There Is Only One Sinnacle

- It’s easy to blame referee Howard Webb over Emmanuel Adebayor red card especially since the first one was soft but I still question why Adebayor wen in that high when he was already on a yellow?

- Never was a big fan of the old school English football matches but yesterday Arsenal-Liverpool was a throwback to the 70′s-80′s. Hard tackling, intense crowd and both goals coming from long balls the defense couldn’t handle.

- Robbie Keane must feel a million times better today after his goal earned Liverpool a point.

- Not to rain on Sam Allardyce’s parade but he also got off to a roaring start for Newcastle. Despite that fact Blackburn jumped out in front early against Stoke and never looked back.

- I’m not here to suggest that Lassana Diarra didn’t try this weekend for Portsmouth but when you have Real Madrid are you really going to go all out against Bolton? If I was his agent I’d be praying Diarra didn’t injury himself over the weekend.

- At times it isn’t pretty but Fulham have come along way in the year Roy Hodgson has taken over. After Fulham’s 3-0 win over the weekend against Middlesbrough they find themselves on the brink of Europe in 8th spot.

- There was a time where a Leeds coaching change would be big news but after Gary McAllister’s dismissal over the weekend only a real hardcore fan would notice. Talk about dropping off the radar.

- If I was a coach on the hot seat (Mark Hughes) I’d be real worried right now. With the exception of Portsmouth which was a different circumstance every coaching change has lead to positive results. You saw what happen to Blackburn this weekend, Joe Kinnear has Newcastle fans on cloud nine, Harry Redknapp has Tottenham out of the basement. Add to that Ricky Sbragia guiding Sunderland to a 4-1 victory over a Hull. Sure the scoreline may of flattered Sunderland but those players pressed on and thanks for a bit of luck on Richardson goal won their second straight game. Even more telling during Sbragia’s BBC interview the players could be heard in the background screaming give him the job. If Sunderland can beat Blackburn on Boxing day how could you not?

- Manchester City in the bottom three heading into the Christmas season. The Manchester City board even today has said they are keeping their faith in Hughes which is more faith than I have in him. Each weekend it appears Manchester City fields a starting 11 that don’t know how to play together or even worst dislike playing together.

- Another reason Hughes should get tossed Darius Vassell, the striker who doesn’t score plays week in and week out while Felipe Caicedo has been moth balled all season long. That was some back heel goal to tie it up against West Brom, it would of been the headline if Manchester City didn’t blow it on a final minute Roman Bednar header.

Rooney conquers the world

Wayne Rooney grabbed the only goal as 10-man Manchester United were crowned kings of the world.

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This game didn’t have the same entertainment value as the game against Gamba Osaka but for Manchester United this victory is just as sweet. For a team many excepted wouldn’t even get to the finals LDU Quito gave a fine showing of themselves mixing it up with United and even unsettling them when Vidic got booked in the second half for an elbow. Despite being down a man Wayne Rooney broke the game open taking a pass from Ronaldo and striker a well placed kick to the bottom corner which was the difference.

Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal are battling to lure Russian striker Andrei Arshavin to north London. (Sunday Telegraph)

Arshavin isn’t actually young as the 27 year old isn’t the typical age or the typical transfer fee Arsenal goes for. Arshavin may just have to end up at Tottenham as the Barcelona, Chelsea’s and Real Madrid’s of the world are unlikely to make a bid.

Arsenal will also sign Manchester United’s loan star Carlos Tevez in a deal that will shatter their previous £11m record transfer fee. (Sunday Mirror)

Can’t picture Tevez going back to London this time for Arsenal. Despite that an Emmanuel Adebayor-Tevez would be fun to watch.

Spurs will lead the chase for Fulham midfielder Jimmy Bullard with a £4m bid when the transfer window opens. (News of the World)

Even with his goal yesterday it does appear Fulham will cash in on Jimmy Bullard next month.

But City will miss out on Valencia striker David Villa. The Blues had been prepared to pay £50m for Villa, but he is only interested in moving to a team in the Champions League. (Sunday Express)

Instead, City will bid £6m for West Ham striker Craig Bellamy. (Daily Star)

Well that is a logical plan B, If I couldn’t get David Villa the first player id turn to would be Craig Bellamy.

