There Is Only One Sinnacle

Have a feeling Harry Redknapp isn’t too pleased with Ledley King’s recall into the National Team setup.

Ledley King Earns Shock Recall As Capello Names England Squad

There has been a major surprise as the ‘man who never trains’ is recalled to his country’s colours, and there a fewer men from Aston Villa than before…

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Squad:

Goalkeepers: Ben Foster (Manchester United), Robert Green (West Ham United), David James (Portsmouth)

Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Glen Johnson (Portsmouth), Ledley King (Tottenham Hotspur), Joleon Lescott (Everton), John Terry (Chelsea), Matthew Upson (West Ham United)

Midfielders: Gareth Barry (Aston Villa), David Beckham (AC Milan (Loan from LA Galaxy)), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham Hotspur), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Manchester City).

Forwards: Carlton Cole (West Ham United), Peter Crouch (Portsmouth), Emile Heskey (Aston Villa), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)

- Watched the League Cup final between Benfica and Sporting Clube de Portugal on the weekend. Good news for Sporting they didn’t lose 5-0 or 7-1, bad news is they lost on penalties. Great atmosphere for this game which is one of the derby games I’d like to attend whenever I decide to take a trip back to Europe. Sporting opening the scoring soon after the restart due to a common lapse of judgment at the back for Benfica. The turning and talking point of this game occurred 15 minutes from time when Angel Di Maria chipped the ball into the box and a very soft penalty decision was given against Pedro Silva who was sent off as a result. (4:30 minute mark of clip) Former Arsenal player Jose Antonio Reyes made no mistake on his penalty. The last 15 minutes didn’t decide anything and off to penalties we go. While Sporting can feel hard done by with the penalty call they were up twice when it came to penalty kicks and thanks to misses by Derlei and Hélder Postiga, Benfica was able to pull it out thanks to former Sporting player Carlos Martins blasting home the final penalty.

- The knock on Zlatan Ibrahimov regarding him and big games will remain until next year at least but few strikers can come up with goals like he did over the weekend against Reggina.

- Real Madrid’s 3-0 win against Almeria….nice. Barcelona 6-0 win versus Malaga…..nicer.

- Just a great title race going on in France with six teams within 4 points of each other. To highlight this Bordeaux jumps into the lead after the first set of games on Saturday, then Marseille wins the late Saturday game to take over top spot and finally thanks to Lyon’s 2-0 win against Sochaux on Sunday they finish the weekend on top.

- While still trailing AZ by a decent margin FC Twente 18 game unbeaten streak is still impressive. Steve Mclaren can be proud of the work he is doing in Holland.

- Football is a funny game sometimes. When a team is on form everyone thinks the team will ride that form throughout the season but when it goes, it goes in a big way. Nine days ago all United had to do was beat Liverpool and the Premier League was pretty much won. Everyone knows how that turned out. A week later they face a Fulham team they have beaten twice within the last month or so. Easy win right? After all they won their previously two games against Fulham by a combined score of 7-0. While the story is Manchester United’s loss of form, full credit should go to Fulham who finally got it right the third time.

- While neither a good thing or bad thing I did find it refreshing how Paul Scholes just got up and walked off the field. No complaining, no moaning after his red card dismissal.

- Ferguson doesn’t miss a beat focusing on Rooney’s dismissal instead of United’s performance or title race. While he did mention all three his main focus was questioning Phil Dowd decision to send off Rooney.

- Wonder how many times United will need to hear the words 1998 and collapse over these next two weeks?

- Oh Ronaldo you scare me so. Your attitude on the field sucks. You can get away with it at United since there are so many leaders on that team but if you repeat that childish performance against Sweden next week I’m going to spend the summer of 2010 under a rock.

- Just a great win by Portsmouth against an in form Everton side. Portsmouth could of closed up shop and felt sorry for themselves after going down 1-0 thanks to an early Leighton Baines goal. The fact that they didn’t must give their fans some confidence heading into the final weeks of the season. Great overall performance, taking the game to Everton and getting their reward thanks to Peter Crouch’s two goals.

- Nothing fancy but I’m sure after going down a goal Blackburn will be happy with their point against West Ham.

- Middlesbrough is playing like a team that doesn’t fully realize the fact their are going to playing the likes of Doncaster and Blackpool next season. Time and time again they have given up late goals to cost themselves points. This weekend’s loss against Stoke thanks to a late Ryan Shawcross goal gave Stoke a massive 3 points in their quest to stay up next season.

