There Is Only One Sinnacle

Vancouver lands an MLS franchise for 2011

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Vancouver was awarded a Major League Soccer franchise for the 2011 season Wednesday, becoming the league’s second Canadian team.

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Happy to see MLS add another Canadian franchise in Vancouver which will not only set up a rivalry with Toronto but more importantly Seattle. Considering the Whitecaps (the official team name hasn’t been released yet) have a long history in Canadian football, MLS picked a fine ownership group with a strong football background to grant a franchise too.

Hull City Chairman Wants Full Investigation Into Fabregas Spitting Row

The post FA Cup semi-final fracas is rapidly descending into Spitgate as the sleuthing gets underway…

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I’m going to come right out and say that I believe Fabregas spat at the feet of Hull assistant coach Brian Horton after Arsenal’s FA Cup tie against Hull on Tuesday. Do I have any proof of this? Well no I don’t but using history as a gauge Fabregas as a history of immature post game behavior. In the quarter finals of the FA Cup two years ago Fabregas insulted then Blackburn coach Mark Hughes asking him if he played at Barcelona and once Hughes said yes, Fabregas shot back with well your team doesn’t play Barcelona football.

Hughes fury at Fabregas ‘insult’

Arsenal’s frustration after drawing a blank in their FA Cup fifth-round tie with Blackburn, their first goalless domestic game at their new Emirates Stadium, provoked an extraordinary verbal attack by Cesc Fabregas on Rovers manager Mark Hughes.

The pair could be seen exchanging angry words after the final whistle, after which Hughes said: “When we shook hands at the end, the young man asked me a question which I thought was disrespectful. He asked me if I had played for Barcelona and when I said yes, he shook his head as if in disbelief. Then he said, ‘Well, that wasn’t Barcelona football’.”

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While I think Fabregas spat at Brian Horton I’m also of the belief that the FA will sweep this under the rug. After all this time it amuses me how Arsenal still gets all wound up when a team dares not to play beautiful game.

Rafael Benitez Signs New Liverpool Contract

After months of speculation, the Spaniard has put pen to paper at Anfield…

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Good news for Liverpool fans with Rafa Benitez finally agreeing to a long term contact. With this out of the way now Liverpool can concentrate on making a run at the Champions League and EPL Titles. Now if only the Liverpool ownership picture can be cleared it all would be well going forward.

Report: Juventus Join Hunt For Roma Defender Philippe Mexes

Press reports in the peninsula suggest that the Old Lady will challenge Milan to sign the French international next summer.

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Sometimes it’s just this simple. Roma qualify for the Champions League next year, Mexes stays. If they don’t Roma will make up the financial by selling some players with Mexes high upon that list.

Trezeguet Has Not Mended Relationship With Juventus Boss Ranieri – Report

‘Trezegol’ has yet to repair his now frosty relationship with the former Parma boss…

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Great player, Great career at Juventus but with Alessandro Del Piero, Vincenzo Iaquinta and Amauri it’s time for Trezeguet to find first team football with another club.

Deco is being lined up by Atletico Madrid, who are keen to launch a £5m bid for the Chelsea midfielder. (Daily Star)

Deco and Chelsea haven’t been a match made in heaven but Deco has been there and done that when it comes to Spanish football. His next move will either be to Italy or back to Brazil.

Liverpool and Manchester City are both lining up bids for Chelsea defender Michael Mancienne. (The Times)

Chelsea is not selling to Liverpool even if Abramovich isn’t rolling in the money these days. With Manchester City not considered a threat to Chelsea if they over pay for Mancienne, Chelsea would consider taking that money and spending it on other areas.

Relegation-threatened Newcastle United have put their contract negotiations with striker Michael Owen on hold until their league status is determined. (The Times)

It’s not like Owen is chomping at the bit to resign with Newcastle at the moment. I’m sure he won’t mind waiting.

Former West Ham and Tottenham striker Frederic Kanoute, who currently plays for Sevilla, says he could be on the verge of return to the Premier League. (The Independent)

Another yearly ritual, the Freddie Kanoute angling to either leave Sevilla or score an improved contract. With neither eventually happening

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes is set for a summer clear-out, with Dietmar Hamann, Darius Vassell, Elano, Michael Ball and Benjani all likely to be offloaded. (The Guardian)

Mark Hughes may get set for a summer clear-out himself. Sven got fired with a better performing team last year.

Milan braced for news on injury to Abbiati

Abbiati was substituted early in the first-half of his team’s 5-1 Serie A victory at Siena with a knee injury.

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A.C Milan 5-1 win against Siena was dulled with the news Abbiati is lost for the season and Kaka looks to have also re-injured himself in his comeback from a knee injury. Former number 1 Dida now returns between the pipes for A.C Milan as they look to clinch a Champions League spot heading into next season.

Aston Villa & Everton Linked With Valencia Defender Miguel

Valencia are willing to listen to offers in the region of €4.3 million for the Portuguese international…

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Considering Villa spent 6 million for Luke Young, Miguel is twice the player Young is so 4 million would be a bargain. Both Villa or Everton would be fine choices for Miguel whose career needs a jump start by moving on.

Italy to share Euro 2016 with France?

Italy would be willing to co-host Euro 2016 with fierce rivals France but the French have poured cold water on the notion saying they wanted to go it alone.

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Couldn’t think of a more unlikely pairing to host a major tournament than Italy and France. Knowing the backgrounds between the two counties I’m sure they would bicker and disagree with just about every little detail heading into Euro 2016.

