in some financial dealings that purged them of their crown jewels (Mascherano and Tevez), there was a conflict of interest, and they have not acted in the best interests of Corinthians when they sold their crown jewels. The conflict-of-interest provisions of English law would certainly be violated if the deal were entirely done in England. Any shareholder of Corinthians would have the right to sue over this one. The conflicts of interest of MSI shareholders are clear, and the shareholders are acting contrary to Corinthians' best interest. If Corinthians could have received $80 million US for the pair, and they received nothing, that's a violation of their duty of loyalty to Corinthians. That's the way it would play out in England. However, I have no idea what the Brazilian law on the subject is. The terms of the deal will not be announced, and one shareholder in MSI is looking to take over West Ham. This deal underscores the need for transparency in football transfers. It's one thing that Abrabomovich is richer than everyone else, and he can buy whomever he wants, but when billionaires engage in conflicted multi-national transactions with a complete lack of scrutiny, the integrity of the game is put into question. Stay tuned for details.

2) Juventus
Ok, so this is obvious. But with Nedved, Buffon, Del Piero and Trezeguet staying on in Turin, things could have been worse. If they don't move up this year, expect things to getworse.

3) Deportivo de La Corunya
Remember back in 2004 when these guys reached the semi-finals in the champions league? Every year they were fighting for the top spots against the big boys in La Liga and in the Champions League. Well, those days are dead and gone. This fall, Deportivo released their two biggest stars, Diego Tristan and Lionel Scaloni, and got nothing in return. They also lost playmaker Pedro Munitis and a host of other talented players. Their biggest signing was Bodipo. This mighty team have fallen from the top of La Liga, and without any valuable commodities left in the tank to sell, it seems unlikely they will return.

4) Tottenham Hotspurs
They lost their bright young holding midfielder in Michael Carrick, and received a truckload of cash in return. With nearly 20 million quid in the kitty, what did they decide to spend their valuable cash to obtain? An injured Steed Malbranque? Berbatov hasn't impressed too terribly in his first few matches. Mido will be in prison in London before Christmastime. Spurs fans were hoping to land Baptista, Stuart Downing, or another big name player, but it wasn't meant to be. With a sluggish start to the season and some huge momentum growing for some of their UEFA-level rivals (Villa and West Ham), it could be a long season for ye Olde Spurs.

5) Blackburn
When your skipper refuses to sign a new contract because he has no intention of staying, you're in for a world of hurt. Their most valuable commodity, Lucas Neil, remains at Blackburn, despite refusing to sign a new deal. He's a hot product, even more so than Craig Bellamy and Paul Dickov, both of whom also left at the beginning of the summer. Blackburn has not done a great job of using the big sales from past years to produce new talent, and this year looks particularly bleak for them.

AmI wrong? Who did better? Lemme know about it.

How the Champions League is, and how it should be...

It's always great to see pomposity and self-seriousness blow up in someone's face on live television. That's exactly what happened today during the UEFA's annual champions league draw and award ceremony. Carles Puyol got the honor of selecting the ball that pitted Barcelona against Chelsea, and then was lucky enough to be able to stand there silent as the Swedish announcer awkwardly played down the fact that Barcelona was going to be drawn against Chelsea, again, in the preliminary stages of the Champions League. The tournament that purports to crown Europe's best team had egg thrown on its face (once again) because it insists on using some absurd coefficient system that weights performances in the 2002 season as strongly as last season's performances in their seedings.

This is stupid. F***ing stupid. And everyone knows it. The top two teams in the world face each other at early stages of the competition, the blow each other to bits, straining their schedules, their resources, and their energy, making the final games almost anti-climactic by comparison, and often allowing mediocre teams to make it to the champions league pedestal.

As a way of showing how easy it would be to fix this problem, I have decided to create my own system to determine rankings. It is simple. It is based on last year's performance alone. It will do far better to seed teams based on actual quality. And neither it - nor anything like it - will ever be adopted by UEFA. Because it makes sense.

All right:

My system would allow for a maximum of 100 points. There will be two variables to determine your score:

1) Your performance the previous season in European competition.
2) Your performance the previous season in domestic competition.

Each factor will provide for a maximum of 50 points.

Points will be allocated as follows.

1) Champions League Winner - 50
2) Runner-up - 45
3) Semi-finalists - 40
4) Quarter-Finalists - 35
5) Champions League Final 16 and UEFA Cup Champ - 30
6) Champions League Group Stagers and UEFA Top 4 - 25
7) Final Qualifiers and UEFA Top 16 - 20
8) Early Champions League Qualifiers, Intertoto Winner - 15
9) All 72 UEFA participants - 10
10) Intertoto, top 16 - 5


Dometic Points

1) Winners of Group 1 Leagues (Spanish, Italian, and English titles) -- 50
2) Winners of Group 2 Leagues (German and French) titles -- 40
3) Runners-Up in Group 1 Leagues-- 40
4) Winners in Group 3 Leagues (Holland and Portugal) -- 35
5) 3rd Place Group 1 Leagues -35
6) Winners in Group 4 Leauges (Scotland, Greece, Russia, Ukraine, Turkey) -- 30
7) 4th Place Group 1, 2nd Place Group 2 -- 30
8) Winners of Group 5 Leagues (Belgium, Swiss, Austria, Czech Republic, Romania) -- 25
9) 5th Place Group 1, 3rd Place Group 2, 2nd Place Group 3 -- 25
10) Winners of all other domestic leagues -- 20
11) 6th place Group 1, 4th Place Group 2, 3rd Place Group 3, 2nd Place Group 4 -- 20
12) 7th Place Group 1, 5th Group 2, 4th Group 3, 3rd Group 4, 2nd Group 5 -- 15
13) 8th Group 1, 6th, Group 2, 5th Group 3, 4th Group 4, 3rd Group 5, 2nd for all the rest -- 10
14) 9th Group 1, 7th Group 2, 6th Group 3, 5th Group 4, 4th Group 5, 3rd all the rest -- 5

This may seem a little more complicated, but it's actually very simple.

I created five hierarchies of the best leagues in Europe. Spain, Italy, and England do the best in the European competition, so they should get more points. Germany, France, Holland, and Portugal aren't too far behind, so they get next billing.

The champions from the top league get 50, then 40, 35, 30, 25, and 20 for the rest. The second place team in each league receives 10 less than the champion, third place receives five less than the second place team, with each subsequent team receiving five less until there's just no more points left to give.

So how does this work in practice? Let's see?


1) Barcelona 100 points
X) Juventus 90 points
2) Chelsea 80 points
2) AC Milan 80 points
4) Arsenal 75 points
4) Lyon 75 points
5) Real Madrid 70 points
5) Bayern Munich 70 points
5) Inter Milan 70 points
9) PSV Eindhoven 65 points
9) Liverpool 65 points
9) Man United 65 points
12) Valencia 60 points
12) Werder Bremen 60 points
12) Porto 60 points
15) Benfica 55
15) Lille 55
15) Olympiakos 55
15) Anderlecht 55

Look, because it reflects only two variables (success in domestic competition and in European competition), it reflects the teams we think are good.

