Tottenham is looking to trade their current UEFA Cup seeding for next year’s Champions League. Martin Jol is looking to better last year’s 5th place finish and has splashed out the cash on Bulgarian striker, Dimitar Berbatov, to fire in the goals for the faithful at White Heart Lane.

In their first fixture away at the Reebox Stadium against Bolton, it was a tale of two pre-seasons, as Spurs looked to continue their winning ways against a side that showed struggling form in their build up to the league opener.

Spurs were stunned within the opening minutes as Bolton cheated their way to their first goal from off a set piece. As Kevin Davies pulled free to the near post to head home from the corner kick, his marker was tugged down to the ground behind him to allow for the space. Minutes later, ex-Real Madrid center-back, Ivan Campos (Bolton’s creative midfielder) fired home a 40+ lawn cutter that left England No. 1, Paul Robinson, pulling the ball out of his net a second time.

Despite the small setback, Tottenham responded well in mid-week, in their 2-0 victory at home over EPL new-boys Sheffield United. This time Berbatov supplied the expected, by opening the scoring in the early minutes as he fired home a cross supplied by Spurs teenage winger, Aaron Lennon. Berbatov was instrumental for the second goal as well as he headed down for Jermaine Jenas to open his new league season account.

Tottenham will face Everton in their third game and face another tough, blue-collar opponent in David Moyes’ men. Has Berbatov settled after Tottenham’s hiccup against Bolton? Or, will stingy English defenses keep Berbatov at bay?

Have you heard the old adage, “There is a chink in everyone’s armor?” Remember that for later.

Do you ever look at Jose Mourinho’s  eyes? Do you? Not in a gazing, I love you Mourinho kind of way. But to look into the eyes of someone in extreme competition, who is focused on the brass ring. Look him in the eyes. See what you don’t allow yourself to see.

First, think about any time you are in competition with anyone. It could be on the soccer field, in an argument, just competing for any piece of cheese. Are you willing to look your make shift enemy in the eye and see if there is a chink in their armor?

Many haters of Mourinho pass his eyes and demeanor off to arrogance. That might be true if one thing wasn’t taken into account. Many fail to see the role their own jealousy plays. Not jealous for Mourinho’s accomplishments, but jealous that Mourinho can look his enemy in the eye, steady and calm, and name their weakness.

How uncomfortable does that make you, that someone can sit in-front of you with calm decision and name the way that you will be defeated? For many, that is cause enough to say burn the witch. Great minds of old have received fates much worse then being riddled in the press and in your mind. They have stood defiant and looked their enemies in the eye as unjust judgment has befallen them (remember Braveheart).

This Mongoose is full of life and talk, but my eyes do not take me farther then reality. In this modern day, as in days in the past, usually genius is only discovered after the artist had passed on. People would then say, “I remember the day when Picasso stood right there and painted a masterpiece.”

Hey you head’s of pigs, could you stop being self conscious for a second and recognize that a wonderful masterpiece is being drawn in front of you. Art can be displayed on many palates, and in the mind of Mourinho, the soccer pitch is a place where the art of war can be practiced.

For those of you who speak of money being the root of Mourinho’s success. Check his pedigree. Before Chelsea, he won the Champions League and UEFA Cup with a band of rag tag, middle of the spectrum players.

Oh Doubters of talent, haters of invention, nay sayers of what is reality. Look at Mourinho’s eyes! If Ghengis Khan said, “We are going to ride for 3 days and 3 nights and conquer everything in our path,” then does, you would chalk it up to him being a military genius. Now, if you take you personal opinions away from when Mourinho is being interviewed and actually listen to the words that he says, here is the translation, “We will ride for 3 days and 3 nights, and if you fall behind Joe Cole, you will be left out.”

I mean come on! If you try to name great coaches in the game of soccer and the name Graham Souness or Bruce Arena comes off your lips, then Mourinho is an astronaut visiting the Planet of the Apes.

Just watch history in the making and stop hating the job getting done. Any military commander would choose a win over a popularity contest, and in the end, that is how you go down in history.

Meditations from the Mongoose

Barcelona started off their competitive season the way they left off last season—by winning trophies. 