Chelsea are ready to make a huge offer for Barcelona right-back Dani Alves, although they could face competition from Manchester City. (Daily Mirror)

Just don’t get this rumour at all. I know two years ago Chelsea tried to back up the brink truck trying to sign Alves but Sevilla wouldn’t bunch. Problem is Alves no longer plays for Sevilla. There is no reason for Alves to leave Barcelona which is perfect for his style of play. Besides Barcelona paid 30 million for Alves, surely they wouldn’t sell him for anything less than 40 million which is outrageous for a right back.

The Blues could also make a move for Manchester City’s Brazilian striker Robinho – if his form improves. (The Sun)

What does form have to do with it? If Robinho finds his form Manchester City won’t sell him for anything less than 40 million. With Robinho stock dropping due to his indifferent play, his price tag may also drop as well.

Florent Malouda could be set to exit Stamford Bridge, with Juventus preparing an £11m bid for the winger. (The Sun)

I’m sure if Juventus came calling with any decent offer Chelsea would send Malouda on his way.

Arsenal are closing in on Espanyol’s 16-year-old midfielder Pablo Saranova, dubbed the new Cesc Fabregas. (Daily Mirror)

I love how these names seemingly get pulled out of a hat. Remember a couple of months ago when Arsenal were rumored to be interested in Koke Resurreccion that day as my web traffic surged since no one had any information on the kid.

Tottenham want French goalkeeper Yohann Pele, whose contract with Le Mans is set to end in June. (Various)

When you can get a player with upside on a free transfer you’d have to pursue it.

Manchester United goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak is wanted by Zenit St Petersburg. (Various)

Kuszcak shouldn’t need a crystal ball to see Ben Foster is the future in goal for Manchester United.

West Brom are ready to move for Charlton midfielder Zheng Zhi, who is out of contract in the summer. (Daily Mirror)

With Charlton on the fast track to League One next season it shouldn’t be too hard for West Brom to sign Zheng Zhi.

Tottenham striker Roman Pavlyuchenko faces an uncertain future after being demoted to play for the reserves on Monday. (The Sun)

When the coach who bought you to the club, is no longer your coach these rumors will pop up from time to time. With four strikers on the books, questions regarding the futures of Darren Bent and Pavlyuchenko will be asked going into the summer.

Midfielder Nicky Butt has called for a complete summer overhaul at Newcastle, saying the club has gone backwards over recent seasons. (Daily Mirror)

Nicky Butt answer to the trivia question who was the player Cristiano Ronaldo replaced when he made his first appearance for United.

Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill is the Football Association’s number one choice to succeed Fabio Capello as England manager. (Various)

Always loved the story on how Martin O’Neill was passed over for Steve Mclaren because the English FA weren’t impressed with his power point presentation.

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has been driving wife Coleen up the wall by constantly singing Lionel Richie songs. A source close to the England player said: “He’s not the best singer in the world – and there are only so many times you can sing Hello to someone.” (Daily Star)

Still boggles my mind how the blind chick in the video can feel up the clay bust of Richie’s face thinking it actually looks like Lionel Richie.

Watching Quaresma sit on the bench again last weekend vs Manchester City leaves me bemoaning Quaresma’s luck. Don’t get me wrong his immaturity got him a one way ticket out of Barcelona and he has so far found a hard time adjusting to Italian football. Quaresma needs to take some blame for his career path thus far. Coming to Chelsea should of been a fresh start with a coach who is able to utilize his talent. Well that was until Luis Scolari got fired a week later. New coach coming in with new ideas and quite frankly Hiddick is smart to use his own players or at least players who will be with Chelsea going forward instead of a short term rental like Quaresma. Knowing what he knows now maybe going to Tottenham on loan instead would of been a better option. Finally with Porto in the final eight of the Champions League maybe the grass wasn’t greener on the other side of the fence.

Mikael Silvestre has a wonderful charity helping out under privilege children based on a charity game being played this summer. When checking out the link of players supporting Silvestre’s cause it rings of a who’s, who of world football with glorious comments on their career. That is until you see the player on the bottom of this list.

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- Congrats goes out to Pippo Inzaghi on scoring his 300th career goal. Inzaghi always reminded me of Ruud van Nistelrooy who will go quiet for long periods of time but both are so crafty in front of goal where they can create the space needed to grab a goal. With a hat trick a couple of weeks ago followed by a two goal performance against Siena, Inzaghi still shows he has a few goals left in him.

- Real Madrid fans must of been wondering where was that performance mid week against Liverpool. Granted Athletic Bilbao is not in the same league as Liverpool but if Real Madrid showed some of that fire against Liverpool maybe things could of been different.

- Caught the Zenit St. Petersburg vs Spartak Moscow match over the weekend. The game was pretty sloppy which was understandable considering that it was Spartak’s first game of the season and Zenit played mid week in the UEFA Cup. Despite that if Setanta kept showing Russian games I’d keep watching it. Pavel Pogrebnyak free kick was a thing of beauty however.

- Liverpool must feel like a million miles away for Andriy Voronin who just keeps on scoring the goals for Hertha Berlin. Voronin 11 goals for Hertha is a big reason they are currently on top in Germany.

- Congrats goes out to Celtic after Darren O’Dea endears himself to the Celtic faithful with his extra time goal against Rangers to win the Co-operative Insurance Cup.