Congratulations to AC Milan for winning the Club World Cup. Even though you're still not in my Top 25, and probably will never be as long as you continue to be mired in mediocrity in the middle of Serie A. You may be the best "big game" team out there, but my chart is for "every day" teams.I actually do feel bad for not having Olympiacos in my charts, but their national league's overrall rating sort of precludes that. It's very difficult to get into the charts if your league is not in the top dozen or so unless you are so dominant in your league that you can overcome the discrepency in national league rankings. With their victory today, Olympiakos tied AEK for first place, so the necessary dominance for a league ranked outside of the top dozen just isn't there. I hope they continue to advance in the Champions League, as that will increase the ranking of their national league.
The mathematical system that I originally developed was for use with final season statistics and results. This is the first time that I've tried to apply it on a weekly basis and I notice that it doesn't result in massive changes on a weekly basis. I'm going to try to keep this up again next week, but I'll be in North Carolina and I'm not sure what kind of access I'll have to everything I need. I just know that I won't have GolTV and Barcelona/Real Madrid on Sunday. My family better appreciate it . . .
I know it's a week early, but there's no games of any consequence tomorrow of which I'm aware, so I'm going a day early.
World Club Top 25 - December 17, 2007
1. Internazionale (Ita) (1) - Is the game really this easy? They look like adults playing with children. Okay, that may be going too far. They look like adults playing with adults who aren't nearly as good. AC Milan can go a long way towards finally hitting my list with a good game against Inter on Sunday.
2. Arsenal (Eng) (2) - Coming into this weekend, it was a four-team race in the Premiership. Now, it's a two-team race. Of the two, Arsenal is currently on top, so they're next on my list.
3. Real Madrid (Esp) (3) - Victory over Osasuna sets up an exciting match on Sunday with Barcelona. I won't be able to see it until after Christmas, so don't ruin it for me.
4. Porto (Por) (4) - No, I'm not Portuguese. I've heard commentators say that this team and Sevilla are the weakest of the group leaders in the Champions League, suggesting that Arsenal should hope that they get Porto in the first round. Be careful what you hope for, Arsenal.
5. Manchester United (Eng) (5) - Was it really any surprise that they were able to go to Anfield and beat Liverpool? The only surprise for me is that Arsenal has been able to hold them off this long.
6. Roma (Ita) (6) - Scored a draw against Manchester United this week in Champions League action. I know the game was meaningless, but it still demonstrates how good this team can be. So does being second in Serie A.
7. Barcelona (Esp) (8) - What a horrible time to lose one of the two or three best players in the world in Lionel Messi. Looks like he'll be out for over a month. If they can keep pace in La Liga until he returns, they will be in good shape to make another deep Champions League run.
8. Juventus (Ita) (7) - Might be in good shape to make a deep Coppa Italia run, but that's it. I don't think they'll catch Inter and they're not eligible for anything else. Serves you right, you cheating bastards.
9. Lyon (Fra) (9) - Timely stellar play against Rangers to make the CL Round of 16. Not playing well recently in Ligue 1 action heading in to Saturday's match against second-place Nancy Lorraine.
10. Sao Paulo (Bra) (11) - What can I say? Not much, really. See you in the other CL (Copa Libertadores).
11. Benfica (Por) (10)
12. Chelsea (Eng) (12)
13. Ajax (Ned) (14)
14. Bayern Munchen (Ger) (13)
15. Atletico de Madrid (Esp) (16)
16. Nancy Lorraine (Fra) (17)
17. Sporting CP (Por) (25)
18. PSV Eindhoven (Ned) (19)
19. Lanus (Arg) (18)
20. Liverpool (Eng) (15)
21. Rangers (Sco) (NR)
22. Werder Bremen (Ger) (23)
23. Manchester City (Eng) (NR)
24. Fiorentina (Ita) (24)
25. Udinese (Ita) (21)
Next Five (Alphabetically): Celtic (Sco), Everton (Eng), Santos Laguna (Mex), Villarreal (Esp), Vitoria Setubal (Por)
Others of Note: (32) Atletico Nacional, (42) AC Milan, (52) Girondins Bordeaux (Fra), (62) Schalke 04 (Ger), (72) Sampdoria
Games this week among Top 25 Teams:
19 Dec. - (20) Liverpool at (12) Chelsea (Carling Cup)
22 Dec. - (9) Lyon at (16) Nancy Lorraine
23 Dec. - (3) Real Madrid at (7) Barcelona
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