The Italian title race is now much more than the formality that it was during the last few years under Roberto Mancini’s tenure at Inter Milan. A change in coaching at the Nerazzurri saw a different approach. Initially there was a love-in with Jose Mourinho, whose personality wooed the Italian press. Then came the comparisons to the original ‘Special One’ and Inter legend Helenio Herrera. After a debut draw away to Sampdoria and a couple of narrow victories, the Milan derby had come along as a major test of Mourinho’s credentials.

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While we hear of (mostly) Liverpool players having their homes invaded and their prized possessions stolen (the victim list now reads: Lucas Leiva, Steven Gerrard, Dirk Kuyt, Xabi Alonso, Ryan Babel, Robbie Keane, Pepe Reina, Daniel Agger, Peter Crouch and Jerzy Dudek), the tables have often turned.  Millionaires too decide to steal. Don’t judge them; they’re obviously trying to get by on whatever comes their way…

Albert Craig

Unfortunately, the first incident in this countdown is the most serious. Chronic gambler Albert Craig, the ex-Newcastle footballer was jailed for 12 months in 2005 after stealing more than £40,000 from a Postal Depot where he worked at. The former Partick Thistle player reportedly spent £69,000 in a casino that same year.

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Last night, Predrag Mijatovic announced in a press conference that Bernd Schuster had been given the dreaded vote of confidence. The German coach has been under pressure following defeats to Juventus at the Bernabeu, as the Turin side recorded their first victory in the Spanish stadium for 46 years.  Even worse was the defeat to third division Spanish side Real Union, the first time Madrid lost a cup tie against a lower league side. The minnows went through on away goals after a 4-3 defeat at the Bernabeu (6-6 on aggregate). The Real Madrid defence had World Cup winner Fabio Cannavaro and a spattering of internationals throughout the side.

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Real Madrid have a championship-winning attack and a relegation-suffering defence. Barcelona seem to have excellent quality in both departments. The results of both sides this weekend only strove to emphasise this idea. Barcelona thrashed real Valladolid 6-0, while Real Madrid laboured to a 4-3 success in a whirlwind of a game against Malaga. The stunning parallel between both games was that strikers Samuel Eto’o and Gonzalo Higuain both scored 4 goals.

Real Madrid 4 Malaga 3

The latter was a source of ridicule for a small section of the Bernabeu crowd for his inability to hit the target regularly (and that doesn’t been scoring, but actually not skying his shots over the crossbar). Yet over the last few seasons, the Argentinean has improved his accuracy and his impact on the team. Scoring the title-winning goal last summer for Madrid to win their 31^st title has been the catalyst Higuain has needed. When Real Madrid signed Fernando Gago and the River Plate youth product, many assumed that it was the former Boca Juniors man, who was the better signing. These pundits claimed Gago would replicate the legacy of Fernando Redondo. Instead, it has been Higuain, who has taken on the mantle of rescuer.

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Here are the next five talents, who will be looking to make an impact in the coming seasons. From prolific strikers, to midfielders with expectional technique, here is the next batch:

Bojan Krkic Perez – Barcelona (ST)

When you hit 889 goals for the Barcelona youth team, it is inevitable that you’ll make a career in the game. For this Spaniard, there is no doubt as to how high he can reach in the modern game. A slight figure, he has lit up several youth tournaments for Spain, while his wonderful pace and dribbling ability, coupled with excellent positional awareness and a natural instinct of where the net is, make him a feared opponent.

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The Battle of Ideas 2008 was a two-day festival of high-level, thought-provoking debate organised by the Institute of Ideas and hosted by the Royal College of Art in London. Whilst there many open-ended discussions on a variety of contemporary affairs, from the impending US election to the drink culture in Britain there were two debates that did catch the eye of Libero Football. 

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Diego Maradona is one of three people to have deific status in Argentina. The other two are Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara and another catalyst of the Cuban revolution Fidel Castro. He is the only one to have won over the nation through sport and not political ambition. Yet with Maradona’s appointment as Argentina manager, one can argue that is not for his management skills that he has gained the top job but for the image and what Maradona represents that the Argentine Football Association has taken this decision.

Behind the myth of Diego the player is a management record that runs to only 23 games, with little success at either Racing Club or Deportivo Mandiyu. As for his powers of motivation and inspiration, there is little to suggest he can do so. Yes, he was captain in 1986, but the role of captain and manager are completely different. The role of lead cheerleader at the 2006 World Cup reveals his passion for Argentina but as we all know, football fans are fickle and easily frustrated. We know Maradona has a will to win at all costs, be it through illegal substances, or punching the ball into the net, or even an exquisite piece of skill.

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There has been a great deal of criticism concerning Arsenal recently. Player selection, tactical decisions and the failure to replace departed players adequately are all topics on the lips of Arsenal fans. The captivating 4-4 draw with rivals Tottenham Hotspur portrayed all the strengths and weaknesses of a side that remains very much a work in progress.

The midfield and its workings have been subject to great criticism. Initially, there were doubts that Walcott, Nasri, Fabregas and Denilson could withstand a physical battle. Soon afterwards, the balance of the quartet was called into question. There are doubts concerning the defensive capabilities of Nasri, still only 21 and adapting to a new country and intensity of football, and Walcott. Both seem to shirk from aerial battles and occasionally do not press their opposing player. This seems to have exposed their respective full backs in Clichy and Sagna. Yet the biggest debate remains with the central pairing.

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This is a new feature on Liberofootball.com, looking at all the latest talent cropping up in world football at the moment. Here are a number of prodigous talents, ranging from powerful defenders to lightening-quick wingers:

Mario Balotelli – Inter Milan (ST)

The young striker made such an impression in his debut season at the San Siro, that he began taking all the set pieces. Under Roberto Mancini’s tutelage, the black Italian scored a number of key goals in the Coppa Italia, including a brace away to Juventus. His height, pace and strength, combined with exquisite technique has made him a feared opponent for any side. Of Ghanaian heritage, he has committed to his adopted Italy, with the Azzurri desperate to recruit ‘Super Mario’ to their cause. Now with Jose Mourinho, Balotelli is having to play the waiting game.

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Los Blancos were looking to bounce back from another defeat in Turin against a Juventus side, which is fast becoming a ‘bogey’ team for Bernd Schuster’s side. Atletico Bilbao arrived to face to team with a point to prove. All eyes were on Raul, who was only seven goals behind the record of the great Alfredo Di Stefano, yet the captain was anonymous when on the ball and also off it. It was left to the erratic Gonzalo Higuain to step up and the Argentine definitely did exactly that.

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