A European Roundup: The New Season Brings New Hope?

So for the first roundup of the new season I will look at England, Spain and Italy...

It has been a busy summer, I hope that all you Bleacher souls are refreshed and good to go...

So a lot has gone down since the last roundup, there have been managerial shakes and twists plus the usual pre-season transfer dealings... the ones that did happen and to some more importantly there are the transfers that didn't happen...

From Kaka to Lampard, Robinho, Ronaldo to Barry but the market is only really starting now and big moves are yet to come... there should be no doubting this is a market of reluctant sellers and a market full of players already making big bucks elsewhere, very much a protracted affair.

SPAIN

Whooooooo!!!!

What a summer and what a party, I have never been in and out of so many fountains in my life. A great celebration in Madrid was had having seen Spain winning Euro 2008 by playing some of the best football at international level not seen for many years... a marker has been set for all to follow.

Vamos to Spain and also Rafa Nadal... Spain kicked it up a gear this summer.

So club football, it has been a turbulent time in Spain since I signed off on the round-ups last season.

Barcelona

This summer has seen Laporta appear in front of the firing squad only to survive by the skin of his teeth, winning by four per cent, after facing a vote of no confidence. No matter, the heat has died somewhat, after the signings brought in and seeing the doubts over Pep Guardiola settle at least for now after a successful pre-season, Laporta is for now at least holding on.

As is the nature of the beast in Spain, be it for Real Madrid or Barcelona each club will take momentum from the others problems, and Laporta's current situation has been tipped in his favour (though he is four or five bad results from the dog house) by the fact Madrid importantly could not sign Ronaldo.

Real Madrid

In Madrid, President Calderon has been weakened by events this summer, the full extent to which will not become clear until we are further into the season. The man has all sorts of trouble, not least with what comes out of his mouth, it seems to be his attempt at competing with Blatter for nonsensical quotes of the year.

Importantly for Calderon his trouble lies in the hard truth of perception, that he is not a real credible president, Calderon came to power with a small majority of only 8,000 when 80,000 had voted, also the fact postal votes were thrown out and if they had been included he would not have won.

So for Calderon he has been on a constant campaign for legitimacy, and this has not yet bore desired fruit, despite winning two successive league titles. The things that he promises have not come off, he ran for office on the promise of bringing Kaka, Robben and Cesc to Madrid... Robben came but a year to late and on arrival spent that time injured, he has now failed to sign Ronaldo.

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