We Can Rebuild...
Gentlemen, we are rebuilding this site. We have the technology. We have the capability to make this site better. Part-time Pundit will be that site. Better than it was before... Accurate predictions, better punditry, more lunacy... and much like everything else this summer transfer season, Florentino Perez will be funding it! This will be the 60 Million Euro site!

To coincide with the launch of the 2009/10 seasons, the Part-time Pundit will be giving away some wicked prizes to lucky subscribers* of the blog. Details to follow shortly.

But you've gotta be in it to win it:

*Your email address must be verified to qualify for the competition.

Sunday, 12 July 2009

Strike A Pose!

Karim Benzema shares a host of poses with the Madrid faithful
During the week, Karim Benzema was plucked straight out of Derek Zoolander's school for Really Really Ridiculously Good Looking People and revealed to a 20,000 strong Madrid crowd... and boy did he have an arsenal of poses to share with them. Among his repertoire was the obligatory 'Badge-kiss', the 'Walk, Turn and Wave' and perhaps my favourite of the night, the 'Sultry Lip Pout While Looking into the Middle Distance'... bravo Karim, bravo! Now turn around and show us your shirt number... oh that's right, it's still to be confirmed.

Match highlights:

Tuesday, 7 July 2009

One Big, Happy, Circle Zhirk!

Hiddink suggested Zhirkov go to Chelsea, Abrahimovich apporved and now Ancelotti has to deal with it... is a bigger plan in scheme? You bet your ass there is!
I really wasn't going to touch this topic... mainly cause I don't really know much about Yuri Zhirkov. I mean I'm sure he's a nice guy'n all and I'm sure he loves cold winter's just as much as the next guy... so then why has he moved to a club notorious for plunging talented midfielders (other than Lampard) into the depths of obscurity? Something smells a little fishy and no it ain't that Russian pie cooling on the window sill.
The Russian Premier League is about half way through its 30 match season, which means that had Yuri stuck around at CSKA Moscow, he would have been in his off season (as was the case in Euro '08) for Russia's World Cup campaign next year (providing they qualify). In steps Guus 'Looking out for my best interests' Hiddink, who turns to a man that doesn't need to be asked twice about signing a fellow comrade and who will in turn buy the player and rams him down the new manager, Carlo Ancelotti's throat... story sound familiar?
The new gaffer then puts on a brave face so as to make nice with the owner and BAM! Yuri Zhirkov is a Chelsea player! Ah, you've gotta love circle jerk's with a happy ending... could this one be a little premature though?

Sunday afternoon update:
I must have been on crack when I was writing this post cause the grammar is almost as atrocious as Zhirkov's head! You catch my drift though right? Oh and on a similar note, does anyone else get the feeling he may be from the Yearning for Zion polygamist cult? Check it out and let me know what you think.

Older Chelsea news:
All They Won Was The FA Cup - Everton 1 v 2 Chelsea
Screw You, Nicolas Anelka
Arsenal Gunned Down... Again! Arsenal 1 v 4 Chelsea
Conspiracy And Controversy At The Bridge! Chelsea 1 v 1 Barcelona
Livin On The Edge - Chelsea 4 v 3 Bolton

Revealed: Ronaldo In Nike Superfly Black / Voltage Yellow

Cristiano Ronaldo was revealed wearing the Black / Voltage Yellow Nike Mercurial Vapor Superfly's
So my prediction here was correct... and in case you're wondering what I'm on about, yes Cristiano Ronaldo was revealed wearing the Black / Voltage Yellow Nike Mercurial Vapor Superfly's. Ha!

In more good news, apparently, a Nike executive recently confirmed that the company's wish is to have all of their sponsored professionals playing in black based boots for the new season (claims made here)... which is great if you ask me, I think this colour way is brilliant! plus, I've been raving on for years about how boots have gone tooooooo multicoloured and I've longed for a time when they will be traditional once again. Now that this is the case, I think I will sleep easier tonight... as will C-Ron, on top of a big pile of money with many beautiful ladies... ah, it's good to be the king!