- Where is all the talk now about how Drogba and Anelka where going to play well together? Scolari may not of been right about many things in his time at Chelsea but he was right in his opinion that Drogba and Anelka make great 4-5-1 strikers and just trip over themselves when playing up front together.

- Heurelho Gomes has been a shade above awful most of the season for Tottenham but his save against John Terry to tip his header out of play just simply top notch.

- While Liverpool being on the upswing will grab most of the headlines during the International break, Arsenal fans must be feeling pretty good about themselves as well. After a period where goals were hard to come by, Arsenal now look like their normal stuff where they can strike at any moment over the course of a game.

- Another team that doesn’t receive the credit they are due is Wigan. Was made aware of this weekend over the weekend but they top three players going into the season were Emile Heskey, Wilson Palacios and Antonio Valencia. Neither of them featured in yesterday’s 1-0 win against Hull to leap frog West Ham into 7th place on goal differential.

- Robinho should thank Micah Richards will letting him off the hook after his dreadful penalty miss against Sunderland.

- Villa fans must of had a feeling their fortunes were going to change when Ryan Shawcross completed a late comeback for Stoke against Aston Villa a couple of weeks ago. Villa haven’t been the same since that sucker punch.

- Gareth Barry sure looks like a player who is getting ready to pack his bags in the off season. When things aren’t going well you need your leaders to step up and lead the team. Quick frankly Barry isn’t doing that on the field with letting Albert Riera race by him on Liverpool’s second goal or off the field.

- Who knew a Yossi Benayoun header would turn around Liverpool’s season as it has? Enjoy another two weeks in the sun Liverpool fans. Must be fun watching a team clinch on all cylinders. Only bad part is with the International break this week hopefully their good form will continue when they get back.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUARTER-FINAL DRAW: (Poor Porto, who knows maybe a repeat of 2004?)

Villarreal v Arsenal
Manchester United v FC Porto
Liverpool v Chelsea
Barcelona v Bayern Munich

Assault Case Against Steven Gerrard Is Dropped

An assault case against Steven Gerrard – from an alleged incident dating back to December – has been dropped, but the Liverpool captain still faces charges of affray…

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The good news for Liverpool just keeps rolling in with the more serious charge of assault being dropped. Just one less thing to worry about as Gerrard looks to keep his teams momentum going.

Sebastian Giovinco: I Hope Juventus Do Not Boot Me

The ‘Atomic Ant’ would welcome the arrival of Cassano and thinks there will be room for the two of them at the club…

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With his upside Giovinco shouldn’t have to worry about leaving Juventus. Besides a host of other top clubs would trip themselves trying to sign him up.

Today marks the one year anniversary of this website. Wipes tear from eye.

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has been given £30m to spend as a reward for signing his new five-year contract at Anfield. (The Sun)

Benitez will use those funds to make a fresh attempt to sign Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry and to launch a bid for Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon. (The Sun)

I’m sure Liverpool will now be hoping for Arsenal to create breathing room in the 4th spot in order to snag Barry in the summertime.

Wigan winger Antonio Valencia and Valencia midfielder David Silva are also on Benitez’s shopping list. (The Times)

Valencia has the experience of being used to the English game already and not much needs to be said about Silva who is one of the games best wide players.

But Silva’s Valencia team-mate David Villa is out of Liverpool’s price range and is expected to join Real Madrid or Barcelona in the summer. (The Times)

Would be a Liverpool’s fans dream come true seeing Torres paired up with Villa but this report is right. Any deal for Villa this summer would make Torres transfer two years ago seem even more of a bargain.

Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic is staying at Old Trafford, according to his agent Silvano Martina who has told AC Milan and Inter Milan to forget trying to sign the Serbian this summer. (Daily Mail)

A rarity as an agent isn’t trying to drum up interest in his player.

Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn hopes majority shareholder Ellis Short will bankroll a summer spending spree that will see the Black Cats sign at least three big name players. (The Sun)

Hopefully Sunderland will spend it better than it did last year. You’d be hard pressed to find one new Sunderland player who has made a big impact this season.

Aston Villa boss Martin O’Neill is interested in Standard Liege’s £13m-rated midfielder Steven Defour. (The Sun)

Good to see Villa has that Gareth Barry money spent already.