Frank Rijkaard’s men have already won their first piece of silverware in this infant 2006/2007 season, as they defeated local rivals Espanyol over two legs to take home the Spanish Super Cup, the competitive season opener that pits the La Liga Winners (Barcelona) against the Copa del Rey Winners (Espanyol) of the prior season.

Ronaldinho and company pulled out a 1-0 victory away during the first leg at Espanyol’s Montjuic Stadium amid controversy. French international, Giuly supplied the only goal, making it that much easier for Barcelona at home in the Nou Camp for the second leg.

Espanyol felt hard done by and made an official complaint citing Barcelona for breaking FIFA rules as Frank Rijkaard employed the services of players, Xavi and Puyol, who had both pulled out of Spanish National Team duty because of injury just three days earlier.

The second leg was a much different affair as Barcelona shrugged off their sluggish preseason form and recalled their flow, mastery, and flair that characterized their play throughout most of the last two seasons. Barcelona supporters were euphoric as their team controlled the game from start to finish and produced quality flowing football as wave after wave of attacks kept Espanyol on their back heels.

Xavi scored the first goal just minutes into the game as he floated into the six-yard box unmarked to head home a pin-perfect cross from Ronaldinho. Deco then added to the score with a side-footed redirect, finishing off a neat Barcelona build-up as right back Belletti combined well in midfield, raced down the line to receive the return pass, and crossed back from the end-line to find Deco.

Deco and Belletti pulled up trumps again early in the second half with a stunning goal that again was the product of great build-up play from Barcelona as Belletti sent in a high cross to the back post looking for Ronaldinho with Deco stepping in, climbing to hit a side-scissors kick past Espanyol’s stunned keeper, Carlos Kameni.

The only plight on a winning night was the reaction of striker Eto’o, who left the stadium at half time upset with being substituted for new signing Eidur Gudjohnsen. It may be a sign of things to come as Frank Rijkaard has brought in some new faces this summer to push for positions.

With rivals Real Madrid and Valencia also bringing in players to strengthen their squads, the last thing Barcelona needs is player unrest. It will be interesting to see if Rijkaard can manage the star personalities in a growing squad.

Next up for Barcelona is the European Super Cup that pits the Champions League Winners against fellow Spanish side Sevilla (winners of the UEFA Cup).

To read Aug. 25th 06 Edition, Click here

The famous scientist Einstein made up something called the Theory of Relativity, which tries to explain how matter causes space to curve. So theoretically, the next time you smash a bender, it is really the field that bends around your ball!

Don’t worry! We’re not going to learn that trick just yet! First you must learn our theory of Soccer Relativity that states just because you are one of the best players on your team—it doesn’t mean that you’re really that good! This sounds kind of harsh, but believe me, reality, and a well-timed tackle, can and will be harsher.

Well where is the logic then?—if you are a medium level player, playing with lower level players, it would seem that you are good and can run through the motions. But, if you were put on a team with high level players, what would your status be then?—Average?

That is the theory of Soccer Relativity—don’t get fooled into thinking something that your not. The only real indicator of the kind of player you are is how you perform with the ball and your teammates. Does the ball listen to you when you tell it to stop? Can you step on it and turn and keep your feet? Can you see what to do with the ball, and find your teammates, when it’s at your feet? Or, is the ball telling you what to do? Are you just reacting to the chaos around you?

Stop looking at your teammates and saying “well, I’m better then him, her, and her, and start saying “when the ball comes to my left foot, I feel strange and off balance.” At that point you will know what kind of player you really are—one that does well with both feet and looks quickly to distribute the ball!

Keep this in mind when you start comparing apples to oranges. Yes, you are good on this field and on this team, but how good would you be playing for the u15, u17, or Senior National Team? If you recognize that answer early, you will know where you are at in the game and what needs to be done—and raise your level of relativity.

England begins post-Beckham strategies with Steve McClaren and Terry Venables looking to bring a creative stability to a team still trying to forge an international identity. For a country that innovated the modern game, England surely has been the weakest of the “major” soccer countries for a string of years.

The last English player to make a true contribution to an English style of play was Gasgoine and that was now a long time ago (Italy 1990). The question is will McClaren and Venables try to forge something inspirational, or will there only be a sputtering engine of complacency from players that play for some of the best clubs in Europe.