Older Nike Mrecurial Superfly news:
Freedom 'Flys - Clint Dempsey And His Nike Mercurial Supeflys
Rumour Mill: New Mercurial Superfly Colourway!
Weekend watch: Nike Mercurial Vapor Superfly
Champions League - Second Leg - First Knockout Round Predictions - Wednesday
Spotlight: Ronaldo wearing Nike Mercurial Vapor Superfly's
Spotlight: Drogba wearing Nike Mercurial Vapor Superfly's
Coming soon: Nike Mercurial Superfly

Ronaldo Revealed As Real's No.9

Cristiano Ronaldo wearing the infamous all-white strip and number nine of Real Madrid
The most anticipated transfer of the summer has finally been completed and Cristino Ronaldo has been revealed as Real Madrid's number nine in front of a whopping 80,000 adorning fans. The 24-year old joins legends such as Hugo Sanchez, Ronaldo, and of course Alfredo di Stefano, and in doing so joins an elite legacy of footballers. Looking rather "pudgy" in the infamous white kit (which, he kept plucking from between his butt-cheeks) this is what he had to say:

Good evening. I just want to say, I told my friends that I was going to be very natural. Well, I'm just so happy to be here.
For me, I have made my childhood dream a reality, which was nothing less than playing for Real Madrid.
I didn't expect a jam-packed stadium. This is truly impressive!
Thank you very much, and I'm going to ask you all to say with me - I'm going to count to three - to say Hala Madrid. Ready? One, two, three - HALA MADRID!"

Now that almost all the whoo-haa is over (just waiting on the Benzema presentation next week), there's not much more to report about Madrid, their overloaded squad and the squillions they've spent assembling this new team, so I guess the only thing remaining is to see how all these superstars will actually play together... coach Manuel Pellegrini has quite the job ahead of him. Eep!

Video highlights:


The medical:


Older Cristiano Ronaldo news:
Kaka Last Week, Ronaldo Later Today
Nice Work Florentino Perez!
Rumour Mill: New Mercurial Superfly Colourway!
United At The Double - Man United 2 v 0 Man City
There's A New Hero In Town - Manchester United 3 v 2 Aston Villa

Monday, 6 July 2009

Kaka Last Week, Ronaldo Later Today

Kaka unveiled to 40,000 fans and the world as a Real Madrid player
Last week, donning the number 8 on his shirt, Kaka was revealed to the world as a Real Madrid player in front of 40,000 adoring 'Los Blancos' fans. They turned up to celebrate his arrival and see him in the clubs famous all white kit and for many loyal 'Madridistas' and keen neutrals it was a day of renewed hope and what some would expect to be the start of a new force in Spain and Europe. The city and internet alike were buzzing and you couldn't help but at least show some interest and now, having said all that, just imagine what the atmosphere will be like around the Spanish capital later today when the world's best and most expensive player, Cristiano Ronaldo is presented as the newest member of 'Los Galacticos' (supposedly as their new number 9)... excuse me a moment while I step away from the keyboard, I think I may have just peed in my pants!

I predict:
Ronaldo will be wearing the new black Mercurial Superfly's... watch this space!

NOTE: Follow my progress of the unveiling of C-Ron at my twitter page.

Kaka's unveiling / news highlights:


Older Kaka news:
Nice Work Florentino Perez!
Look At Me... I'm Posting Links!
Review - Lazio 0 v 3 AC Milan
Review - Bologna 1 v 4 Milan
Football Keeps It's Soul - Kaka Stays At Milan

Sunday, 5 July 2009

Is Owen United's New Tevez?

Michael Owen is injury prone and will his tenure at United be positive? God knows!
I can't believe this guy is still kickin' around. Don't get me wrong, I know the poor sod is only 29ish, but he's more injury prone than a grandmother on mechanical bull ride, so at best I expected him to be missing an appendage. I'm also surprised that he passed the United medical and was fit enough to sign a contract. Anyway, Sir Ferg clearly sees something in him that not many other clubs see or are willing to waste their time with... which could only mean one of two things. He'll either be the next Alan Smith/Ole Gunnar Solskjaer/Henrik Larsson/Carlos Tevez/[insert ex-United back-up striker here] and be used as sparing as possible so as to avoid injuries... or he'll get a new lease of life under his new gaffers ruling iron-fist and become a scoring phenomenon... while still carrying minor injuries. Either way, expect variations of the word "injury" to be partnered in headlines with Owen a lot this season. I know I'll be keeping count!

Michael Owen highlight reel:
Just a reminder of what the guy can do when he's not wrapped in cotton wool... quite impressive but highly unlikely ever again.


Older Manchester United news:
Take It Away Barca! Barcelona 2 v 0 Manchester United
United Crowned Champions Again - Man United 0 v 0 Arsenal
Results - Barclays Premier League - 9th / 13th May
United At The Double - Man United 2 v 0 Man City