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Ronaldo exit was no real surprise
IT was no real surprise, if you will pardon the pun, to discover last week that Cristiano Ronaldo was moving from Manchester United to Madrid.
After all, he had been angling for such a switch for more than 12 months and having to answer questions about the player week after week must have been starting to wear a little thin for Sir Alex.
The questions asked by the player about the tactics in the Champions League final must have edged him closer to the Old Trafford out door.
So what do you suppose would have been the clincher?
I will wager the fact that Real were prepared to offer an incredible 80million may have swayed it.
I have never objected to big money in football.
Clubs will pay players whatever they think they are worth.
And Madrid believe they can recoup their initial outlay on the Portuguese with merchandising and the like.
But the size of the fee in this case makes me feel a little uneasy.
There is clearly no credit crunch in the Spanish capital.
Judging by the 56 million they have also splashed out for Kaka there is not.
When we are all tightening out belts, Real have been loosening theirs considerably.
IT is always good to see a former Halifax Town player doing well for himself.
But poor old Shane Smeltz cannot have enjoyed his first taste of Confederations Cup action on Sunday.
The striker's New Zealand side were thrashed 5-0 by Spain in their opening game of the tournament in South Africa.
Fortunately with the hosts and Iraq in the same group the All Whites may have a chance to redeem themselves in the coming days.
Smeltz, who bagged a double against Italy in a warm up match last week, has made a real impact on the game Down Under since being told he had no future at the Shay.
Two goals in an international against Wales a couple of years ago after he had been released earned him a move to Wellington Phoenix in the A League.
He now plays for expansion side Gold Coast United.
And to think, he could have been playing Unibond League football had he stayed.
ANDY Murray's serene progress through the draw to the final - and title - at the Argon Championships at Queen's Club suggest an exciting couple of weeks at Wimbledon for Britain's number one.
Sensibly, the Scot is playing down his chances of being the first British man to win at the All England club.
But after years of backing Tim Henman - more in hope than expectancy - we finally have a genuine contender.
I just hope Murray is able to cope with the pressure that goes with the expectancy and, probably more importantly, does himself justice.
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Weather for Halifax
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -2 C to 0 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South west
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Cloudy
Temperature: 2 C to 5 C
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