There Is Only One Sinnacle

Manchester United winger Nani has accused his club manager Sir Alex Ferguson of mismanaging his career. Full story: The Sun

Don’t cross the boss and if Nani did say this he is stupid. Let’s be honest here, Nani has been given several chances and never did grab the bull by the horns. The only truly special moment I can remember from Nani is he strike against Tottenham to give them a 1-0 win in his first year at United.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is weighing up a January loan move for Tottenham striker Roman Pavlyuchenko. Daily Mirror

Pavlyuchenko would be in for more of the same going to Liverpool. Besides if Liverpool are about to drop out of the top four, why would Tottenham help keep them in a Champions League spot?

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has been given the go ahead to launch a £12m double raid for Middlesbrough winger Adam Johnson and Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa. The Sun

And this ownership wasn’t good enough for Roy Keane? They sure have backed Steve Bruce with plenty of cash.

Arsenal are keeping tabs on Barcelona’s Israeli winger Gai Assulin. Full story: The Sun

One of the many young and talented players to still come through the pipe at Barcelona.

Everton lead the chase for Benfica’s £13m-rated defensive midfielder Javier Garcia. The Sun

Garcia didn’t do his stock any harm playing well against Everton and scoring an injury time winning goal against Naval on Monday. Said it before and will say it again no young player on the rise will be sold by Benfica to a non Champions League side.

The Football Association are poised to offer Fulham manager Roy Hodgson the job of coaching Great Britain’s football team at the 2012 Olympics in London.: Daily Express

Great choice considering all the International experience Roy Hodgson has.

Manager Rafael Benitez will try and solve Liverpool’s striker crisis by making a £12m move for West Ham’s Carlton Cole in January. Daily Star

Good to see Rafa Benitez go after another player who has never won a thing in his life.

Harry Redknapp has been told that he will have to sell players before he can add to his squad in the January transfer window, despite Spurs announcing record pre-tax profits of £33.4m. Daily Express

One player that could leave White Hart Lane is out-of-favour striker Roman Pavlyuchenko, with Zenit St Petersburg prepared to pay £10m plus add-ons. Daily Mail

No way Tottenham is going to either break even or turn a profit on Roman Pavlyuchenko. I’d be shocked if Tottenham don’t end up having to sell Pavlyuchenko at a loss.

Brazilian forward Robinho says he is so unhappy at Manchester City that he does not want to stay at the club beyond the January transfer window, with Barcelona his favoured destination. Daily Express

Manchester City should be equally as unhappy with Robinho. After his debut goal against Chelsea it’s been downhill from there.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson sat next to transfer target Simon Kjaer at an awards ceremony in Denmark on Monday night. Kjaer, a central defender, plays for Italian side Palermo. Daily Mirror

Manchester United could do a lot worse. Kjaer has been improving year to year with Palermo. Another player who won’t come cheap however.

France midfielder Patrice Evra has seemingly developed a curious superstition ahead of Saturday’s crunch World Cup qualifier against the Republic of Ireland. The Manchester United player has given up drinking Sprite because the green label reminds him of his nation’s opponents. The Sun

Best of luck to Ireland. Have a feeling either France or Portugal isn’t going to book their trip to South Africa next summer.

Obviously this article is being writing after today’s news on the passing of Robert Enke. My first reaction was of course shock and a somewhat numb feeling. After all this isn’t the type of news one can ever brace themselves for. My second reaction was much more curious. It dawned on me, I’m shocked this type of news doesn’t happen more with professional athletes.

No one may ever know why Robert Enke did what he did. People can speculate about never being able to recover from losing his daughter who at age two passed away from a heart defect, troubles at home or even pressures of being a top flight footballer. This article is less about speculating why Enke took his own life. Instead it will look into the fragile state of being a professional athlete.

People like me and you will never understand this but most athletes are crown kings before they can even spell throne. At a young age many athletes are tapped for greatest. Of course most don’t end up making it but for the few who do all their lives the only thing they have ever known is people praising their skill and being left in awe over their talents.

With this comes a warped sense of reality. They say fame is fleeting and in professional sports even more so. Sylvester Stallone can pump out Rocky’s and Rambo’s well into his 60′s. A footballer is considered middle age at 26 and fitting for a retirement home soon after 30.

Speaking of thirty, to most of us, turning 30 represents settling into the rest of our lives. Gone are the reckless and wild days of our teenage years. So too are the curiosity and wonderment of settling into our careers and relationships of our 20′s. Thirty is suppose to represent looking ahead to the next forty years of our lives. Be it getting married, having a kid or in my curious case deciding to create a website.