Compare this with the UEFA coefficient:

1		AC Milan		ITA	19	26	14	27	21	107	22,020	129,020	3
2		FC Barcelona		SPA	23	26	12	13	29	103	24,006	127,006	4
3		Real Madrid		SPA	31	22	17	14	12	96	24,006	120,006	1
4		Internazionale		ITA	17	23	13	18	19	90	22,020	112,020	7
5		Juventus		ITA	14	24	10	19	18	85	22,020	107,020	12
6		Liverpool		ENG	19	17	11	25	13	85	20,950	105,950	5
7		Olympique Lyon		FRA	10	8	14	20	21	73	29,757	102,757	14
8		Arsenal		ENG	12	14	14	14	27	81	20,950	101,950	10
9		Manchester United		ENG	25	23	12	12	8	80	20,950	100,950	6
10		Valencia		SPA	14	22	25	10		71	24,006	95,006	2
11		FC Porto		POR	11	21	23	11	7	73	14,533	87,533	11
12		PSV Eindhoven		NED	14	6	16	21	11	68	13,640	81,640	13
13		Bayern München		GER	23	3	9	16	14	65	15,960	80,960	8
14		Chelsea		ENG	5	2	19	20	13	59	20,950	79,950	20
15		Villarreal CF		SPA			16	18	19	53	24,006	77,006	24
16		Deportivo La Coruña		SPA	17	14	17	5		53	24,006	77,006	9
17		AS Roma		ITA	14	12	10	4	14	54	22,020	76,020	16
18		Newcastle United		ENG		12	21	22		55	20,950	75,950	15
19		AS Monaco		FRA			19	12	11	42	29,757	71,757	31
20		Lille OSC		FRA	12			13	13	38	29,757	67,757	46
21		AJ Auxerre		FRA		8	11	16	2	37	29,757	66,757	34
22		Panathinaikos		GRE	18	15	5	12	6	56	10,587	66,587	18
23		Schalke '04		GER	5	8	5	10	21	49	15,960	64,960	44
24		AC Parma		ITA	11	5	7	18		41	22,020	63,020	17
25		Olympique Marseille		FRA			20		12	32	29,757	61,757	60
26		Sevilla FC		SPA				12	25	37	24,006	61,006	59
27		Girondins Bordeaux		FRA	8	9	14			31	29,757	60,757	29
28		Ajax		NED	5	16	5	8	13	47	13,640	60,640	33
29		Celtic		SCO	9	21	13	7		50	10,023	60,023	22
30		VfB Stuttgart		GER		13	10	11	10	44	15,960	59,960	25
31		Bayer Leverkusen		GER	23	7		12	0	42	15,960	57,960	21
32		Lazio Roma		ITA	5	18	5	7		35	22,020	57,020	19

According to the UEFA, Chelsea is the 14th best team in the world. Excuse me? They've been annihilating everyone in the premiership for two years? 14th? Slightly above Newcastle, Monaco, AS Roma and Deportivo. Deportivo is a middle-of-the-road Spanish team right now, and they've been that way for a couple of years. They aren't one of the top 20 teams in Europe anymore. Alaves is top 100, and they're not even in the first division anymore.

The current system is patently ridiculous. FC Porto would not be ranked by any sensible sports analyst as a better team than Chelsea, but they're ahead of them in the UEFA rankings. That's because Porto was really good in 2004. Unfortunately, that's now irrelevant. That's why we don't have great matches with great teams every year in the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the finals of the Champions League. It would be so easy to fix. So easy.

I think my system (or any of a million other possible systems) could accurately reflect the best teams in Europe, based on how well they are performing now. With my system there are a lot of ties, and when there are ties, we could look to how well the teams performed in prior years to determine higher seeding. But this would only be as a tie-breaker, not as the fundamental way to decide who plays whom.

Also...
After the group stages, the remaining teams should be ranked according to their rankings and paired against each other with tournament style seeding. Number 1 would play number 16 in the first round. The winner would play the winner of the match between the 8th and 9th seeds, and so on. That way, Chelsea and Barcelona would not play each other, at a minimum, until the semi-finals. How great it would be, to know that you'd likely have great matches pitting the best against each otherevery year.

This way, the best teams would go farther in Europe every year, and they would get better seedings. The system would perpetuate itself.

R & R's 25 best club teams, August 22

1) Barcelona

Good lord, they looked sharp in the Spanish Super Cup. With Xavi and Messi back, plus the addition of Thuram and Zambrotta, it could be a little silly this year in the Camp Nou. The only questions are whether 'Can Barca' can stay motivated and whether Rijkaard can balance the massively swollening egos threatening to cause the Barcelona bench to buckle under its weight. Stay tuned for either the fall of a giant or the culmination of the greatest dynasty in soccer since early '90s AC Milan.

2) Chelsea
Didn't look so bad themselves this week. I think it's because Ballack was injured. While Barcelona might have a better team, Chelsea has more motivation this year. Two Premier League titles notwithstanding, they've got a chip on their shoulders. That extra fire under their ass is the only reason they're ranked in front of Barcelona. I'd say there's a 70% chance that we'll see Barcelona-Chelsea III this year in the Champions League. What an epic clash that would be. Not sure Ballack will fit in well and Lampard might not be great anymore, either, but they're still probably the second strongest team until proven otherwise.

3) AC Milan

The Italian judicial system gave them a break. An 8 point disadvantage should be no big deal with Juventus out of the way. Even without Shevchenko, Gattuso, Kaka, Pirlo and company are still one of the most feared sides in Europe. Plus, they've got some money to burn with Shevchenko's hefty parting gift. I'd expect a move or two from Mr. Berlusconi before the season starts.

4) Arsenal

Not a good start on Saturday, but I'm still sticking with these guys as one of the best in Europe. Somehow Arsenal went from a creaking old powerhouse to one of the youngest and most talented teams in Europe. It was a seamless transition. Hand it to Arsene, he's got these guys on the right track. They're the most serious challenge to Chelsea and one of the few teams that could beat Barcelona or Chelsea on a good day. They nearly won the Champions League last year, and with that confidence, expect to see more this year. Looked good in the first Champions League qualifier.


5) Real Madrid

No titles in three years? No problem. Only Chelsea has deeper pockets, and with the addition of Cannavaro and Capello, perhaps a winning additude might follow. More than anything, what the Blancos need is consistency. Seven coaches in three years is patently absurd. If Calderon and Co. can add some consistency, these guys won't be far behind Barcelona, if they're behind them at all.

