By Paul Frederickson
America's Major League Soccer kicked off over the weekend, the top of the English Premier League turned red and Messi and Ronaldo continued to break all La Liga records, and that is just the tip of the weekend's footballing iceberg. Now to the weekend's good, the bad and the downright ugly.
THE GOOD
Bayern Munich fans expect the best and the past two seasons has seen the Munich giants fall below many people's lofty expectations. The past weekend may have put a smile on even the most jaded fan's face as they put seven goals past a shell-shocked Hoffenheim outfit.
Honorable mentions: Messi's scoring spree, Perth Glory's charge for a top two spot in the A-league, Manchester United's ascension to the top of the EPL.
THE BAD
Harry Redknapp has been exonerated from recent taxation allegations, has been touted as the next manager of the English national squad and has reached great heights with Tottenham in recent years, but has all these pressures taken their toll on the manager in recent weeks? Everton inflicted Tottenham's third EPL loss in a row over the weekend with a 1 nil victory at Goodison Park.
Dishonorable mentions: The reliable Matt Ryan's dropped howler versus Perth Glory, Manchester City's defeat to Swansea.
THE DOWNRIGHT UGLY
The MLS kicked off over the weekend and, arguably, the league's two biggest teams started off with losses. The New York Red Bulls lost 2-1 away to a very good Dallas team whilst LA Galaxy were thrashed 3-1 at the Home Depot Stadium by Real Salt Lake. Is it any coincidence that both teams allowed some of their star players, aged over 30, to play in the EPL on loan in the long off-season? It is too early to tell but the next few weeks will be very interesting for the giants of the American game!
Dastardly mentions: Clive Palmer is at it again, flying his 'Freedom of Speech' banners via helicopters over Newcastle's Ausgrid stadium, Melbourne Victory's season of woe continues against Sydney FC.
So what are your thoughts? What were your weekend's good, bad and the downright ugly?
