Sad Crappy News: Eric Abidal Has To Retire

Word is coming down the pike that Eric Abidal is going to have to officially retire as a result of his liver transplant.  I guess we all knew this was a very real possibility but it still makes me sad. I’m so sorry to see his career end but of course it is more important for him to get his full health back so he can be with his beautiful family. It just hard to see such a young man and a talented player go out this way. Here’s wishing him a long, happy life with success in whatever he chooses to do next. Animo Abidal!

Abidal Recovering After Liver Transplant

Some very good news – Barca’s Eric Abidal is recovering after his liver transplant, which took place yesterday. His cousin Gerard was the donor. There isn’t a lot of news on his condition right now, but more should come out over the next few days. Best of luck to him in his recovery. Animo Abidal!

– Lozil

Hair Magic/A Tough Schedule/Pure Class

"HIS HAIR! It's...magical!"

A young pitch invader during yesterday’s match looks just as awed as we do by Sese’s bouncin’ and behavin’ locks.

With Love And Support From Crackovia

Those goofballs over at Crackovia did something really sweet, posting this get well soon video for Abidal. People are also using the hashtag #animsabidal to send him support. It’s really cool to see everyone sending him love and encouragement.

– Lozil

Abidal To Undergo Liver Transplant

I was sad to hear that Barcelona defender Eric Abidal’s liver disease has progressed and he will have to undergo a liver transplant.

Thank God THAT’S Over!

Iker was a ROCK STAR today!

I am so fucking Clasico-ed out, you have no idea. Actually, I’m thinking you do. More than anything else, today brought a welcome sense of relief from what has been an absolutely tense and miserable 18 days. I’m glad it’s over. Well, until have to play Barca twice in August. Supercopa, here we come. Ugh. Anyhow, I’ll happily take a few months off from this nonsense and I hope that by the time June 4th rolls around, I’ll be able to see a somewhat reconciled La Roja play at Foxboro.

Once More Into The Abyss

Cute boys being cute

This is going to have to be a super quickie as I’m in the midst of a hellish workday which will be followed by a hellish evening trying to finish a paper that is due tomorrow.  Much to report and very little time to do it…

Now THAT Was Fun!

The Guinness haze is finally wearing off but nowhere near fast enough so this will be a very quick and dirty recap. I haven’t been that on the edge of my seat at a game in ages. If the other three games are like that, I’m afraid my head will explode.

Very, Very Interesting…

Debating the merits of which hair gel to use in the game today

So…Marca is reporting the starting line up as follows and I find it very, very interesting – to say the least:

Goalkeeper: Iker

Defenders: Sergio Ramos, Albiol, Carvalho, Marcelo

Midfield: Pepe, Xabi Alonso, Sami Khedira

Attackers: Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Angel Di Maria.

So he’s going with a 4-3-3 and leaving Ozil out of it?  Hmmmm, 3 central defenders and CripsyKarim and Fideo up front. What do you guys think about that? Puyi is back for Barca today as well (Bojan and Abidal are still out).  I’ll be interested to see how this works. In Mou We Trust!

Some other little bits…

Some Very Good News and Some Silliness

Eric Abidal’s tumor is reportedly benign!  Wonderful news for him and his family!

In news that you probably already knew, Mario Balotelli is a complete numptie. Last week, he had a grass allergy, this week, it was Man vs. Bib. This video has to be seen to be believed! I’ve always thought he was a complete moron with his arrogance and penchant for skanky ladies, but this is just classic. I laughed my arse off. Well, until I realized that this idiot makes about 100 times what I do in a year. Then I wept.

And this is (as Didier Drogba would say in a Dirty Tackle “Random Musings of Football Players Before They Fall Asleep” column) an absolute f***ing disgrace!  Playing in a half flooded field with rainwater and sewage mixed together? Alcohol baths to sterilize the players? Cripes, I hope they get tetanus shots and I hope that someone fines the ref. That’s ridiculous!

And Real Madrid, could you please frigging confirm the time of the game this weekend? The Flog Calendar says 5:00 PM on Saturday, but the match schedule on the website says either Saturday or Sunday still. Get over your Champions League quarter final hangover and get back to work! (I had to, damn it!)