6) Lyon
All this team has done is win five consecutive Ligue 1 titles and compete with the best in the champions league every year. They can beat anyone, and maybe this year they'll finally go all the way in the champions league. But then again, the French league isn't that great, nor is Houllier, and they propably won't. Just had Diarra pilfered from them at the last minute by the greasy hands of Real Madrid. May not prevent them from rolling it up in the French League "Un," but that'll smart when it comes to playing the big boys in the Champions League.

7) Bayern Munich
I wouldn't be surprised if they got better with Ballack gone. Ballack the world's most overrated player. Plus, the Germans got a big boost of confidence in the World Cup. If young Lahm and Podolski can take some of that vim and vigor from Germany 2006 and transfer to club competition as well, the Germans might become a legitimate top 5 contender again. But they ain't there yet. Either way, they should run away (yawn) with the Bundesliga again.

8) Manchester United

I boldly predicted a major ManU fall this year, and guess what, they looked phenomenal in their opener. Would be HUGE if they could sign Tevez from Corinthians. I thought Sir Alex was losing it. Nearly 20 million quid on Carrick? Whaaaa?!!?!!? Think about it. Smith, O'Shea, Carrick, Saha, Fletcher, Scholes, Giggs. Somehow the chefs at the finest restaurant in England just started ordering their ingredients from the folks over at Burger King. The only players with real Champions League talent left up front are Rooney and Ronaldo, and we've all got our TiVo's set to see what happens there. This has got disaster written all over it. I might as well have a picnic with all my ex-girlfriends. Cristiano can bring the potato salad. Ronaldo is set to have as much fun this year as Figo did in all his returns to the Camp Nou, except he's got it coming to him everywhere in England. Stock up on your pig's heads, Brits, it's gonna be a hoot.


9) Liverpool
If I had any balls, I'd put them ahead of ManU. The only thing is, they don't have any talent, either. Benitez has brought with him a true Spanish mentality: lots of great midfielders and no decent strikers. They'll finish third or fourth in England, and make it to the quarter finals or round of sixteen in the Champions League, which is not so bad given that the general mediocrity here outside of Xabi Alonso and Steven Gerrard. Not too strong in their first Champions League match.

10) Inter Milan
Poor Inter! If cross-town rivals AC Milan had been relegated, they probably could have picked up a Scudetto. But even with 8 points clear, I still don't see it happening. Defeatism abounds here despite a wealth of talent. Prediction: Second in Italy, out in the qualifying rounds in Europe.

11) Villarreal
They're already out of Europe, which means they're a dark horse for La Liga's top prize. Riquelme, Nihat, Pires (scratch that), Forlan, Senna (maybe). There is top level talent here. With only two competitions to play (and the Copa del Rey barely counts), these guys could be the team that finally topples el Barca en La Liga, who have a whopping six to play.

12) Werder Bremen
If Klose were half the player for club that he were for country, these guys would be top ten for sure. Beat Bayern Munich already. Might be their year.

13) Benfica
Koeman was running a tight ship over in Portugal, but we'll see what happens when he's gone.


14) PSV
Speaking of Mr. Koeman, these guys have been the team to beat in Holland and tough in Europe. Koeman didn't do so well at Ajax, can he get the job done at PSV? They have a strong argument for a higher place in the rankings, but it's hard for me to believe that their luck isn't about to run out soon.

15) Lille
#2 is the name of the game in France. Can they top Lyon for once? Doubt it.

16) Valencia
Not entirely sure why they got rid of Aimar. I guess it's because they have done so well in the last few years without him. No matter who leaves Valencia, they always seem to fight hard and play well. But the tiff with Ayala could be huge. Still, Valencia have been one of the most consistent performers in the last ten years, with an uncanny ability to find and develop talent where others could not. Hanging on for their Champions League lives. These guys always have upper management meltdowns, but this year they're going over the deepend. Could be a baaaaad year for these guys.

17) Ajax
A bad year last year for these guys, but looks like Ten Cate (great name, by the way) might be getting them back where they belong.

Part of me thinks I should have left these guys off. Maybe I will next time.

18) Atletico Madrid
I know that this goes against the grain for most people, but this team has so much talent. So much talent. It's sick. They are hands down the third best team in Spain. Torres, Maxi Rodriguez (did you see how good he was in the World Cup?), Kezman, Aguero, Pernia, Manuel Pablo, and then with Aguirre at the helm. Atletico Madrid probably has three players valued at more than 20 million euros, and then three more who are worth more than 10. These guys are fricking loaded. These guys have no excuse not to qualify for the Champions League this year.

19) Hamburg
I don't think I know anything about Hamburg. But I guess they got 3rd in the Bundesliga, and I guess that's supposed to mean something to me. I'll send them a card when they get thumped by Osasuna in the Champions League. And then I'll put Osasuna on this list instead of them.

20) Tottenham

Got a cool 20 million quid for a mediocre Carrick. Well done. Can they spend their own cash a bit more wisely?

20) Sevilla

A good team that's been making solid transfer decisions for years. Got good deals for Baptista, Reyes, and Ramos. And they've got a UEFA cup to show for it.

21) Boca Jr.'s

Will Sir Diego Maradona be the next coach? That would be fun to watch. Maybe get some Isiah Thomas comparisons going for all you basketball fans.

22) Porto

Good team, year in, year out.

23) Juventus

I don't care if they're not in the top flight. They're still better than AS Roma.

24) Sao Paulo
They had the Libertadores so close they can smell it. But then they lost it. And Oliveira. Still think they have a strong argument for best team on this continent, however.

25) Salzburg FC
Have invested heavily under new ownership. Coached by Trappatoni and Lothar Matthaus. Beat Valencia on Wednesday. Could be the real deal.

Honorable Mention: Celtic, As Roma, Chivas, Rangers, DC United, Feyenord, Leverkusen, Panathanaikos, Osasuna, Newcastle, Dynamo Moscow, Marseille

Disagree? Send your own list to me here.

Readers' rankings will be posted alongside editor's posts soon.

R & R's 25 best club teams, August 11

1) Chelsea
While Barcelona might have a better team, Chelsea has more motivation this year. Two Premier League titles notwithstanding, they've still got a chip on their shoulders. That extra fire under their ass is the only reason they're ranked in front of Barcelona. There's a 50% chance that we'll see Barcelona-Chelsea III this year in the Champions League. Not sure Ballack will fit in well and Lampard might not be great, either, but they're still probably the strongest team until proven otherwise.

2) Barcelona

They're on top in terms of talent. They have a midfield so talented that even the world's 21st richest man couldn't compete with them. Deco, Ronaldinho, Messi, Xavi, Marquez, Edmilson, Iniesta, Dos Santos, the list goes on and on. With Xavi and Messi back, plus the addition of Thuram and Zambrotta, one might wonder if young superstars such as Iniesta and Oleguer might get restless for want of playing time. Can Ronaldinho return to form? He hasn't been the same in six months. Has celebrity gone to his head? Can 'Can Barca' stay motivated? Stay tuned for either the fall of a giant or the culmination of the greatest dynasty in soccer since early '90s Milan.