Portsmouth boss Tony Adams will raid Spurs for £10m-rated defensive midfielder Didier Zokora. (News of the World)

Meanwhile, Gary O’Neil is seeking a return to Portsmouth having been sold to Middlesbrough against his wishes 18 months ago. (News of the World)

Portsmouth is not a raiding team, no team is afraid of interest from Portsmouth so it’s doubtful Zokora would want to head south. Gary O’Neil is more likely.

Nicky Butt, former Manchester United team-mate of Roy Keane and Paul Ince, says star players will reject careers in management if clubs continue to turn on managers after months rather than years. (News of the World)

Which is good because most top players much bad managers. Keane left Sunderland, he wasn’t pushed and Ince wasn’t ready for the Blackburn job.

Messi Responds To Cannavaro And Cruyff Criticism

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has responded to the recent criticisms thrown at him by Fabio Cannavaro and Johan Cruyff…

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I love it, My issue with Messi has never been on the field since he is the man out there but I have always felt Messi needed to become the man off the field. These are the first quotes where Messi has shown any sort of personality and stood up for himself.

Mourinho: Ban Wayne Rooney For Stamp

Jose Mourinho feels Wayne Rooney should be banned for Inter Milan’s Champions League clash with Manchester United.

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Let the mind games begin. This works out perfectly for Mourinho and Inter. The special one becomes the centre of attention which he enjoys and the pressure is now off his players. Inter can now go out there with the knowing there is no shame in losing to United.

Manchester City are weighing up an approach to West Ham for £7m-rated Welsh striker Craig Bellamy. (Daily Mail)

West Ham would pull the trigger on Manchester City’s offer in a heart beat. No clue if this rumor has some legs on it or the media is trying to create a link with Mark Hughes-Craig Bellamy having worked together previously.

Fulham manager Roy Hodgson has said that midfielder Jimmy Bullard could leave the club if he cannot agree a new contract beyond his current deal which expires in 2010. (The Times)

With Fulham doing pretty well in the league I find it curious why they would want to mess with one of their core players?

Tottenham are in talks over a £15m move for Middlesbrough winger Stewart Downing. (Daily Mail)

Middlesbrough cashing in on Downing wouldn’t be the end of the world. With Adam Johnson waiting in the wings Boro can use that money elsewhere.

Portsmouth defender Lauren is being lined up for a move to AEK Athens after revealing that he wants to quit Fratton Park next month. (Daily Mail)

If a tree falls in a forest when no one is around does it make a sound? When a bit player leaves would anyone notice?

Sunderland’s stand-in boss Ricky Sbragia is two wins away from clinching the Stadium of Light job on a full-time basis. (Daily Mail)

I like how the Sunderland players nickname Sbragia the wig because they think he wears a hair piece.

Aston Villa boss Martin O’Neill has called for the introduction of a mid-season break in England to reduce the risk of player burn-out. (The Guardian)

Never going to happen, The EPL’s broadcast partners want the games during the holiday season and money talks.

England

Sinnacle -$570
D.G.F -$671.50

Spain

Sinnacle +339.50
D.G.F -$520.50

Germany

Sinnacle +$479.50 Winner
D.G.F -$525.50

Italy

Sinnacle +$1051.50 Winner – D.G.F threw in towel
D.G.F -$2154.50

England

Sinnacle

Arsenal-Liverpool draw +230
Fulham team total over 1 and 1.5 +100
Newcastle-Tottenham over 2.5 -103

D.G.F

Blackburn -0.5 -120 vs Stoke City
Chelsea Team Total Under 1.5 -106
Hull-Sunderland Under 2.5 -114
West Ham-Aston Villa Under 3 -184
West Brom-Man City Under 3 -187

Spain

Sinnacle

Villarreal +0.5 +106 vs Barcelona
Espanyol-Atletico Madrid under 2.5 -101
Mallorca-Sevilla over 2.5 -112

D.G.F

Valencia +320 vs Real Madrid
Deportivo La Coruna-Recreativo draw +274
Osauna-Getafe draw +246
Racing Santander-Malaga tie +257
Atletic Club Bilbao +272 vs Real Betis

The Special One makes his return to England!!!!!! Let the hype begin. Rafa and his Liverpool squad face off against Real Madrid in another highlite of this draw.