Otto Rehhagel once had the Greeks in the mold of a strong cold-war German side; however, after their shock win in Portugal 2004, Greece is struggling and stammering as they did not qualify for the World Cup in Germany.

England started the McClaren regime with a traditional 4-4-2, with Crouch and Dafoe paired as goal scorers with strong and hungry cover provided through midfield and a defense that returns all Germany 2006 starters. Stewart Downing was given a start on the left as a natural left sided player with the attempt to give England more balance on the wings.

Greece was reported to be employing a flexible 4-3-3, which really means a 4-5-1, and will play in a defensive shell. Samaras is slotted in behind Charisteas to provide the counter-attack punch and prove the old saying “the Greeks killed Football.”

While the rain came down in Manchester, the real deluge at Old Trafford started in the 1st half with England’s 4-0 drubbing of the woeful Greeks, who all looked like they had been spiked by the same drinks that Van der Meyde had slugged down in Merseyside.

The old keeper-by-the-sea, Nikopolidis looked all at sea as he was maker of the first goal [Terry’s header] after failing to clear his defense, as he rushed and parried away a free kick into the area. England made him pay, as they keep the ball alive, playing the ball back into the area for Terry to nod home, only his second England goal. Nikopolidis was again caught out of position on the deflected goal by Lampard.

Fyssas, the Greek left back, was subbed before half time, not to mention the riddled mistakes of the center back markers as Crouch was allowed to roam free unmarked for a tap-in-rebound as well as a header from Downing’s cross.

The only Greek that looked anything resembling a player was Stelios Giannakopoulos, who made extreme efforts to just advance the ball down the line. The only slight scare for England came after the interval when Ashley Cole cleared the ball off the line twice on the same play early in the 2nd half.

Judging from the score, you might even believe the Rooney-hype from a short while ago of “fearing only Brazil.” Though it was a solid performance, England still has a long way to go in developing the beautiful game, even if true only to their standards.

I would like to get that I am a Brazilian League fan out of the way first. Second I will say I don’t jump on any band wagon that just has the word Brazil and soccer labeled on it. I’ve been sold already.

Brazilian soccer is in my mind because they have earned their place, not for any other reason. This Mongoose lived down there for awhile, so this is not an animal looking in through a window and saying I like that in there.

Any league that week-in-week-out produces more controversy, passion, and goals then any other league in the world, deserves at least 5 minutes of any soccer fans time. Do you agree?

If you look at any week during the Brazilian league season, it would be sacrilege to see any score line with a 0 in it. This is the land where goalkeepers score more goals in a season then American midfielders, no lie.

Now that we have a little background into the Brazilian league soccer, let’s talk about a specific game that has just passed. If you look at any league in the world, the most sought after game, if it actually occurs during the season, is the number 1 team versus the number 2. Well, that is happening now, but these teams are not getting together to play in a simple league match to see who will go top of the table—the winner of this match will be crowned Champion of South America.

Yes, two Brazilian teams have fought their way through 36 other teams from every country in South America to battle to be Kings of the Continent. The teams, who will contest this Copa Libertadores Final, are number 1 in the league, Sao Paolo [last year’s Copa Champions] and number 2 team, Internacional, a team who has solidified themselves as a Brazilian team to beat.

The champion will be determined in normal international format—one game home, and one away (ida y vuelta in spanish).

Internacional (Inter) has surprisingly set themselves up for some early drama. They have taken the first leg 2-1 at Sao Paolo’s home, which puts them in the drivers seat for the crown. There cannot be any chicken counting before they’re hatched though. A characteristic of Brazilian soccer is that pressure and odds do the opposite to teams. Teams with more pressure on them perform better and the upset is always in play. Teams almost thrive with the chips stacked against them—that is why this league is so exciting.

Another plus is the controversy. As I am watching the second leg of this final, Inter has collected yellow cards in the 3rd and 6th minutes for elbows and tackles flying, along with the whole game being stopped on a count of to much smoke form flairs in the 15th.

What a sight, a coach giving direction to his captain, who has come to the sidelines and behind them smoke thick as a dense fog in a Scottish bog. Fans jumping, cheering, and of course frothing, as the game is starting to get red hot!

