Thank you guys and so long! I will try to return someday and help out, but until then, goodbye!

Larissa Riquelme will present/model América-PE’s new uniforms for the 2012 season. The news is a bit random (América-PE is completely unknown in Brazil). The club hopes that Larissa’s presence will bring much needed attention to the club and generate money to restructure its youth division and build a new training center. Lofty goals to say the least. As for Larissa, times are probably tough when you have to model for América-PE.

On to more serious news, Gutemberg de Paula (a Brazilian referee) has accused CONAF (Brazil’s National Referee Commission) of corruption. The ref is accusing the organization and its president, Sérgio Côrrea, of favoring certain clubs. Gutemberg says refs were required to call Côrrea before matches. Before refereeing Corinthians 5-1 win over Goiás, Côrrea supposedly told Gutemberg “go, good luck. You’ll be refereeing Timão’s (Corinthian’s nickname) game, huh?” Gutemberg says he interpreted this as an order to help Corinthians win or risk not being chosen to ref again. Although Gutemberg claims to have proof, the fact that his allegations only came after he was not nominated to be a FIFA official raises questions about the validity/motives of his accusations. Nevertheless I’d still be in favor of an investigation…wouldn’t be the first time corruption occurred in Brazil football.

Continuing the stream of bad news, Santos’ women team was disbanded last week by club president. The club was one of the few bright spots in a country which offers absolutely no support for women footballers (Brazil still does not have the woman’s national championship it promised years ago). Santos, which spends millions monthly to pay Neymar’s salary, says the R$ 1.5 million annual budget for the woman’s team was too much! Well one company has offered to pay a third of that sum in sponsorship. Hopefully this does workout and the team does return, it would be a shame to lose them. Hopefully other teams follow suit as well.

Muricy Ramalho was named the sixth best manager in the world (best in South America) by IFFHS. The top two were, of course, Pep and Mou. Muricy’s position seems about right. He is definitely the best in Brazil, and has been for some time. Some people might not like his brand of football, but his ability to win championships is to be admired. I’d prefer him over Mano any day…

I don’t very much care about transfer rumors (there are too many and few prove true). But if something has been annoying me lately it has been the Montillo transfer saga. The talented Argentine has been struggling to be released by his club, Cruzeiro. Corinthians seems to really want the guy and is willing to offer a huge salary, but don’t want to cover the 15 million euro transfer fee. The question becomes a moral dilemma: should he be professional and stick to the contract he signed or should Cruzeiro allow him a life changing opportunity to make millions? Either way I hope it gets done quickly…tired of reading about it.

Another bit of news I found interesting was that Corinthians has already sold out general seating for the Copa Libertadores group phase. The first match is only on March 7! Sorry if I sound surprised but there is usually such a huge lack of organization and common sense in Brazilian football that to hear such news coming from Corinthians of all people is shocking.

José Mourinho (Real Madrid) – R$ 2,7 million
Pep Guardiola (Barcelona) – R$ 2,1 million
Fabio Capello (England) – R$ 1,65 million
Alex Ferguson (Manchester United) – R$ 1,4 million
Carlo Ancelotti (Paris SG) – R$ 1,4 million
Arsène Wenger (Arsenal) – R$ 1,33 million
Roberto Mancini (Manchester City) – R$ 1,2 million
André Villas-Boas (Chelsea) – R$ 1,06 million
Felipão (Palmeiras) – R$ 700 thousand
Vanderlei Luxemburgo (Flamengo) – R$ 600 thousand
Muricy Ramalho (Santos) – R$ 500 thousand
Joachim Löw (Germany) – R$ 460 thousand
Cesare Prandelli (Italy) – R$ 416 thousand
Massimiliano Allegri (Milan) – R$ 402 thousand
Abel Braga (Fluminense) – R$ 400 thousand
Tite (Corinthians) – R$ 350 thousand
Dorival Júnior (Internacional) – R$ 350 thousand
Mano Menezes (Brazil) – R$ 320 mil
Claudio Ranieri (Internazionale) – R$ 302 thousand
Antonio Conte (Juventus) – R$ 302 thousand
Claudio Borghi (Chile) – R$ 221 thousand
Óscar Tabárez (Uruguay) – R$ 177 thousand
Alejandro Sabella (Argentina) – R$ 88 thousand

