The Original Imports

Si, we hold hands behind your back . . .

The excellent Marcela Mora y Araujo returns to the Guardian with this little piece on Ossie Ardiles and Ricardo Villa.

The return of the Argentinian trailblazers [Guardian Sport Blog]

-bl

The Grab: 12.12

Curbs in negotiation with Hammers for $3.4M [Telegraph]

Things aren't looking up for Sheva, and will the Portugeezer go shopping in January? Of course, Arsene Wenger has something to say. [The Independent, Guardian Sports Blog, Times Online]

More Wenger: Foreign players? Great. Foreign owners? Not so great. [Sky Sports]

"We're happy to be here . . . now if you don't mind, can you just give us the Cup and we'll be on our way . . . " Rijkaard claims Club America have an advantage in the FIFA Club World Cup.
[24-7]

How many satirical Mastercard commericals are being created as I type? Ah, what the hell . . .
Match tickets to watch your team play a boring 4-5-1 in World Cup qualifying? Several thousands of dollars. Watching FIFA do its best to emulate the most corrupt of third world countries as it controls the largest arena for the world's largest sport? Priceless. [Yahoo Sports]

-bl