411 Football/Soccer Fact or Fiction 07.29.08: Ronaldinho, Olympics, and Robinho

Posted by Sean Garmer on 07.29.2008

This week Matt Adamson and Chris Evans discuss players going to Olympics, prospects on Ronaldinho and Robinho, and how the US will do in Beijing.

Welcome all once again to another week of footy fact or fiction. This week it is a US vs. UK battle as Matt Adamson deals with Chris Evans. This week, there's Olympic talk, Freddy Adu, and Ronaldinho.

In one corner is a man from Portland, Oregon that loves the Portland Timbers Matt Adamson is always active in those footy fourms representing for CONCACAF and Newcastle too.

Coming to us from the UK, this Cardiff City supporter, Chris Evans writes in the Games Zone with a column called PC Centric Extravaganza



1. Ronaldinho will lead AC Milan and the Brazil Olympic team to glory this season?


Matt Adamson: FICTION. I'm not convinced that Ronaldinho is the same player he once was. He can speak out on Barcelona all he wants, and people can continue to blame Barca for his problems, but if that were really the case, we would have seen more from Kaka in Milan. Besides, does the UEFA Cup constitute "glory"? I don't believe so, and I think both Juventus, Roma and Inter could still finish above Milan. Like I said, I'm not convinced.

Chris Evans: FICTION. Ronaldinho has had his best years and I doubt he is going to be able to recapture his excellent form from World Player of the Year seasons. I doubt Milan will have much success this season, I still see Inter as the dominant Italian club. Even if Milan do see success I doubt he will be the main reason for it.



2. Freddy Adu's move to Monaco was good for him?


Mat Adamson: FACT. Of course it was, have you seen the women of Monaco? Hot like you can't believe. The rich and the richer. Oh wait... I suppose this is supposed to relate to his career as a footballer. Right, well in that case I still think it's a tremendous move for him. He will likely get more playing time and in a far more competitive league, that's a bit more balanced from top to bottom. Portugal, he got to play with some of the best against some of the worst in their league and rarely against the best. In Monaco he will likely play more often and against teams that stand out far above in the likes of Marseilles, Lyon, Bordeaux and even PSG. He will play with some world class players as well. Ultimately, it comes down to playing time, and I think he'll have plenty.

Chris Evans: FACT. For Adu to have any chance of fulfilling his potential he needs to constantly play with the best players in the world. While he is not going to be getting that at Monaco, the French league is probably of higher standard than the Portuguese league, though only just. I fear that if he doesn't make the most of this move then Adu will become a footnote in footballing history.


3. The United States Olympic team should be considered a Dark Horse


Matt Adamson: FICTION. To we Americans, it seems pretty exciting considering the level of quality players on the U-23 squad and in the overage players. However, take a look at the competition. I'm sorry, I love my national team, and I think they will do well, but a dark horse? Not really. I don't believe they will medal, though a solid 4th isn't out of the question. If Guzan plays like his life depends on it, perhaps a dark horse, but I'm counting on the Brad Guzan we all know, a world class goalkeeper, but not a goal sized brick wall.

Chris Evans: FICTION. I can see the US Olympic team performing well, but with the South America and European nations that are due to be competing I can't see the US team winning. They should be a factor in the competition, but not a big enough one to be considered a Dark Horse.


It's time for a change



4. Robinho should go to Chelsea


Chris Evans: FICTION. I think Chelsea has a big enough squad at the moment to challenge for the top honours and I fail to see how Robinho will make that much difference. He should stay with Real or move to a club where he will get guaranteed first team football. With Chelsea's squad at the moment he won't get that.

Matt Adamson: FICTION. I think Chelsea has a big enough squad at the moment to challenge for the top honors and I fail to see how Robinho will make that much difference. He should stay with Real or move to a club where he will get guaranteed first team football. With Chelsea's squad at the moment he won't get that.



5. If Quaresma wound up at Inter he would have a guaranteed spot in the First XI?



Chris Evans: FACT. The Inter squad is unbalanced at the moment with too many older players, someone like Quaresma is needed to inject some youth into Mourinho's squad. I think Mourinho will look to secure immediate success with Inter and someone like Quaresma would be ideally suited to achieving that.

Matt Adamson: FACT. I couldn't agree more with Chris here. Mourinho doesn't have much of a reputation of using and working with what he has. I think that works to Quaresma's advantage.



6. Clubs are wrong to block players 23 and Under form playing in the Olympics?


Chris Evans: FACT. It may not the World Cup or European Championships but the Olympics is a massive occasion, even for the footballers. If the players want to play in the tournament then they should be allowed to, no doubt in my mind

Matt Adamson: FACT. I understand the overage players being blocked, but those under 23, it's a once or twice in a lifetime opportunity. To hold somebody back from the Olympics, though not as big a deal as the Euro's or the World Cup, it's still a big deal and would be a crap deal for somebody who was held back.


So we go from two weeks with lots of differing opinions and this week our two writers agree on everything making it a 6 out of 6 for this week. I like how no one mentioned anything about whether Brazil would win the Olympics and just focused on Ronaldinho's club performance, Brazil is bringing a powerful team to China and will be the favorite. One last note, it seems that Liverpool are close to signing Robbie Keane, so expect a question related to him, as well as one with Kenny Cooper going to Cardiff City. Well, see you all next week.