El País says Neymar is King
With 130 votes, 60 more than Universidad de Chile’s Eduardo Vargas, Neymar was crowned best in South America by the Uruguayan newspaper. The award basically confirms what we’ve all known for a while now. Nevertheless I was still surprised, the award givers tend to be very anti-Brazilian: last year Inter’s Argentine D’Alessandro was named best in South America, even though he was far from being the best in just Brazil!

Copinha Starts
Brazil’s most prestigious youth competition will start tomorrow. The U-18 competition gives us some action in the middle of the Brazilian football off-season. Brazilian teams have been producing some great players lately (don’t they always?) and so this Copa should be a good watch.

Why? Because Santos are 1) Brazilian 2) champions of South America and 3) they had Neymar.

Surely a clash between Brazil vs. Europe could only result in a Brazilian victory.

It’s the same euphoria that consumes Brazilians during the world cup.

We are Brazilian. Europeans are overrated. It’s our birthright to win.

But Santos were given a dose of reality. The team which earlier in the year was lauded for playing “the right way”, were outclassed by Barcelona. Barcelona did to Santos what they have done to everyone else: dominate. Barcelona had 70% possession in the game and made good use of it. They exchanged passes the way only they know how. Neymar and company were no where to be found in the game. Santos looked like a third division team trying to play ball with the big boys. The 4 x 0 scoreline says it all.

Losing to this Barcelona team is not a shame. However it illustrates the fall of Brazilian football.

Although the Club World Cup isn’t highly valued in Europe, in Brazil it is. Being so, Santos’ loss was a bucket of cold water. Its not losing that matters, its how you react. This loss (the biggest in Club World Cup finals history) will change how Brazilians look at their (decaying) football. Soul searching will be done and questions will be asked. Hopefully by accepting Barcelona’s (and Europe’s) dominance, Brazil can reorganize and prepare for the next World Cup. Hopefully one day Brazilian clubs (and Brazilian football) will be good enough to be deemed the best again.

-Cruzeiro, as you read above, were beaten by Flamengo. Cruzeiro is the disappointment of the campeonato. They were playing beautifully and winning beautifully in the beginning of the year, but are now mediocre. Although easily one of the most talented teams, their lack of depth and Joel Santana’s tactics are costing them.

-Speaking of depth, Corinthians has got plenty of it, but after losing to Cruzeiro a few rounds ago, the team hasn’t been great. After the Cruzeiro loss, they dropped three points away to Avai during the weekend and barely beat last place America-MG at home Wednesday night. Flamengo has stolen a lot of thunder from Corinthians.

-Sao Paulo rebounded from their loss by beating Bahia 3 x 0. However they lose their 2nd place spot to Flamengo. Sao Paulo is a serious contender for the title.

-Santos has fallen from grace after the Copa Lib. Neymar and Co. have gotten their asses kicked by Atletico-PR (!) and Vasco in the last two rounds. Don’t see them as a contender for the title this year… Might not be long before people start calling for Muricy’s head. Just saying.

-Shout-out to Vasco for beating Sao Paulo and Santos in the last two rounds. Are the Copa do Brasil champs contenders for the national championship? They are only 4 back of Corinthians and sit pretty in third. But I don’t know if they can keep it up, man. Diego Souza is great… but the guys kind…sorta…really inconsistent.

-Gremio fired their coach… I don’t remember his name. The guy only lasted like a month. Celso Roth is in (again). The other Gaucho team, Inter, aren’t doing great either, they lost again and might be looking at middle-table mediocrity this season.

-Champs Fluminense beat Inter, but seem to be going through some turbulence. Fred (former Lyon striker, penalty-misser extraordinaire), the club’s best player, wants out. However the club’s only letting him go for 15 million euros. Corinthians, Cruzeiro and Palmeiras seem to want the guy, but I doubt anyone can pay the price tag.

