There Is Only One Sinnacle

CHICAGO — Amway Global will sponsor Major League Soccer’s San Jose Earthquakes beginning this season in a three-year deal featuring the cosmetic and health products company’s name on the front of the team jerseys, the companies said.

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Not a bad deal when the MLS Salary Cap is roughly 2.3 million and your able to land a shirt deal worth between 2-3 million dollars per season. This is the second team Amway sponsors in MLS as there Herbalife brand is also featured on the Los Angeles Galaxy jersey.

Just when you thought things couldn’t get worse.

Manchester City forward Robinho was arrested over allegations of a serious sexual assault in a nightclub, it was reported on Wednesday.

The Brazil international’s spokesman confirmed the player met police on Tuesday as part of a “criminal investigation”, but did not mention the nature of the inquiry.

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I do remember Ronaldo getting caught up in one of this scandals a couple of years ago until the woman who made the claim had a bunch of holes in her story and the investigation was then dropped so I’m not here to pursue guilt on Robinho. What I am going to say is quite simply the man needs to grow up. A) He whined his way out of Real Madrid and into the mess that is Manchester City. B) He walked out on his team after City failed to land Kaka which sets a horrible example to his team mates and now c) Sadly when you are rich and in the public eye people will have a bullseye locked on you. Hopefully this charge is proven incorrect and Robinho will learn to be a better judge on who he allows close to him.

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson sent his brother to run a personal check on Rangers teenage striker John Fleck. (The Sun)

Rangers would be loathe to sell Fleck who is one of the best prospects to come up through the Rangers system in years. I’m sure a team like United scout 100′s of players but with Ferguson’s Scottish background coming into play this rumor has gathered stream.

Aston Villa want to sign Newcastle striker Michael Owen on a free (Mirror)

These Owen rumors have heated up after saying his favorite strike partnership was with Emile Heskey back when both were at Liverpool.

Ex-Arsenal keeper Jens Lehmann, who is currently at Stuttgart, is ready for a Premier League return. (The Sun)

Must admit kinda miss Lehmann taking shots at Manuel Almunia like he was doing week after week last year.

Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce has warned Roque Santa Cruz’s suitors Manchester City that he has been unable to find a replacement for the striker. (The Sun)

Big Sam dragging this one out since the current strike partnership of Benni McCarthy and Jason Roberts are in form with Matt Derbyshire a decent 3rd option off the bench.

Chelsea striker Claudio Pizarro wants to turn his loan deal at Werder Bremen into a permanent one. (Daily Mirror)

Don’t think Chelsea would have too much issue granting Pizarro his request.

Portsmouth manager Tony Adams is looking to sign Real Madrid forward Javier Saviola on loan until the end of the season.

The Fratton Park boss is also looking to recruit AC Milan midfielder Emerson and Aston Villa striker Marlon Harewood. (Daily Express)

With Emile Heskey playing for Villa it does make Marlon Harewood redundant. I’m sure if Villa can get close to the 3.5 million used on Heskey for Harewood they would do business.

Manchester City new boy Craig Bellamy said if he wrote a book one day it would be called “Don’t Google Me!”.

His fear is that a list of misdemeanours and bust-ups would spring up on the screen and hide the fact he is also a focused player. (The Sun)

It would be a funny title for a book.

Breaking News: Galliani: Beckham Wants To Stay

Galliani admits Becks wants to stay and he is ready to pay big money for it to happen…

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The LA Galaxy will always be at the mercy of David Beckham wishes. What he says goes but they must of known this rumours would start to fly once Beckham had any success at A.C Milan. Will be interesting to happens in March once his loan deal ends.

Napoli Edging Closer To Boca Juniors Midfielder Jesus Datolo – Report

Napoli are apparently on the verge of signing 25-year-old winger Jesus Datolo from Boca Juniors after putting a €7m bid on the table.

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Datolo would add to an already impressive mix of Argentinian players already at Napoli such as Ezequiel Lavezzi and Germán Denis.