3) AC Milan

The Italian judicial system gave them a break. An 8 point disadvantage should be no big deal with Juventus out of the way. Even without Shevchenko, Gattuso, Kaka, Pirlo and company are still one of the most feared sides in Europe. Plus, they've got some money to burn with Shevchenko's hefty parting gift. I'd expect a move or two from Mr. Berlusconi before the season starts.

4) Arsenal

Somehow Arsenal went from a creaking old powerhouse to one of the youngest and most talented teams in Europe. It was a seamless transition. Hand it to Arsene, he's got these guys on the right track. They're the most serious challenge to Chelsea and one of the few teams that could beat Barcelona or Chelsea on a good day. They nearly won the Champions League last year, and with that confidence, expect to see more this year. Looked good in the first Champions League qualifier.


5) Real Madrid

No titles in three years? No problem. Only Chelsea has deeper pockets, and with the addition of Cannavaro and Capello, perhaps a winning additude might follow. More than anything, what the Blancos need is consistency. Seven coaches in three years is patently absurd. If Calderon and Co. can add some consistency, these guys won't be far behind Barcelona, if they're behind them at all.

6) Lyon

All this team has done is win five consecutive Ligue 1 titles and compete with the best in the champions league every year. They can beat anyone, and maybe this year they'll finally go all the way in the champions league. But then again, the French league isn't that great, nor is Houllier, and they propably won't.

7) Bayern Munich

I wouldn't be surprised if they got better with Ballack gone. Ballack is among the world's most overrated players. Plus, the Germans got a big boost of confidence in the World Cup. If young Lahm and Podolski can take some of that vim and vigor from Germany 2006 and transfer to club competition as well, the Germans might become a legitimate top 5 contender again. But they ain't there yet. Either way, they should run away (yawn) with the Bundesliga again.

8) Manchester United

Number 8 might be generous. We all love Sir Alex, but he's losing it. Nearly 20 million quid on Carrick? Whaaaa?!!?!!? Think about it. Smith, O'Shea, Carrick, Saha, Fletcher, Scholes, Giggs. Somehow the chefs at the finest restaurant in England just started ordering their ingredients from the folks over at Burger King. The only players with real Champions League talent left up front are Rooney and Ronaldo, and we've all got our TiVo's set to see what happens there. This has got disaster written all over it. I might as well have a picnic with all my ex-girlfriends. Cristiano can bring the potato salad. Ronaldo is set to have as much fun this year as Figo did in all his returns to the Camp Nou, except he's got it coming to him everywhere in England. Stock up on your pig's heads, Brits, it's gonna be a hoot.


9) Liverpool

If I had any balls, I'd put them ahead of ManU. The only thing is, they don't have any talent, either. Benitez has brought with him a true Spanish mentality: lots of great midfielders and no decent strikers. They'll finish third or fourth in England, and make it to the quarter finals or round of sixteen in the Champions League, which is not so bad given that the general mediocrity here outside of Xabi Alonso and Steven Gerrard. Not too strong in their first Champions League match.

10) Inter Milan

Poor Inter! If cross-town rivals AC Milan had been relegated, they probably could have picked up a Scudetto. But even with 8 points clear, I still don't see it happening. Defeatism abounds here despite a wealth of talent. Prediction: Second in Italy, out in the qualifying rounds in Europe.

11) Villarreal

They're already out of Europe, which means they're a dark horse for La Liga's top prize. Riquelme, Nihat, Pires, Forlan, Senna (maybe). There is top level talent here. With only two competitions to play (and the Copa del Rey barely counts), these guys could be the team that finally topples el Barca en La Liga, who have a whopping six to play.

12) Werder Bremen

If Klose were half the player for club that he were for country, these guys would be top ten for sure. Beat Bayern Munich already. Might be their year.

13) Benfica

Koeman's running a tight ship over in Portugal, and is having the success at Benfica that eluded him at Ajax. Not sure what's going to happen with Simao, though.

14) PSV

These guys have been the team to beat in Holland and tough in Europe. They have a strong argument for a higher place in the rankings, but it's hard for me to believe that their luck isn't about to run out soon.

15) Lille

#2 is the name of the game in France. Can they top Lyon for once?

16) Valencia

Not entirely sure why they got rid of Aimar. I guess it's because they have done so well in the last few years without him. No matter who leaves Valencia, they always seem to fight hard and play well. But the tiff with Ayala could be huge. Still, Valencia have been one of the most consistent performers in the last ten years, with an uncanny ability to find and develop talent where others could not. Hanging on for their Champions League lives.

17) Sao Paulo

They've got the Libertadores so close they can smell it.

18) Ajax

Part of me thinks I should have left these guys off. Maybe I will next time.

19) Hamburg

Rumor has it the 3rd place team from the Bundesliga will be purchasing Saviola. Would be a nice addition, and given the price tag Barcelona is willing to sell him at, a heck of a bargain.

20) Tottenham

Got a cool 20 million quid for a mediocre Carrick. Well done. Can they spend their own cash a bit more wisely?

21) Sevilla

A good team that's been making solid transfer decisions for years. Got good deals for Baptista, Reyes, and Ramos. And they've got a UEFA cup to show for it.

22) Boca Jr.'s

Will Sir Diego Maradona be the next coach? That would be fun to watch. Maybe get some Isiah Thomas comparisons going for all you basketball fans.

23) Porto

Good team, year in, year out.

24) Juventus

I don't care if they're not in the top flight. They're still better than AS Roma.

25) Salzburg FC

Have invested heavily under new ownership. Coached by Trappatoni and Lothar Matthaus. Beat Valencia on Wednesday. Could be the real deal.

Honorable Mention: Celtic, As Roma, River Plate, Corinthians, Chivas, Rangers, DC United, Feyenord, Leverkusen, Panathanaikos, Osasuna, Newcastle, Dynamo Moscow, Atletico Madrid, Marseille

Disagree? Send your own list to me here. Readers' rankings will be tabulated and posted about two weeks after the original article.

R & R's 25 most overrated players

25) John O'Shea

Not certain why he plays for Manchester United at all. Perhaps United felt there might be a loss in Irish revenue with the depature of Roy Keane.

24) Oleguer Presas

Not overrated because people think he's good. He's overrated because he started for Barcelona during the Champions League final. No way he was good enough to play on that team. He was made to look bad so many times in that game. Icky.

23) Gary Neville

Never understood the appeal for this character. The fact that he plays for the Three Lions shows how bad the English squad in the back.

22) Jose Maria "Guti" Gutierrez

A homeless man's Spanish David Beckham. And I think a homeless man cuts his hair. And handles his PR. He'll have a comfy spot on Madrid's high class bench this year. Again.