-Atletico-MG tied Gremio and is basically in the same boat as Gremio. Pretty shitty tournament. Dorival might go soon…

-Atletico-PR and Avai seem to be coming back to life with some clutch wins.

-Bahia is clear of the drop for now. Let’s see how long it stays that way…

-America-MG sucks.

ROUND 13

30/07/2011
Flamengo 2 x 0 Grêmio
Cruzeiro 0 x 1 Botafogo
Palmeiras 3 x 2 Atlético-MG

31/07/2011
São Paulo 0 x 2 Vasco
Fluminense 4 x 0 Ceará
Internacional 0 x 0 Atlético-GO
Avaí 3 x 2 Corinthians
América-MG 1 x 3 Coritiba
Atlético-PR 3 x 2 Santos
Bahia 3 x 1 Figueirense

ROUND 14

03/08/2011
Corinthians 2 x 1 América-MG
Grêmio 2 x 2 Atlético-MG
Figueirense 2 x 0 Botafogo
Ceará 0 x 3 Avaí
Vasco 2 x 0 Santos
Cruzeiro 0 x 1 Flamengo
Coritiba 1 x 1 Palmeiras

04/08/2011
São Paulo 3 x 0 Bahia
Fluminense 2 x 0 Internacional
Atlético-GO 0 x 3 Atlético-PR

Show at the Vila: Santos vs Flamengo

So far its been a thriller of a championship in the Brasileirao, and it’s only getting warmed up!

The match of the round was a nine goal super-game between two of the most famous Brazilian sides of all time: Santos of Pele and Flamengo of Zico.

The game started in Santos’ favor: within 25 minutes the home team was 3 x 0 up (one of those goals, I should mention, was a hideous piece of football from some unknown player called Neymar or something).

Santos fans were in the clouds. Although Flamengo looked like the better team, Santos had an incredible lead with just 25 minutes played.

But Flamengo showed poise and came roaring back 3 x 3 was the score at half time. Oh BTW Elano missed (another) penalty in the first half as well.

A new half, a new Santos lead. Neymar scored for the home side again, 4 x 3.

Although Neymar was shining, it was Ronaldinho’s night to shine brighter. Flamengo kept its cool and once again fought back. The final scoreline: Santos 4 x 5 Flamengo. Ronnie scored 3, including a cheeky free kick.

Amazing players, an amazing game.

With over 2/3rds of the Brasileirao still to play, anyone can take the cup, but Flamengo is looking more and more like a serious contender.

Head over to the Santos Offside and check out Socratinho’s analysis: http://santos.theoffside.com/team-news/an-ugly-beautiful-loss.html#more-725

Other matches/notes

-Corinthians is still the leader with an incredible start: 11 games, 9 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss. They still have a match in hand. Sao Paulo and Flamengo are second and third for now. The three giant clubs seem like the biggest title contenders this season.

-Botafogo finally got a win after who knows how many rounds. Caio Junior’s ass is saved for the time being.

-Atletico-PR continue their horrid campaign. Another loss.

-Santos is in the relegation zone (although they still have 3 games in hand)

-Atletico-MG was saved by recent signing, Andre, who was returning from Europe after just one season after leaving Santos. He only needed eight minutes to score the only goal of the match against Flu. The reigning champs BTW haven’t looked too convincing this season.

-After handing Corinthians their first loss on Sunday, Cruzeiro fell to lowly Atletico-GO.

-Vasco, who are having a great season after years of mediocrity, tied newly-promoted but rich in history, Bahia

14/07/2011
Corinthians 1 x 0 Internacional

27/07/2011
Botafogo 2 x 1 Avaí
Grêmio 1 x 1 América-MG
Atlético-MG 1 x 0 Fluminense
Atlético-GO 2 x 0 Cruzeiro
Santos 4 x 5 Flamengo
Figueirense 0 x 1 Palmeiras
Coritiba 3 x 4 São Paulo

28/07/2011
Vasco 1 x 1 Bahia
Ceará 2 x 1 Atlético-PR