Chelsea v Juventus
Villarreal v Panathinaikos
Sporting Lisbon v Bayern Munich
Atletico Madrid v Porto
Lyon v Barcelona
Real Madrid v Liverpool
Arsenal v Roma
Inter Milan v Manchester United

UEFA Cup Draw Below

Paris St Germain v Wolfsburg
FC Copenhagen v Manchester City
NEC Nijmegen v Hamburg
Sampdoria v Metalist Kharkiv
Braga v Standard Liege
Aston Villa v CSKA Moscow
Lech Poznan v Udinese
Olympiakos v St Etienne
Fiorentina v Ajax
Aalborg v Deportivo La Coruna
Werder Bremen v AC Milan
Bordeaux v FC Galatasaray
Dynamo Kiev v Valencia
Zenit St Petersburg v VfB Stuttgart
Marseille v FC Twente
Shakhtar Donetsk v Tottenham

Chivu: Inter Can Handle Tough Champions League Draw

The Romanian defensive star is set to return to action tomorrow night and believes the Nerazzurri have what it takes to go all the way on all fronts this term.

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Inter would have no one to blame but themselves after a subpar group stage effect. T-minus 10 minutes before the draw as I’m writing this and can’t wait to see who will be paired up with whom.

Napoli’s Hamsik Suffers Robbery

The Azzurri’s Slovakian playmaker payed the price for his fame last night as he was mugged on the streets of Naples…

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I know “life” can happen anywhere but things like this either cost a) players wanting to leave the club/city and b) make it tougher to attract players to the club. Sad to hear the news and hopefully those foolish enough to rob a famous footballer on a busy street end up being caught.

Sevilla striker Luis Fabiano has emerged as the £20m hot favourite to join Chelsea after talks with Zenit St Petersburg playmaker Andrei Arshavin hit financial stumbling blocks. (Daily Star)

Fabiano has to be the king of players who are linked with a move away but always stay put in the end. Each transfer period Fabiano is linked with a Chelsea move, even last year Manchester City was linked with the player as I remember Fabiano’s agent saying a deal could be close with Manchester’s second team. Seville president stepped in and informed the agent to be quiet and that the player has a contract with the team. That was the end of that, besides isn’t the Chelsea chequebook closed?

Elano’s Manchester City misery may end with a loan move to Spanish club Espanyol or Italian outfit Lazio. (The Sun)

Moving to Lazio would be a better fit than Espanyol which was the rumor earlier this week. A move to Lazio could see Elano help the club towards European play next season.

Portsmouth defender Lauren claims striker Jermain Defoe will make a sensational return to Tottenham and says England right-back Glen Johnson will also leave the south-coast club. (Daily Star)

Clubs are going to be circling around Portsmouth like vultures this transfer period. Pompey fans better enjoy that FA Cup of last season.

CSKA Moscow striker Vagner Love, who is rated at £12m, has revealed that Everton are leading the race to sign him – but insists that he still wants to join Real Madrid. (Daily Star)

When Vagner Love says that Everton is leading the race for his services he really means Everton is the only one interested at the moment.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes he has unearthed his next young star and is duly keeping tabs on Boulogne defender Steven Mouyokolo after impressive scouting reports. (The Sun)

Wenger amuses me. He is like the person in the fairytale who tries to sell magic beans with the promise that they will grow. Who cares about 2-3 years down the road, deal with that during the summer.

West Brom manager Tony Mowbray is making a move for Paris St Germain’s £1m French international striker Peguy Luyindula. (Daily Mail)

I love it when the press use “French international striker” for players who have barely played with the national team. Luyindula has made 4 appearances for France none in the last four years. Thierry Henry he is not. It would be like saying West Brom is interested in English international David Nugent.