21) Mateja Kezman, Atletico Madrid

Failed to show up for the World Cup in much the same way he failed to show up for Chelsea or Atletico Madrid. Might end up in a belltower somewhere in Madrid with a semi-automatic rifle screaming something about being underappreciated in Serbo-Croatian. I don't want to be there when it happens.

20) Pablo Aimar, Zaragoza

The first to make the list from the "two neat flicks and nothing to show for it" school of football. Raised eyebrows when he transferred to Zaragoza. Will make Zaragoza more attractive to watch and equally mediocre in terms of winning games.

19) Freddie Ljundberg, Arsenal

The second player on the list who is more noteworthy for his hair than his play. Actually had a decent world cup. Don't expect to see much of him for Arsenal this year.

18) Michael Carrick, ManU

He was a just a decent premiership midfielder minding his own business, and then Sir Alex lost his rocker and decided he was worth 30 million dollars. He's accustomed to finishing fifth to seventh every year. That will work nicely for the new look ManU.

17) Jose Antonio Reyes, Arsenal (for now)

Just what Real Madrid needs, another striker will lots of a skill and a lack of punch in front of the goal. It's too bad they signed Cannavaro, they had such a great streak of bad signings going.

16) Fernando Torres, Atletico Madrid

It's too bad ManU couldn't have bought him from Atletico Madrid. He could have guaranteed their downward spiral into mediocrity. Since he's been at Atletico Madrid, el ninyo has been a whirling dervish of flash and failure. Two years in second division, followed by three more non-competitive years in La Liga. He scored some goals against Ukraine in the World Cup, but how many did he botch? When you have Cesc, Xavi, Xabi Alonso, and company serving you the ball, you should score a lot of goals.

15) Frank Lampard, Chelsea

Silver Ball in 2005? Whatever. This guys wants to play for Barcelona next year? No thank you. There's no room on the bench. Missed a trillion chances in the world cup. I doubt he'll ever recover.

14) Fernando Morientes, Valencia

Won three champions league titles with Real Madrid, but no one wants him. He and Raul worked well together once upon a time, now neither work well with anyone. Valencia got him. Expect missed opportunities, failed chances and a weaker Valencia as a result.

13) Landon Donovan, LA Galaxy

All right, all right, nobody really thinks he's all that good anymore. That's because he isn't. But he's the most famous American soccer player despite being a major disappointment. He had all the promise as a youth. But he's taken the easy route, decided he was satisfied with being one of the better players in MLS, and went from the golden ball winner in the U-17 world cup to a player who wouldn't rank in the top 250 anymore. Way to go, Landon!

12) Luis Figo, Inter

He had an open goal in front of him to send Portugal to the World Cup finals. Blew it. A good player but not one of the best players in the world. Not really then, and certainly not now.

11) Xavi, Barcelona

Xavi can pass, and do nothing else. He is utterly incapable of defending. And generally speaking, his exclusive job is to take the ball from defenders and give it to attacking midfielders. Barcelona didn't miss a whole lot when he was gone. I don't think that's a coincidence.

10) Peter Crouch, Liverpool

He was the best striker for England in the World Cup. That's sad. He's got some nifty footwork, but he's soooooo sloooooooowwww.

9) Juan Roman Riquelme, Villarreal

It's not that he's bad, it's just that he's not that good. Commentators wouldn't shut up about how great he was at the World Cup, but he didn't really show up when it mattered. Just as he missed the penalty for Villarreal. When the pressure's on, he doesn't show up. Not the hallmark of a great player.


8) Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Inter

This guy has incredible talent, but rarely converts that talent into goals. That would be one thing if he was a mid-fielder, but he's a striker. He should score goals, or help others score goals, and he doesn't do either.

7) Francesco Totti, Roma

He was great five years ago. But only Raul has been as non-existent a superstar over the last five years.

6) David Beckham, Real Madrid

He's not that bad. But he's not that good, either. Will kick a half-dozen spot kicks a year that are so impressive they make you forget the fact that you forgot the fact that he was on the pitch for the rest of the game.

5) Freddy Adu, DC United

He's gotten so much hype, and has yet to show he's worthy of the praise. He's starting to show signs of his ability, but he's not the next Pele. And may not even be the best young American.

4) Didier Drogba, Chelsea
There was ferocious hype surrounding the Ivory Coast and Drogba going into the World Cup. But he didn't live up to it. And he's been the weak link in the Chelsea attack. I suspect that he and Shevchenko will be totally incompatible.

3) Theo Walcott, Arsenal

So much hype for a player who truly has done nothing. Somebody called him the Lebron James of Soccer. Good lord, is that not true. How could Sven have attempted to justify adding him to the English national squad for the World Cup. An absolute travesty.

2) Raul Gonzalez, Real Madrid

This is tricky, because he hasn't done anything in four years. So it could be argued that nobody rates him very highly any longer. But unlike Beckham, Ronaldo, and Figo, he hasn't really taken flack like the other big fading superstars, and he still gets called up for the national squad. He was one of the greats in the late '90s, but he's been a whole lot of useless for a whopping four years.

1) Michael Ballack, Chelsea

Near as I can tell, he had one good season at Bayern Leverkusen and then has played relatively well against mediocre competition and then never showed up against good competition. I predict he will 1) make Chelsea a worse team or 2) Mourinho will recognize that he won't make a Chelsea a better team, and he will ride the bench at Chelsea. You heard it here first. I'm sick of hearing mediocre commentators say, "Imagine how good Chelsea will be when they get Ballack back in the lineup?" You know how good they're going to be? Less good. Worse, even. That's how good.

R & R's 25 best players in the world

1) Ronaldinho

Yeah, yeah. He had a terrible world cup. And he didn't play for crap the second half of the 2005-06 season. But did you see the way he tore up the Real Madrid defense in the Bernabeu last year? He can rest for a full year after that performance, and he still gets my vote as the best in the world.

2) Thierry Henry

He ate up Barcelona's defense in the Champions League final, but didn't score any goals. Still the best striker on the market.

3) Kaka

A new Real Madrid president got elected simply because he promised to bring him to Madrid, even though no one believed him. His lure is that powerful. Perhaps the only Brazilian who didn't disappoint in the World Cup.

4) Shevchenko

$55 million? Would that be cash or check, Mr. Abramovich?

5) Rooney

If he weren't playing for ManU this year, they might finish in the middle of the table. He'll earn every cent of his transfer fee this year if they don't.

6) Buffon

The wall. The man. He may have to set up a cot and pillow in the six-yard box this year he'll be so bored in the Serie B. His talents will be wasted.

7) Cannavaro

If Real Madrid turns it around this year, it won't be because of Van Nistelrooy or Emerson. This guy has winner written all over him.