Looking back on footballers turning 30 represents seeing the end of your career drawing near. Coaches start to look for a younger replacement, it’s harder to stick with a new club as coaches are reluctant to give a 30 year old another crack due to thinking there is little left in the tank. These athletes have had their asses kissed their entire lives up to this point, from hangers on, to agents and even parents. All telling the athlete they are the greatest thing since sliced bread. By this point these athletes have been valued in the millions of dollars and have earned contracts to set most people up for life.

What happens next? How does a player adjust from the roar of the crowd to silence? These players are going from the lifestyle of a rock star to the mundane aspects of daily life. Let’s not even get into the what if the player hasn’t saved his money, thinking the millions will always be there. Let’s focus on how the player has to go on with the rest of their life. No longer do they have everyone waiting on them hand and foot. The best table at a restaurant now goes to the “it” player of the day. Fan adulation has now simmered from the fever pitch of a player’s prime. How does one get use to being a common man when they have only been geared to think there are special?

I’m not looking for sympathy here. I know people living pay cheque to pay cheque are not going to shed many tears over how a professional athlets worries about living off of millions of dollars for the rest of their lives. How do you handle living a normal life when nothing up to this point has ever been normal? Clubs no longer trip over themselves to sign you, the hottest women at a club no longer want you to knock them up, the press begins to ignore you, etc. It’s not like these players have had 9-5 Monday to Friday jobs. All these players now have is time which can be a dangerous thing. Mix in the feeling of no longer being at your best and add to it the loneliness which comes from knowing whatever you do for the rest of your life will never match the high of playing professional sports and I’m left thankfully stories like Robert Enke don’t appear more often.

Cristiano Ronaldo Released From Portugal Camp And Returns To Madrid

The Portuguese team have confirmed Real Madrid’s medical reports and allowed ‘CR9′ to return to Spain…

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This little saga is now over as Cristiano Ronaldo is officially deemed unfit for Portugal’s matches against Bosnia. You always want your best players on the pitch but in a way it’s good this tug of war between Portugal and Real Madrid stops here before it became an even bigger distraction. While he did set up the first goal for Portugal against Hungry how many goals did Cristiano Ronaldo have during World Cup qualifying? If you guessed zero you’d be correct. Big part of the reason Portugal has to play these two matches to begin with.

I will now cheer on Liédson, he of two goals during World Cup qualifying.

Germany Goalkeeper Robert Enke Dies Aged 32

Nothing has yet been officially confirmed about the cause of death, but according to German source Morgenpost Online, early signs point towards suicide.

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Talk about a headline which causes a shock to the system. Here I am expecting to read about the latest goings on in the world of football and now they all seem so trivial compared to this news. Can’t say what has been going on in Enke head leading to his drastic decision but hope he is able to find the peace he apparently wasn’t able to find while he was living.

Barcelona midfielder Yaya Toure will not be joining Manchester City after his agent Dimitri Seluk stated that “bigger clubs” are interested in the player. Sky Sports

Bigger clubs are interested like his current club Barcelona. Toure may not stand out in that lineup but he has always been a useful piece to the overall puzzle.

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has joined Everton manager David Moyes and Aston Villa boss Martin O’Neill by saying that Old Firm pair Rangers and Celtic should be allowed to join the Premier League.
Full story: The Sun

Don’t think the owners of Blackburn, Bolton and whoever the hell owns Portsmouth this week would agree.

After having their request for a ‘stay’ on the transfer ban imposed by Fifa for being found guilty of inducing Gaël Kakuta to break his contract, Chelsea have made Franck Ribery their top transfer target and hope to sign the Bayern Munich midfielder when the January window opens. Daily Telegraph

However, Manchester United and Manchester City are set to rival Chelsea for the signing of Ribery after reports suggested Bayern Munich are ready to cash in on the French international. Independent

After mentioning all this I’m mostly interested in the Manchester United angle in all this. Let’s not forget they haven’t spent the Ronaldo money. If they slide further down to Chelsea ahead of the January transfer window fans are going to want the Glazer family to open up the vault.

Real Madrid: Cristiano Ronaldo Risks His Career If He Features In World Cup Play-Off

The world’s most expensive player could be risking everything if he plays for his national side against Bosnia-Herzegovina. As a result, his club will not allow him to travel for the World Cup play-off…

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What is he a slave? If a player gets called into national team duty he has to go simple as that. For Ronaldo to stay in Spain would put the player in an even tougher spot. Should he stay in Spain it’s doubtful he’ll ever be forgiven if Portugal don’t make it to the World Cup. He’ll be seen as a puppet on Real Madrid string instead of being loyal to his country. Fair or unfair as that may be. Until Real Madrid declares Ronaldo unfit for the Barcelona match later on this month I’m not taking much stock into what Real Madrid is saying.