Tottenham hope Kenwyne Jones will reject a new contract with Sunderland to move to White Hart Lane after making a £15m take-it-or-leave-it offer for the striker. (London Evening Standard website 1020 GMT)

A move to Tottenham would really be a sideways move for Jones who plays week in and week out for Sunderland. With Tottenham and Harry Redknapp penchant for running hot and cold on players Jones could find himself on the bench after a few matches with Spurs.

Newcastle United may be the shock destination for Robbie Keane, whose career at Liverpool is in doubt. (Metro 0915 GMT)

Tottenham are interested in bringing Liverpool striker Robbie Keane back to White Hart Lane but Manchester City also want the Republic of Ireland star. (Various)

Speaking of finding the bench we have Robbie Keane. His Liverpool career isn’t going so well but I doubt Keane is desperate enough to join Newcastle. Tottenham makes a nice story but by coming back Keane admits he couldn’t kick it on a top class team. Manchester City are involved with just about every player and linking with Rep of Ireland team Richard Dunne is interesting but just feel like this is more fiction than fact.

Manchester City believe that a £19m bid may finally be enough to secure the signature of Blackburn striker Roque Santa Cruz. (Independent)

Blackburn isn’t going to be foolish enough to turn down 19 million. Not often do teams come around with that amount of money in hand for one of your players.

Chelsea’s out-of-favour centre-back Branislav Ivanovic is being targeted by Greek side Panathinaikos. (Telegraph)

Panathinaikos are in the Champions League knockout stage and have a storied history but it would say something about Chelsea’s status if they lose any squad player mid season to Panathinaikos.

Spurs have turned their attention to Lyon’s Brazilian striker Fred after Sunderland’s Kenwyne Jones rejected a move to White Hart Lane. (Mail)

Tottenham were interested in Fred last year with the striker deciding to stay put in France. His first choice would be going back to Brazil in order to be closer to his family but if Tottenham offers enough money Fred may decide to change his mind.

Portsmouth are set to sign Real Madrid striker Javier Saviola on loan. (Daily Star)

And Pompey boss Tony Adams is also hoping to sign AC Milan’s Brazilian midfielder Emerson. (Daily Mirror)

Would be quite a coup if Portsmouth could pull either off. Last week I gave it no chance this week I’ll bump it up to 50/50.

Liverpool striker Robbie Keane is getting plenty of attention in Monday’s papers after he stayed away from Anfield for the 1-1 FA Cup draw against Everton.

The future of the £20m Republic of Ireland star is increasingly uncertain and on Sunday he endured the humiliation of Frenchman David Ngog replacing him on the bench. (The Sun and Daily Mail)

It does send a clear message from Rafa Benitez that he isn’t happy with Keane’s performance on the pitch and in training.

With the January transfer deadline looming, Sunderland’s Pascal Chimbonda is set to complete a £3m return to Tottenham. (The Sun)

Don’t think very many Sunderland fans would be sad to see Chimbonda go.

Meanwhile, Spurs are ready to exchange Mexican star Giovani Dos Santos for Brazilian Fred. (Daily Mirror)

Dos Santos was invisible as a second half sub except for a chance late in the game for Tottenham this weekend against Manchester United. Wouldn’t be the worst move for either team however still unsure that Dos Santos will want to pack his bags for Lyon.

Carlo Cudicini may yet still move to Tottenham if Chelsea can find a replacement number two. (The Guardian)

How hard could it possible be finding a backup goalie?

Portsmouth boss Tony Adams is on the verge of a £4m offer for Newcastle’s Joey Barton. (The Sun)

Why any coach is willingly to put up with that headache is beyond me. It would only be a matter of time before Barton yet again betrays the faith a coach has put into him.

Wigan boss Steve Bruce is ready to write a cheque for £6m for Cardiff City’s Joe Ledley. (Daily Mirror)

These things tend to happen when Tottenham writes a £14m cheque for Wilson Palacios.

Newcastle keeper Shay Given is set for a £10m move to Man City with officials meeting on Monday to tie up the deal. (Daily Mirror)

You can only put up with only so much for so long. Besides long time Newcastle backup Steve Harper will hold his own between the sticks until the season is over.

