Random Thoughts of A Soccer Head - Part II

Hello again, Ladies & Gentlemen.  It is time for another edition of  "Random Thoughts of a Soccer Head."  Once again, The Beautiful Game has brought out the need to transfer thoughts from the mind to keyboard to server. Let's begin shall we.

WELCOME BACK RIVER PLATE

For Boca fans, that is blasphemous to say but let's put club loyalties aside for a minute.  The club with the most Argentine first division titles should have never been relegated but let's not digress. River's presence in Nacional B made the 2011-12 Argentine second division campaign the most watched & most interesting promotion quest on the planet.  Los Millionarios earned direct promotion by beating Almirante Brown on the final day of the season and it was an emotional scene at El Monumental as River returned to where they belong, in the Primera División.  

Plus, there will be an official Boca - River SuperClásico & not that meaningless Torneo De Verano stuff. If  River's "Big 3" of Cavenaghi, Trezeguet, and Dominguez remain for next season, it will inject a bit more star power into the 2012 Apertura.  Besides for Boca fans, I would think that they would want Los Xeneizes to play River on the field & beat the boys from Nuñez.  That has to be much more satisfying than spray painting "RiBer" on the side of highways & walls all over Buenos Aires.

THE 2012 BALON D'OR WINNER 

The formerly named FIFA World Player of the Year has come down to 4 candidates.  Here's a quick review of  their credentials:

Cristiano Ronaldo: Scored 46 goals in La Liga & led Real Madrid to a Spanish title finally getting past Barcelona. CR-7 scored what was in essence the championship winning goal in the 2nd regular season Clásico at The Camp Nou.  He has come alive in the Euro 2012 for Portugal as well leading them to a semifinal berth.

Andrea Pirlo:  The Juventus playmaker was the catalyst for an unbeaten Scudetto title run for The Old Lady of Calcio Italiano.  There is no way Juve would have won the Serie A title without Pirlo.   He is doing it again for The Azzurri as their best player in Italy's Euro 2012 semifinal run. What was Milan thinking?  

Lionel Messi: The extra-terrestrial Barcelona #10 scored 50 goals in La Liga for The Blaugrana.  Despite missing out on the La Liga title, Barcelona won The Copa Del Rey.  In total, Messi scored 73 goals in all competitions & has become The  Albicelestes' unquestioned leader.

Juan Roman Riquelme: Unfortunately, only European based players will get consideration for an award supposedly for the best in the WORLD.  Anyway, Riquelme has Boca Juniors on the verge of a cup double, if Boca can get beat Corinthians in the LIbertadores final & Racing in the Copa Argentina final. He is deserving of serious consideration.

BEST LOOKING 2012-13 KITS 

Paris St. Germain Home Jersey

Chelsea Home Jersey

United States Home Red & White Hoops Jersey

Swansea City Centenary Home Jersey

Everton Away Jersey

New Zealand Home & Away Jerseys

THE NEWEST "SUPER TEAM"?

There is a team making worldwide news due to their recent personnel acquisitions.  This club is not in Spain, England, Italy,  Russia or in Europe.  It is in *drum roll* - CHINA.  I'm talking about Shanghai Shenhua FC. The Chinese Super League club finished a disappointing 11th last season.  So, to challenge for the Chinese 1st division title & make a glorious run at The Asian Champions League crown, the club has signed strikers Nicolas Anelka & Didier Drogba from Chelsea. They also acquired Colombian playmaker Giovanni Moreno from Racing in Argentina.  Former Argentine national team coach, Sergio Batista was recently hired to mold this new talent into a championship side.  That attacking trio could lead Shanghai Shenhua to domestic & continental glory, besides how great would it be to see that team in the FIFA Club World Cup.

One last thing, GO FTL STRIKERS!!!!

Ladies & Gentlemen, that is it. Enjoy and your views are always welcome.  

Follow on Twitter @GeorgeDExpress.