Manuel Pellegrinis days are numbered say/invent Marca

In time old fashion, Marca have jumped on board of the 'Sack Manuel Pellegrini' bandwagon. Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say they have built the bandwagon. Instead of focusing on Cristianos disappearing act, Jorge Valdanos summer flops or even their own perpetual arrogance, Marca have rounded on poor old Manuel Pellegrini. Handcuffed by the clubs directors, let down by his egocentrical stars and regularly derided in the press, the man who got little Villarreal to within a whisker of the Champions League final, never stood a chance of succeeding at the Bernabeu. The Chilean is being made a scapegoat for the failings of others, and I hope for his sake that this does end up being his first and only season at Real Madrid. Either that or Florentino and Valdano waltz off into the Spanish sunset and 'The Engineer' is allowed to get on with his job.

So, the seven sins that Marca quote as being Pellegrinis nails in the coffin. 1. The 'Alcorconazo'. Well we all know whose fault that was. His players let him down so badly that night. 2. Unable to control the changing room. You mean the same manager who plucked the main man Riquelme out of the Villarreal side for unsettling the team? How can he control a changing room when it is controlled by Florentino and Jorge Valdano? Would they ever let him drop Cristiano? 3. He ignores the youth team. Perhaps the only point I will agree with. But when you look at what's coming through the ranks right now, you'll see why. 4. Hasn't got the best out of his stars. Kaká has been on a downward slope since 2007. Cristiano is so wrapped up in his personal battle with Messi, a battle he is only ever going to lose, that he will never fully contribute to a team effort, regardless of who is in charge. Karim Benzema has just been plain awful or injured. 5. No-one knows what they're doing on the pitch. So why are Real Madrid currently enjoying their best Liga season ever and on course to beat the 107 goal mark set 20 years ago? It's not his fault they have come across one of the best sides in the history of the game. 6. The 'Lyonazo'. Again, severely let down by his team who went missing when the going got tough. 7. Not a big match manager. Utter rubbish. More like his team, assembled by those above, are not big match players.

So whilst there is no official word from the club, who have Marca gone on and proposed as possible replacements? Well, unbelievably they have the cheek to include Fabio Capello. The same man they forced out of Madrid after winning the league. His 'ugly and defensive football' wasn't deemed attractive enough at the time. How can they stoop so low? The rest of their 'winners' include Filipe Scolari who was unceremoniously dumped out of Chelsea after a disastrous few months in charge, Carlos Ancelotti, Jose Mourinho and Rafa Benitez, whose stock is in rapid decline after a disastrous season at Liverpool. With the exception of Mourinho, who surely wouldn't take this poisoned chalice of a job in a million years, I can't see one of that lot doing any better. Who could, when his job is already done for him by a flashy businessman and his sneeky sidekick? When any slight hiccup will be pounced upon by the unforgiving and ruthless Madrid press? When his selfish and big-headed stars care more about modelling underpants, attending dinner parties and predicting future victories than winning on the pitch? The Madrid fans and Manuel Pellegrini deserve so much better.

Lionel who? Marca forget about the worlds best

Lionel Messi produces football that us mortals can only dream about, but for Marca 'La Pulga' is nothing more than an ongoing nightmare. Messi orchestrated Barcelonas passage to the last eight of the Champions League with a spellbinding display, capped with two cracking goals, but it appears Marca have let that one slip them by. Any mention of Messis magical performance on the front cover? Nope. Instead a full page on Marcas tribute to, ahem, Muhammad Ali. Such a shame that Spains leading sports newspaper feels the need to completely ignore one of the jewels in Spanish footballs crown, simply because he doesn't turn out in white. Surely the brilliance of Messi transcends footballing rivalries.

Sergio Canales in a Real Madrid shirt; Jose Antonio Reyes for Spain?

A couple of things that caught my attention this week. First was seeing Sergio Canales appear on television wearing a Real Madrid shirt. Probably not the wisest thing he's ever done, especially as he is still running out as a Racing Santander player. What kind of message does that send out to those who turn up week in week out to watch Racing? How does it make his teammates feel as they hover five points above the relegation zone? Canales is arguably Racings best player, but is his heart still in Santander? He is still incredibly young, and has obviously fallen victim to Marcas complete disregard for any football club outside the Bernabeu, but if I were Miguel Angel Portugal I would be tempted to drop the youngster in favour of someone who has his head and heart in the Sardinero. It's unlikely to happen, but the fall-out from this two-part interview, in which he was forced to admitted he believed Cristiano Ronaldo is better than Messi, could see those fans that adored him only weeks ago turn against the teen sensation. His father had better keep a tighter rein in the future.

My fellow blogger 'GaryMadrid'  from 'MadridAtleticos' made an interesting point under my last article about Jose Antonio Reyes' credentials for the World Cup this summer. As did 'SoccerPower' in favour of Barcelonas Pedro. Two classy players but will either really be on that plane to South Africa? Personally I'd like to see both make that trip, but the harsh reality is that neither are likely to be taken along. Reyes is arguably La Ligas most in-form player right now, as he leads Atléticos charge into the latter part of the season, but you have to think it's a little too late for a push for a World Cup position. But if he were to play a huge role in an Atlético cup double and helped lift them into the UEFA spots in La Liga, would Del Bosque be able to ignore him? As for Pedro, we all know that the lad from Tenerife has a huge future ahead of him, but is he ready for a World Cup squad? He is most certainly capable, and have no doubt he would bring a lot to the table, but he is yet to feature in a Spain squad, let alone in a match. I was also astonished to find out he only has two under-21 caps to his name. Experience may count against him as Vicente makes those finishing touches to the most envied squad in world football.