In the latest twist to the Carlos Tevez saga, Fulham have submitted a claim for £700,000 in compensation from West Ham over lost prize money because they finished below the Hammers in the Premier League in the season Tevez played at Upton Park. (The Independent)

Everyone is just crawling out of the woodwork trying to some of that Tevez money. I think I lost a bet two years ago on a Tevez goal maybe I should file a claim?

Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo believes Bayern Munich are the most dangerous side left in the Champions League. (The Sun)

People are sleeping on the German giants. For Bayern to succeed they will need a healthy Klose and Luca Toni down the stretch.

Tottenham are considering issuing new shares to help finance their proposed new 60,000-capacity stadium. (The Times)

Or they can sell Robbie Keane and buy him back at a near 50% discount again.

England striker Michael Owen has denied being injury prone despite making just 60 starts for Newcastle since joining the Magpies for £16m from Real Madrid in 2005. “I know people will laugh,” says Owen. (Daily Star)

Must admit I had a laugh at this fact also.

Seems like only yesterday when Columbus won the MLS Cup. While not the perfect date to kick off the season with March Madness going on still looking forward to today’s game between Seattle and New York.

Report: Carlo Ancelotti Will Walk From Milan If He Is Not Granted Reinforcements

‘Carletto’ wants at least two big-name reinforcements and could walk away if his demands are not met.

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If this is indeed the case A.C should reinforce themselves by hiring a new coach. I have all the respect in the world for Carlo Ancelotti and think he is a wonderful coach but finishing 5th last year to go along with being a distant 3rd this year would have many a coach looking for a new team.

Simao Sabrosa’s Nephew Lost In Beach Tragedy

The Portuguese winger has rushed to be with his family in Portugal after his nephew was swept out to sea at a beach near Porto on Sunday.

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I generally try to leave out news of a personal nature but just couldn’t imagine how painful it must of been for Simao’s brother to save 4 out of the 5 kids from being swept away yet the 5th child was your own son. Such a sad story to read about.

Ajax Amsterdam 2 – 2 Marseille

Tyrone Mears’ extra-time header sent Marseille into the UEFA Cup quarter-finals at the expense of Ajax at the Amsterdam ArenA as they won 4-3 on aggregate following a 2-2 draw.

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Can’t say I agree with the way Tyrone Mears walked out on Derby to join Marseille but overall I think it’s great when British players experience football outside of England. With Marseille now in the final eight of the UEFA Cup I don’t think Mears regrets his decision all that much.

Manchester United will be unable to renew their loan deal for striker Carlos Tevez and the only way the Red Devils can keep the Argentine is to buy him – at an asking price of £32m. (The Sun)

From the nothing new department we have the fact Manchester United have to appear £32m and have shown little interest in doing so at this point. United must be gambling on the fact that another team won’t be willingly to meet Tevez’s £32m price tag so they can then swoop in and sign him for less.

Meanwhile, Chelsea are attempting to prise away Manchester United’s 15-year-old midfield youngster Kenji Gorre, who is recognised as one of the best young talents coming through the Old Trafford academy. (Daily Mail)

If I was a highly touted young player I’d stay far away for Chelsea. The Chelsea youth system hasn’t produced a decent player since John Terry.

Newcastle defender Sebastien Bassong is set to quit the club for Arsenal at the end of the season. (The Sun)

Maybe Bassong will be the one who will get along with William Gallas.

Stoke striker Dave Kitson wants to make his loan move to former club Reading permanent. (Daily Star)

I’m sure Stoke would love to make Kitson’s move permanent since he has been a non factor for Stoke all year. If Kitson helps Reading back into the EPL this loan move becomes permanent anyway.

Blackburn’s Dutch defender Andre Ooijer will return to PSV Eindhoven at the end of the season. (Daily Mirror)

Always like the idea of foreign players finishing their careers back home.

In an interview for the New Statesman, Sir Alex Ferguson has conceded that his biggest mistake as manager of Manchester United was allowing defender Jaap Stam to leave the club, while his biggest regret was not signing former England midfielder Paul Gascoigne. (The Times)

Somewhere Juan Sebastián Verón is thinking, “forget Jaap Stam what about me?”

Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo is set to be given a special training session with the man’s fastest man – Usain Bolt. Triple Olympic champion Bolt will be in Manchester to run in a one-off 150m street race in May.

I’d pay to see this race. Hopefully it wouldn’t be like the Michael Johnson-Donovan Bailey 150m race back in 1997 where Johnson pulled up lame once it became clear Bailey was going to smoke him.