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The Altcoin Rises

O n May 11 2020, the crypto world experienced the phenomena knows as Bitcoin halving . For those who are still a little looney-toons regarding this phenomena, here's the lowdown . Moral of the story is that, as the Bitcoin supply decreased and it's 21 million market cap slowly approached, it was widely accepted that the low supply and high demand will increase the price of the cryptocurrency back to its previous highs. Basic business right? Wrong! Source: Equity Trust Company BTC prices actually fell and after briefly holding steady, are only just rising above the 10000 USD range. Surprise eh? Well, we are not done yet. Because while the most valuable crypto coin wasn't showing it's expected gains, some other cryptocurrencies shot to outer space. There was no SpaceX rocket nor a Tesla Roadster involved. These "altcoins" bumped up in their market value thanks to the entire underlying system of cryptocurrency: investor speculation.  But what exactly are these ...

Who will prevail in 'El Clasico'?

A tale of two gargantuan clubs. A match more spicier than an extra spicy shawarma. Two of the richest, most successful clubs, in the world, perhaps the history of football ( or soccer if you must) colliding with a blatant 'Shoot-first-ask-questions-later-philosophy', the El Clasico is the epitome of footballing nirvana gracing the likes of both Ronaldo's, Ronaldinho's, Beckhams, Rivaldo's, Zidane's and several other first-class names which my brain has befuddled due to my awful physics test today.
Still could be worse.  Like not having Ronaldo in your team...?


Image result for ronaldo juventus

Or maybe this a blessing in disguise. Real Madrid could be a wolf in a sheep's clothing, out to get little 'blue' riding hood trampled over by its lily-white teeth.

Ronaldo, ever since he made the ex-world record move to the 'Royals', has always been in a sense Real's main player. A leader, without the captain's armband. A lethal goal-scoring machine who is like a forward, more aggressive version of Buffon. Seemingly beating records at a relatively off-peak age, Ronaldo's absence was deeply felt in the Super Cup match between Real and Athletico, with Diego Costa showcasing Ronaldo-esque levels of brutality against a makeshift Lopetegui defence. It would have been a tough pill to swallow, no doubt due to the difference in global prowess and the ding-ding-ding factor between the 2 clubs doing little as Atletico ran away to a 4-2 win. And most El Clasico viewers watch the game for Messi's dinking or Ronaldo's ridiculous abs. With the abs gone tho...

But, as of today, it has been a mere blip, a sort of first game jitters for the Madrista's, as they now have maximum points from their first 3 games in La Liga. Gareth Bale and Benzema now have a total of 7 goals. And with a new exciting forward in Mariano Diaz and Vinicius Junior for the future, they are certain to play well.

Nevertheless, Ronaldo's departure to the Italian mountains has left a gaping hole for Mariano to fill. He is good, no doubt, but whether he is at the level needed to at least maintain a certain repertoire for the legendary no. 7 jersey remains to be seen. And Ronaldo was mostly a big game player, lifting his squad to higher heights, flexing his considerable muscle on the cowering defenders. In some big games, if you neutralized Ronaldo, you neutralised Real almost instantly. Even Lionel Messi claims Real are a weakened team without their main big man.


Image result for lionel messi

Ronaldo was always going to go sooner or later. He was rapidly ageing, at least in footballing terms, and, whisper it softly, getting a slower and poorer on his finishing. But he was still Ronaldo, and while he may have scored a big fat zero goals in the Italian league so far, it is still too early to call him a waste of money. Remember this time last year when Ronaldo was missing sitters even Torres would score? And his goal scoring record after little Santa was done with Christmas? In less than half the season he was banging them so hard, even Messi was scared.

Right now Messi can relax a little. But Real Madrid cannot. They have maximum points yes, but they have yet to play against more doggedly determined and perhaps better sides like Sevilla, Valencia, Villarreal, Betis, Espanyol and of course Barca themselves. Lopetegui knows this. And while Ramos might be basking in the glow of winning 'The Best' Defender award or claiming that Real are now a more collective unit, no one can deny that Barca will be all too happy to rip this expensively assembled crew apart. They have several new additions, with Arturo Vidal opportunistically adding a bit of beef to the squad. And Coutinho and Dembele are finally gelling in with the first team. 

Real Madrid, on the other hand, have not brought their usual Galactico signing to the Spanish capital. But if they do thrash the aforementioned group, they are virtually Scott free to win possibly their first Treble in their illustrious history. A new coach always seems to have a pleasing effect on the squad 
( at least for starters) and Lopetegui has an impressive CV. But there is that unshakable feeling that Real won't win any trophies this year. At least for me.

You could claim that I am a Barca fan and this view is biased ( and you would be right to do so) but ..even Real fans agree that Ronaldo's Turin move was definitely out of the blue, making Juve instantly stronger. So strong in fact that they had to send their previous record signing ( Higuain) to forage for game time elsewhere. And Madrid look instantly weaker without the brutality of Ronaldo. However, if Ramos is right about one thing, it is the fact that Gareth Bale and Benzema seem more relaxed at a typical goalmouth scramble and are no doubt given more looser leashes when the ball is in the final third. 


Image result for gareth bale and benzema

Soo... and the end of the day, it is still Barca for the win. Messi's magic is too much for even Harry Potter to handle much less Ramos and his mates. But if the magic sputters and if Bale and Benzema seize their chance to cement legendary status at the Bernabeu and "f**k you" status at the Camp Nou, Madrid could be in with a shot. The league would be theirs. Copa Del Rey would be theirs (provided they don't field an ineligible player..again) and you can be sure that if a Real, Juve matchup ever happens Ramos would have no qualms in tackling his ex-brother in arms. Juve look strong. But then again so do Barca...and perhaps surprisingly ....so do Real.

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