Dunga Omits Alexandre Pato From Brazil Squad For England Friendly

The Brazil coach has named his squad for the upcoming international friendlies…

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Congrats to Hulk on earning a Brazilian call up. He has come along way from playing in Japan. Must admit I’m a Hulk fan boy. Love seeing defenders bounce off him.

Goalkeepers: Julio Cesar (Inter), Doni (AS Roma).

Defenders: Maicon (Inter), Lucio (Inter), Daniel Alves (Barcelona), Luisao (Benfica), Juan (AS Roma), Naldo (Werder Bremen), Fabio Aurelio (Liverpool)

Midfielders: Michel Bastos (Olympique Lyon), Gilberto Silva (Panathinaikos), Josue (VfL Wolfsburg), Lucas (Liverpool), Felipe Melo (Juventus), Alex (Spartak Moscow), Julio Baptista (AS Roma), Carlos Eduardo (TSG Hoffenheim), Ramires (Benfica), Elano (Galatasaray), Kaka (Real Madrid)

Attackers: Robinho (Manchester City), Luis Fabiano (Sevilla), Nilmar (Villarreal), Hulk (FC Porto)

Tottenham are hoping to sign Valencia’s Vicente in the January transfer window with the left-sided midfielder reported to be keen to leave the Spanish club. (Spanish radio station Cadena Ser)

Could of made sense under Juande Ramos by under Harry Redknapp just don’t seem Tottenham make a move for another midfielder.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson could be in trouble with the Football Association for expressing his displeasure over referee Martin Atkinson after Sunday’s 1-0 defeat at Chelsea.

Sir Alex Ferguson is in the free and clear over this rant.

Disputing the free-kick that led to John Terry’s headed goal and the failure to see Didier Drogba’s foul on Wes Brown, Ferguson said: “You lose faith in the refereeing sometimes.” (Various) Guardian

He should lose faith in his midfield who were devoid of any creativity yesterday.

Hull chairman Adam Pearson could be set to give manager Phil Brown until the end of the season to prove himself.

With many predicting Brown’s sacking on the back of Hull’s poor run, the recently appointed chief said: “If you stay strong and dig in, then I think it is a decent solution.” Daily Mirror

Beating Stoke makes Adam Pearson decision to let Phil Brown see the season out easier.

Former Manchester United winger Lee Sharpe has revealed in a forthcoming book that David Beckham used to do everything for him.

On his former Old Trafford team-mate, Sharpe says: “He’d clean my shoes, make me cups of tea and even came in to one of my fan club afternoons.” (The Sun)

It’s a slow Monday so here you have some Lee Sharpe news.

Warnock, Bent and Huddlestone in England squad

Fabio Capello has named Aston Villa defender Stephen Warnock, Tottenham midfielder Tom Huddlestone and Sunderland striker Darren Bent in the England squad for the upcoming friendly against Brazil.

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Still no place for Michael Owen who should call Antonio Cassano has both players are out of favour with their national team coaches.
I’m sure Capello is still going to run a tight ship but really these England players are going to Qatar to enjoy the sunshine while the English FA will enjoy cashing the big cheque they received for playing Brazil.

Goalkeepers
Ben Foster, Robert Green, Joe Hart.

Defenders
Wayne Bridge, Wes Brown, Gary Cahill, Glen Johnson, Joleon Lescott, John Terry, Matthew Upson, Stephen Warnock.

Midfielders
Gareth Barry, David Beckham, Michael Carrick, Tom Huddlestone, Jermaine Jenas, Frank Lampard, James Milner, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Ashley Young.

Forwards
Darren Bent, Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe, Wayne Rooney.

Injured Ronaldo included in Portugal squad

The Real Madrid forward faces a race to be fit for the two games on November 14 and 18 as he has an ankle injury. Medical reports from the Primera Division side yesterday confirmed he would be out of action for at least two more weeks.

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I can assure you medical reports out of Portugal will show Ronaldo ready by the November 18th match at the latest. I’m going to be such a wreck on the 14th and 18th. Below is the make or break my heart Portugal squad.

Portugal squad:

Goalkeepers: Hilario (Chelsea), Eduardo (Sporting Braga), Rui Patricio (Sporting Lisbon).

Defenders: Ricardo Costa (Wolfsburg), Bruno Alves (FC Porto), Paulo Ferreira (Chelsea), Miguel (Valencia), Pepe (Real Madrid), Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea), Rolando (FC Porto).

Midfielders: Deco (Chelsea), Duda (Malaga), Joao Moutinho (Sporting Lisbon), Fabio Coentrao (Benfica), Miguel Veloso (Sporting Lisbon), Raul Meireles (FC Porto), Tiago (Juventus).

Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Liedson (Sporting Lisbon), Nani (Manchester United), Hugo Almeida (Werder Bremen), Simao Sabrosa (Atletico Madrid), Edinho (Malaga).