8) Cech

Oh-s0-underrated. He's the reason Chelsea beat Barcelona two years ago. If they beat them this year, he'll probably be the reason again.

9) Messi

Pekerman lost the World Cup when he decided to substitute Julio Cruz with ten minutes left to go against Germany and leave this wunderkind on the bench. If he keeps going at this rate, he won't be the next Maradona, he'll be better (if only because he's not a crack head).

10) Eto'o

Fell slightly in people's esteem last year. People forget he was the leading scorer in the Spanish League despite taking a month off for the African Nations Cup. If he has a good fall, he might have as good of a claim as any for the Golden Ball this year. It's not as if Ronaldinho's getting it again.

11) Robben
Robben tore it up in the first World Cup game against Serbia. Also made all sorts of folk look bad in the Champions League. Until the arrival of Shevchenko, he was the star of Chelsea's front line.

12) Deco
To most of the media, he gets lost in the swarm that follows the likes of Ronaldinho, Messi, and Co. But Mr. de Souza plays defense, too, and is nearly as skillful as his peers. The only Barcelona player who played well this World Cup.

13) Gerrard
Didn't have much of World Cup, either, but is the heart and soul of a mediocre Liverpool team that has managed to win major trophies two years in a row, despite shockingly little talent.

14) Pirlo
Would have been nice if the American announcers spent 1/10th of the time talking about Pirlo they dedicated to Mr. Head Butt. He played every bit as well as his French counterpart, and he got his hands on the trophy. His deft passes breathe life into Milan and Italy's attack. Perhaps the most underrated player in the world.

15) Christiano Ronaldo
Too many flicks, too many moves. But is there anyone who can mark him? If he stays in England, he's going to be hating life.

16) Thuram
This guy was a beast in the World Cup. Every bit as important as Mr. Head Butt on both of France's big World Cup runs. Consistently impressive, unlike Mr. Head Butt. Don't think many people appreciate how much better he makes Barcelona. Not sure people want to know.

17) Riquelme
I remember the Spanish announcers from Cadena Ser five years ago trying to brainstorm ways to describe how slow he was. As slow as a turtle? As a rock? They eventually settled on as slow as a Riquelme. Not so clutch, either. Another one the American announcers couldn't shut up about. But if he's so great, why did Barcelona sell him at a discount?

18) Gattuso
This guy kicks ass. Tough. Fair. Spirited. Wish more players were like him.

19) Puyol
Another true spirit. May be slipping a little bit. But he's seen Barcelona through from a time when it was "Puyol y diez mas," to where Barcelona is the best in the world. Wouldn't be suprised if he slips a bit this year. His frenetic style of D may be hard to sustain as he crests 30.

20) Vieira
Boring, lanky, and consistent. But he wins a lot of games everywhere he goes.

21) Marquez
Touch and go in the World Cup. Uncertain where he'll play for FCB with the arrival of Thuram and Zambrotta on the scene. The unquestioned leader of Mexico and a rock in the Barcelona defense.

22) Kahn
Should have played for Germany in the World Cup. He showed it in the 3rd place game. A prick in the first degree. But a hell of a keeper.

23) Klose
Not great for Werder Bremen, but has scored ten goals in two world cups. Gotta give him props for that.

24) Xabi Alonso
Underrated key to Liverpool's success. If Madrid had bought him instead of Robinho and Samuel two years ago, there might have been a lot fewer coaches passing through the Bernabeu.

25) Cicinho
When he replaced Cafu in the last ten minutes of the France game in the World Cup, Brazil became Brazil again. But it was too little, too late. Cannavaro, Ramos, Cicinho are a great start to a back line for Real Madrid. If they'd could get someone to replace the erratic and whiny Roberto Carlos they'd be all set.


Disagree? Send your own list to ragingtumbleweed@yahoo.com. Readers' rankings will be tabulated and posted about two weeks after the original article.

Champions League Winners

2

1956: Real Madrid 4 - 3 Reims
1957: Real Madrid 2 - 0 Fiorentina
1958: Real Madrid 3 - 2 AC Milan (aet)
1959: Real Madrid 2 - 0 Reims
1960: Real Madrid 7 - 3 Eintracht Frankfurt (probably the best ever final)
1961: Benfica 3 - 2 Barcelona
1962: Benfica 5 - 3 Real Madrid
1963: AC Milan 2 - 1 Benfica
1964: Inter Milan 3 - 1 Real Madrid
1965: Inter Milan 1 - 0 Benfica
1966: Real Madrid 2 - 1 Partizan Belgrade
1967: Celtic 2 - 1 Inter Milan
1968: Manchester United 4 - 1 Benfica (aet)
1969: AC Milan 4 - 1 Ajax
1970: Feyenoord 2 - 1 Celtic (aet)
1971: Ajax 2 - 0 Panathinaikos
1972: Ajax 2 - 0 Inter Milan
1973: Ajax 1 - 0 Juventus
1974: Bayern Munich 4 - 0 Atletico Madrid (replay, after 1-1 draw)
1975: Bayern Munich 2 - 0 Leeds United
1976: Bayern Munich 1 - 0 St Etienne
1977: Liverpool 3 - 1 Borussia M'chengladbach
1978: Liverpool 1 - 0 Brugge
1979: Nottingham Forest 1 - 0 Malmo
1980: Nottingham Forest 1 - 0 Hamburg
1981: Liverpool 1 - 0 Real Madrid
1982: Aston Villa 1 - 0 Bayern Munich
1983: Hamburg 1 - 0 Juventus
1984: Liverpool 1 - 1 Roma (aet, Liverpool won 4 - 2 on penalties)
1985: Juventus 1 - 0 Liverpool
1986: Steaua Bucharest 0 - 0 Barcelona (Steaua won 2 - 0 on penalties)
1987: Porto 2 - 1 Bayern Munich
1988: PSV Eindhoven 0 - 0 Benfica (PSV won 6 - 5 on penalties)
1989: AC Milan 4 - 0 Steaua Bucharest
1990: AC Milan 1 - 0 Benfica
1991: Red Star Belgrade 0 - 0 Marseille (Red Star won 5 - 3 on penalties)
1992: Barcelona 1 - 0 Sampdoria (aet)
1993: Olympique Marseilles 1 - 0 AC Milan -
No Winner.Marseilles lose title because of match fixing allegations.
1994: AC Milan 4 - 0 Barcelona
1995: Ajax 1 - 0 AC Milan
1996: Juventus 1 - 1 Ajax (Juventus won 4 - 2 on penalites)
1997: Borussia Dortmund 3 - 1 Juventus
1998: Real Madrid 1 - 0 Juventus
1999: Manchester United 2 - 1 Bayern Munich
2000: Real Madrid 3 - 0 Valencia
2001: Bayern Munich 1 - 1 Valencia (Bayern won 5-4 on penalties)
2002: Real Madrid 2 - 1 Bayer Leverkusen
2003: AC Milan 0 - 0 Juventus (AC Milan won 3-2 on penalties)
2004: FC Porto 3 - 0 A.S. Monaco
(aet) = After Extra Time
2005: Liverpool FC 3 - 3 AC MILAN
Liverpool win 3:2 after Penalty Shoot Out
2006: Barcelona 2-1 Arsenal