Inter just must hold a tie to win the trophy, but a mistake from Sao Paolo’s goalkeeper Rogerio Ceni has gifted Inter an extra soft cushion to make the total score over both legs 3-1 going into the half time break.

Will Sao Paolo answer the call? Or, will they have to turn over their crown? They know its time to turn on the Brazilian flavor and turn the volume up to a fever pitch.

Well step one is to put the ball in the back of the net, and in the 51st minute, the heat is fully applied, Sao Paolo scores and makes this game 1-1 and 3-2 on aggregate (total over both games).

Inter has a response though. In the 65th minute, Tinga breaks the goal-line with a short header, orchestrated from a cool chip into the box, which lead to a header, keeper save, and a mini cross that gave Tinga a 3-yard baby header. 4-2 on aggregate, but I promised you controversy, and with Tinga’s goal, he lifted his shirt over his head. The ref saw that as infringing on the rule of goal celebrations and promptly expelled the Inter striker. That red card throws the Paolista’s a life line, one that comes with the territory.

With that line, Sao Paolo takes over the game—setting up life and liberty in their offensive third. If you have nails, it is time to bite them, but this is no different then 90% of Brazilian games. The pace of skill, the offensive creativity, no league unless you are in the African tribe zone, can bring this much color to the field.

86th minute, the fever breaks as the Inter keeper crumbles under crazed chaos and creates a blunder which leads to the tying goal. Oh man, if I wasn’t used to this kind of stuff every week, my heart would need a timeout.

Sao Paolo smells blood, and Inter barricades themselves in the box, as cross after cross continues to rain down. Both teams are Brazilian and are masters at time wasting and time gaining. The commentator is getting hoarse; he hasn’t stopped talking since the 65th minute.

We are into injury time, and Rogerio Ceni, Sao Paolo goalkeeper, is so desperate he has dribbled the ball to midfield and almost loses it. Both coaches are praying to God as the last corner of the game is kicked. The ball rings off of an Inter defender for another corner, but the ref has had enough and blows the game off. Oh man! Inter is the South American Champions, fans are crying in the stands. It seems that every Inter fan has brought flares as the stands seem to be on fire.

Don’t think this is a once a year occurrence—two other Brazilian teams will play with the same passion, same enthusiasm, same innovation as these two teams, who yet again have earned my respect.

By the way 80% of Inter, the winning team cried. That is soccer “is life!”

It’s obvious to everyone, with Brazil coming off their embarrassing Germany 2006 World Cup Quarterfinal exit, that the team is broken.

Who is in charge of whipping this team back into the most feared soccer team on the planet? None other then the hardest man to play Brazilian soccer in the last 15 years—the heavy, hardcore, I just scored a pk versus Italy in the ‘94 World Cup Finals, and I am going to play like I’m putting a sword through Italy’s heart in front of a billion people—Dunga.

Yes, surely he has four other names on his birth certificate, but no one cares about that. His name is Dunga, and his animal spirit is that of a Brahma Bull. I can only dream of Ronaldinho mouthing off to the once-leader of Brazil on the field, and Champion of the World.

I see Dunga being able to impose his fighting spirit and combative perseverance to quell the current attitude that has taken over Brazil—the so called best players on the team believing that they automatically win every game just by showing up.

Even though Dunga has my trust and more importantly the trust of the Brazilian public, that doesn’t mean that everything is a picnic though. Right now, Brazil is looking at a shortage of players. A shortage compared to what Brazil is used to. Today is not the day where you can say that they could field three full world class teams. Right now, they are struggling to field one.

This is actually Dunga’s first documented coaching experience. I say documented because Dunga has been coaching the boys from the field for years. It is easier to coach from the field—you see exactly what is going on. So decisions on the sidelines will be a bit of a change.

As for the job of managing characters and personalities there is only one way that Dunga will play it. “Get thee behind me, weak minds! Show boat beyond what helps the team and you will lose your spot!” Dunga will cast the ego demons from Ronaldinho’s mind either by exorcism, or by straight jabs.

The International Friendly against Norway, Dunga’s Debut, is a simple tune up where they could have won, but the tie maintains respect. Good luck, Dunga! We will see next month when you play Argentina in England—that is where things will start to get interesting.

What is Mongoose and The Dagger talking about this week?

Find out right here!