Looking back at some of the magic moments Gianfranco Zola produced.

- Another week, another stream rolling performance by Barcelona who out classed Numancia 4-1. The same way Ronaldo was motivated by Kaka winning the 2007 Fifa World Player of the Year it looks like Messi is now holding that torch going into 2009.

- It’s not pretty nor will Real Madrid buy it long term (just ask Fabio Capello) but Juande Ramos has fixed the number one problem with Real Madrid who was giving up too many goals. A 1-0 win over Deportivo La Coruna may not be pretty but even good team needs to tough out a few 1-0 wins along the way.

- Speaking of a 1-0 win Inter Milan shrugs off last week embarrassment at the hands of Atalanta by grinding a victory against Sampdoria. Dani Alves may be considered as the best right back in the world but Maicon has to also be considered for that spot. His cross to Adriano was so perfect late in the first half even I could score it.

- Nice to see David Beckham showing he belongs, chipping in with the 4th goal in a A.C Milan blowout against Bologna

- Looks like order has been restored in the Portuguese Superliga with Porto, Benfica, and Sporting Clube de Portugal all within one point of each other at the top of the table with early contenders Leixoes sliding down to 4th.

Messi: I Will Not Leave Barcelona For Real Madrid

The Argentina whizkid has once again assured everyone that he has no intention of going anywhere…

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Crazy rumours always fly when a new president of Real Madrid is about to be elected. Besides with the way Barcelona is playing Messi is not going to leave a team which is perfectly suited to his style of play.

Carlo Ancelotti: Yoann Gourcuff Got What He Deserved At Milan

The prospects of Yoann Gourcuff returning to AC Milan after his loan deal in Bordeaux finishes appear to be fading as Carlo Ancelotti remains cool on the prodigious midfielder.

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A.C Milan will always hard a crowded midfield which Gourcuff would be hard pressed to crack judging from Ancelotti’s comments. Look for A.C Milan to do business for Gourcuff this summer and spend his transfer fee in other areas.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger will make a £7m raid for Manchester City’s England defender Micah Richards. (News of the World)

The comparisons to Sol Campbell would be made if Richards went to Arsenal. I’d doubt Manchester City would be so foolish to let Richards go when he was worth 15 million just a year ago.

the Eastlands club are preparing a £25m swoop for Brazilian midfielder Diego from Werder Bremen. (News of the World)

Diego is the type of player City should be targeting. Forget about the players on elite clubs who aren’t going to play for Manchester City. Plus it would reunite Diego with former Santos teammate Robinho.

Shay Given has agreed a move to Manchester City – and Newcastle want Portsmouth’s England goalkeeper David James as his replacement. (Sunday Express)

Given is just signing up for more of the same going from one poorly run club to another.

Portsmouth boss Tony Adams hopes to tie up a deal for Real Madrid striker Javier Saviola. Newcastle, West Ham and Everton are also interested. (News of the World)

Portsmouth want to land AC Milan’s Brazilian midfielder Emerson on a six-month loan to fill the gap left by Lassana Diarra’s departure. (News of the World)

Can’t see either player moving to Portsmouth even if each don’t play for their current club.

Aston Villa boss Martin O’Neill has lined up a £10m raid for Manchester City’s Michael Johnson and Daniel Sturridge. (Sunday Express)

Aston Villa could barely get one of those players at that price never mind both of them.

Tony Adams faces the sack from Portsmouth this week after his side were sent tumbling out of the FA Cup by Swansea (Sunday Express)

Adams could be offered a way out of Fratton Park by Dutch giants Feyenoord who have sacked coach Gert Jan Verbeek. (Mail on Sunday)

Why hire a someone with little coaching experience when you are only prepared to give him two months on the job. It isn’t like Adams walked into the best of situations.

Michael Essien could be back from long-term injury for the second leg of Chelsea’s Champions League tie with Juventus on 10 March. (News of the World)

Chelsea must miss Essien who controls the midfield like few others in the game today.