Spanish Champions, 1929-Present

2005-2006: FC Barcelona
2004-2005: FC Barcelona
2003-2004: Valencia
2002-2003: Real Madrid
2001-2002: Valencia
2000-2001: Real Madrid
1999-2000: Deportivo la Coruna
1998-1999: Barcelona
1997-1998: Barcelona
1996-1997: Real Madrid
1995-1996: Atletico Madrid
1994-1995: Real Madrid
1993-1994: Barcelona
1992-1993: Barcelona
1991-1992: Barcelona
1990-1991: Barcelona
1989-1990: Real Madrid
1988-1989: Real Madrid
1987-1988: Real Madrid
1986-1987: Real Madrid
1985-1986: Real Madrid
1984-1985: Barcelona
1983-1984: Athletic Bilbao
1982-1983: Athletic Bilbao
1981-1982: Real Sociedad
1980-1981: Real Sociedad
1979-1980: Real Madrid
1978-1979: Real Madrid
1977-1978: Real Madrid
1976-1977: Atletico Madrid
1975-1976: Real Madrid
1974-1975: Real Madrid
1973-1974: Barcelona
1972-1973: Atletico Madrid
1971-1972: Real Madrid
1970-1971: Valencia
1969-1970: Atletico Madrid
1968-1969: Real Madsrid
1967-1968: Real Madrid
1966-1967: Real Madrid
1965-1966: Atletico Madrid
1964-1965: Real Madrid
1963-1964: Real Madrid
1962-1963: Real Madrid
1961-1962: Real Madrid
1959-1960: Barcelona
1958-1959: Barcelona
1957-1958: Real Madrid
1956-1957: Real Madrid
1955-1956: Athletic Bilbao
1954-1955: Real Madrid
1953-1954: Real Madrid
1952-1953: Barcelona
1951-1952: Barcelona
1950-1951: Atletico Madrid
1949-1950: Arletico Madrid
1948-1949: Barcelona
1947-1948: Barcelona
1946-1947: Valencia
1945-1946: Seville
1944-1945: Barcelona
1943-1944: Valencia
1942-1943: Atletico Madrid
1941-1942: Valencia
1940-1941: Atletico Madrid
1939-1940: Atletico Madrid
1938-1939: Suspended
1937-1938: Suspended
1936-1937: Suspended
1935-1936: Athletic Bilbao
1934-1935: Betis
1933-1934: Atletico Madrid
1932-1933: Real Madrid
1931-1932: Real Madrid
1930-1931: Athletic Bilbao
1929-1930: Athletic Bilbao
1928-1929: Barcelona

English Top League Champions, 1888-Present

English League Winners 1888 - 2003
1888-1889: Preston North End
1889-1890: Preston North End
1890-1891: Everton
1891-1892: Sunderland
1892-1893: Sunderland
1893-1894: Aston Villa
1894-1895: Sunderland
1895-1896: Aston Villa
1896-1897: Aston Villa
1897-1898: Sheffield United
1898-1899: Aston Villa
1899-1900: Aston Villa
1900-1901: Liverpool
1901-1902: Sunderland
1902-1903: Sheffield Wednesday
1903-1904: Sheffield Wednesday
1904-1905: Newcastle United
1905-1906: Liverpool
1906-1907: Newcastle United
1907-1908: Manchester United
1908-1909: Newcastle United
1909-1910: Aston Villa
1910-1911: Manchester United
1911-1912: Blackburn Rovers
1912-1913: Sunderland
1913-1914: Blackburn Rovers
1914-1915: Everton br] Suspended WW1
1919-1920: West Bromwich Albion
1920-1921: Burnley
1921-1922: Liverpool
1922-1923: Liverpool d
1923-1924: Huddersfield Town
1924-1925: Huddersfield Town
1925-1926: Huddersfield Town l
1926-1927: Newcastle United
1927-1928: Everton
1928-1929: Sheffield Wednesday
1929-1930: Sheffield Wednesday
1930-1931: Arsenal
1931-1932: Everton
1932-1933: Arsenal
1933-1934: Arsenal
1934-1935: Arsenal Sunderland
1935-1936: Sunderland
1936-1937: Manchester City
1937-1938: Arsenal
1938-1939: Everton
Suspended WW2
1946-1947: Liverpool
1947-1948: Arsenal
1948-1949: Portsmouth
1949-1950: Portsmouth
1950-1951: Tottenham Hotspur
1951-1952: Manchester United
1952-1953: Arsenal
1953-1954: Wolverhampton Wanderers
1954-1955: Chelsea
1955-1956: Manchester United
1956-1957: Manchester United
1957-1958: Wolverhampton Wanderers
1958-1959: Wolverhampton Wanderers
1959-1960: Burnley Wolverhampton
1960-1961: Tottenham Hotspur
1961-1962: Ipswich Town
1962-1963: Everton
1963-1964: Liverpool
1964-1965: Manchester United
1965-1966: Liverpool
1966-1967: Manchester United
1967-1968: Manchester City
1968-1969: Leeds United
1969-1970: Everton
1970-1971: Arsenal
1971-1972: Derby County
1972-1973: Liverpool
1973-1974: Leeds United
1974-1975: Derby County
1975-1976: Liverpool
1976-1977: Liverpool
1977-1978: Nottingham Forest
1978-1979: Liverpool
1979-1980: Liverpool
1980-1981: Aston Villa
1981-1982: Liverpool
1982-1983: Liverpool
1983-1984: Liverpool
1984-1985: Everton
1985-1986: Liverpool
1986-1987: Everton
1987-1988: Liverpool
1988-1989: Arsenal
1989-1990: Liverpool
1990-1991: Arsenal
1991-1992: Leeds United
1992-1993: Manchester United
1993-1994: Manchester United
1994-1995: Blackburn Rovers
1995-1996: Manchester United
1996-1997: Manchester United
1997-1998: Arsenal
1998-1999: Manchester United
1999-2000: Manchester United
2000-2001: Manchester United
2001-2002: Arsenal
2002-2003: Manchester United
2003-2004: Arsenal
2004-2005: Chelsea
2005-2006: Chelsea

R & R's 25 best club teams, 2006-2007

1) Chelsea
While Barcelona might have a better team, Chelsea has more motivation this year. Two Premier League titles notwithstanding, they've still got a chip on their shoulders. That extra fire under their ass is the only reason they're ranked in front of Barcelona. There's a 50% chance that we'll see Barcelona-Chelsea III this year in the Champions League. Who else can beat these guys?

