Podcast, Awards, Transfer Guff, Phil Ball, Paolo Bandini, ANC, More USA

We're not big fans of awards in soccer. Never have been. They're useless in the world in which we live.  Messi won the Ballon d'Or. Great. No surprise there. The best thing about the whole affair was his absurd tuxedo. We already know the players in Spain are dominating things at the moment. We don't need FIFA or anyone else to tell us that. Jonathan Wilson agrees. But, since Spain is dominating, we'll go to Sid Lowe for his take on the whole shebang. Apparently it's a big deal for some folks. This would be cool, though. EPL best vs. La Liga best in a two-legger.

Sticking in Spain, let's catch up with Phil Ball and his first post of 2013. It's a good one. Phil was in London for the holidays and took a Spanish mate to Craven Cottage. He also got stick for writing White Storm. Good stuff as always from perhaps our favorite scribe.

Here's The Mill. Here's your Plus One. Not too much is going on, unfortunately. Barcelona say Villa isn't going anywhere. Some people are saying Fatpard is going to ManU. Some people are saying Fatpard is going to the assGalaxy. Does anyone really care?  

The African Nations Cup begins later this month. Not playing: Seven-time winners Egypt, Cameroon, and Senegal. Here's a preview. And here is Jonathan Wilson on the difficulties Nigeria and Ghana are having with big egos.

Ready to replace Lampard...?

As we mentioned yesterday, The Diving German announced his squad for the USA training camp. Grant Wahl reckons it could be a good opportunity for some newbies to boost their stock.

The holiday break is over in Italy and that means Paolo Bandini is back at work. He looks at the weekend action in Serie A. And Sid posted on the La Liga fixtures, as well. Here.

Tuesday! Podcast! Here: James Richardson's back in the extra comfy presenter's chair for today's Football Weekly, and he's got Barry Glendenning, Tom Lutz and James Horncastle to keep him company as we look back at all the romance and hi-jinx from the weekend's FA Cup games. We kick things off by tut-tutting naughty Luis Suárez after his handball provided Liverpool's safe passage over plucky Mansfield, before taking in Demba Ba's goalscoring debut for Chelsea, Newcastle's defeat at Brighton, and Arsenal's 2-2 draw with Swansea. Next, there's a bumper Serie A section, paying particular attention to matters at AC Milan, including Kevin-Prince Boateng's stand against racism and the sale of the once mercurial Alexandre Pato. Finally, we hear from Sid Lowe about the continuing hoo-haa between José Mourinho and Iker Casillas at Real Madrid, before finishing up by getting as excited as possible about this week's Capital One Cup semi-finals.

And finally...Ronaldo has decided to go to school in England. The Brazilian legend plans to study advertising. SSN wishes him all the best.

Onward!!

-SSN