2) Barcelona

They're on top in terms of talent. They have a midfield so talented that even the world's 21st richest man couldn't compete with them. Deco, Ronaldinho, Messi, Xavi, Marquez, Edmilson, Iniesta, Dos Santos, the list goes on and on. With Xavi and Messi back, plus the addition of Thuram and Zambrotta, one might wonder if young superstars such as Iniesta and Oleguer might get restless for want of playing time. Can Ronaldinho return to form? He hasn't been the same in six months. Has celebrity gone to his head? Can 'Can Barca' stay motivated? Stay tuned for either the fall of a giant or the culmination of the greatest dynasty in soccer since early '90s Milan.

3) AC Milan

The Italian judicial system gave them a break. An 8 point disadvantage should be no big deal with Juventus out of the way. Even without Shevchenko, Gattuso, Kaka, Pirlo and company are still one of the most feared sides in Europe. Plus, they've got some money to burn with Shevchenko's hefty parting gift. I'd expect a move or two from Mr. Berlusconi before the season starts.

4) Arsenal

Somehow Arsenal went from a creaking old powerhouse to one of the youngest and most talented teams in Europe. It was a seamless transition. Hand it to Arsene, he's got these guys on the right track. They're the most serious challenge to Chelsea and one of the few teams that could beat Barcelona or Chelsea on a good day. They nearly won the Champions League last year, and with that confidence, expect to see more this year.


5) Real Madrid

No titles in three years? No problem. Only Chelsea has deeper pockets, and with the addition of Cannavaro and Capello, perhaps a winning additude might follow. More than anything, what the Blancos need is consistency. Seven coaches in three years is patently absurd. If Calderon and Co. can add some consistency, these guys won't be far behind Barcelona, if they're behind them at all.

6) Lyon

All this team has done is win five consecutive Ligue 1 titles and compete with the best in the champions league every year. They can beat anyone, and maybe this year they'll finally go all the way in the champions league. But then again, the French league isn't that great, nor is Houllier, and they propably won't.

7) Bayern Munich

I wouldn't be surprised if they got better with Ballack gone. Ballack is among the world's most overrated players. Plus, the Germans got a big boost of confidence in the World Cup. If young Lahm and Podolski can take some of that vim and vigor from Germany 2006 and transfer to club competition as well, the Germans might become a legitimate top 5 contender again. But they ain't there yet. Either way, they should run away (yawn) with the Bundesliga again.

8) Manchester United

Number 8 might be generous. We all love Sir Alex, but he's losing it. Nearly 20 million quid on Carrick? Whaaaa?!!?!!? Think about it. Smith, O'Shea, Carrick, Saha, Fletcher, Scholes, Giggs. Somehow the chefs at the finest restaurant in England just started ordering their ingredients from the folks over at Burger King. The only players with real Champions League talent left up front are Rooney and Ronaldo, and we've all got our TiVo's set to see what happens there. This has got disaster written all over it. I might as well have a picnic with all my ex-girlfriends. Cristiano can bring the potato salad. Ronaldo is set to have as much fun this year as Figo did in all his returns to the Camp Nou, except he's got it coming to him everywhere in England. Stock up on your pig's heads, Brits, it's gonna be a hoot.


9) Liverpool

If I had any balls, I'd put them ahead of ManU. The only thing is, they don't have any talent, either. Benitez has brought with him a true Spanish mentality: lots of great midfielders and no decent strikers. They'll finish third or fourth in England, and make it to the quarter finals or round of sixteen in the Champions League, which is not so bad given that the general mediocrity here outside of Xabi Alonso and Steven Gerrard.

10) Inter Milan

Poor Inter! If cross-town rivals AC Milan had been relegated, they probably could have picked up a Scudetto. But even with 8 points clear, I still don't see it happening. Defeatism abounds here despite a wealth of talent. Prediction: Second in Italy, out in the qualifying rounds in Europe.

11) Valencia

Not entirely sure why they got rid of Aimar. I guess it's because they have done so well in the last few years without him. No matter who leaves Valencia, they always seem to fight hard and play well. One of the most consistent performers in the last ten years, with an uncanny ability to find and develop talent where others could not. Keep an eye out for these guys picking up Cristiano Ronaldo, a player I think would fit in well here.

12) Villarreal

They're already out of Europe, which means they're a dark horse for La Liga's top prize. Riquelme, Nihat, Pires, Forlan, Senna (maybe). There is top level talent here. With only two competitions to play (and the Copa del Rey barely counts), these guys could be the team that finally topples el Barca en La Liga, who have a whopping six to play.

13) Werder Bremen

If Klose were half the player for club that he were for country, these guys would be top ten for sure.

14) Benfica

Koeman's running a tight ship over in Portugal, and is having the success at Benfica that eluded him at Ajax. Not sure what's going to happen with Simao, though.

15) PSV

These guys have been the team to beat in Holland and tough in Europe. They have a strong argument for a higher place in the rankings, but it's hard for me to believe that their luck isn't about to run out soon.

16) Celtic

Looking pretty shaky in pre-season. Still, they've had a good stranglehold on Scotland lately. Have to pick them #1 again.

17) Lille

#2 is the name of the game in France. Can they top Lyon for once?

18) Sao Paulo

They've got the Libertadores so close they can smell it.

19) Ajax

Part of me thinks I should have left these guys off. Maybe I will next time.

20) Hamburg

Rumor has it the 3rd place team from the Bundesliga will be purchasing Saviola. Would be a nice addition, and given the price tag Barcelona is willing to sell him at, a heck of a bargain.

21) Tottenham

Got a cool 20 million quid for a mediocre Carrick. Well done. Can they spend their own cash a bit more wisely?

22) Sevilla

A good team that's been making solid transfer decisions for years. Got good deals for Baptista, Reyes, and Ramos. And they've got a UEFA cup to show for it.

23) Boca Jr.'s

Will Sir Diego Maradona be the next coach? That would be fun to watch. Maybe get some Isiah Thomas comparisons going for all you basketball fans.

24) Porto

Good team, year in, year out.

25) Juventus

I don't care if they're not in the top flight. They're still better than AS Roma.

Honorable Mention: As Roma, River Plate, Corinthians, Chivas, Rangers, DC United, Feyenord, Leverkusen, Panathanaikos, Osasuna, Newcastle, Dynamo Moscow, Atletico Madred, Marseille

Disagree? Send your own list to ragingtumbleweed@yahoo.com. Readers' rankings will be tabulated and posted about two weeks after the original article.

Rankings and Rantings

This is a new American Soccer website where I will soon post a series of rankings of the best and the worst of American and World Soccer.

Each post will be followed by an email address allowing readers to respond with their own rankings. The readers' responses will be computed and posted shortly thereafter.

Enjoy!