There Is Only One Sinnacle

MLS can no longer claim to be undefeated against European clubs at the All Star Game. I’ll say one thing about MLS at least their all star game is interesting unlike NBA, NHL and NFL as you know the MLS players are geared up to play in this game and while it may not be a Champions League final the Manchester United players didn’t treat it as just a friendly.

Manchester United set the tone from the start on an awful back pass gifted Federico Macheda a goal within 23 seconds of the game. From there Manchester United showed lovely bits of skills with Darren Gibson free kick goal, Tom Cleverley beautiful individual effort and to the delight the 70,000 at Houston’s Reliant Stadium new signing Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez scored on a lovely chip to cap the night for Manchester United.

While the game wasn’t close, it was entertaining and local Houston Dynamo had something to cheer for with Brian Ching and former Houston Dynamo Dewayne Rosario scoring for MLS.

Manchester City are set to confirm the £24m signing of Inter Milan striker Mario Balotelli on Thursday after he agreed a contract worth about £65,000 a week. Daily Mail

Addition by subtraction some would say.

Stuttgart managing director Fredi Bobic says Germany midfielder Sami Khedira, 23, wants a move to Real Madrid. “He’s told us that he wants to go – now we have to find a solution,” Bobic told Bild newspaper.

What Fredi Bobic means is how much cash is Real Madrid going to give Stuttgary for Sami Khedira.

Midfielder David Beckham has promised to give West Ham a decision soon on whether he will end his career at Upton Park. The 35-year-old former England captain, who plays for Los Angeles Galaxy in the United States, was born in east London. the Sun

File this one away under not a chance.

Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson wants Aston Villa’s Bulgarian midfielder Stiliyan Petrov, 30, to replace Javier Mascherano at Anfield and is ready to offer £7m. It was revealed earlier this week that Mascherano wants to leave the Reds. Daily Mirror

Stiliyan Petrov wouldn’t be the first player I’d think of to replace Javier Mascherano.

Luke Young’s £2.5m move to Liverpool is in doubt as the 31-year-old defender wants a pay-off from Aston Villa as he would have to take a drop in wages. Daily Mirror

If true it says a lot about the state of Liverpool.

Chelsea chief executive Ron Gourlay says manager Carlo Ancelotti will be given money to rebuild the side and that striker Didier Drogba will not be leaving. Daily Mirror

Chelsea only has a month left in the transfer money. Better open up the purse strings soon.

The Stamford Bridge outfit want to wrap up the £17m signing of Benfica midfielder Ramires in time for their pre-season tour of Germany, which starts on Saturday. Daily Star

Ramires would look really good in a midfield with Michael Essien. Ramires would also shoulder the load when Michael Essien gets hurt at some point this season.

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho wants to take 32-year-old Chelsea centre-back Ricardo Carvalho to Spain. Mourinho signed the Portuguese defender in 2004 during his spell as manager of the Blues. IM Scouting

I’d love to see Carvalho link up with Mourinho again. If Chelsea isn’t going to start Carvalho they should let him go.

Italian club Lazio are on the verge of signing Manchester City’s 25-year-old left-back Javier Garrido for £2.5m.: IM Scouting

Lazio is basically giving Manchester City back the 2.5 million they got when selling Aleksandar Kolarov.

Arsenal are close to signing Italian goalkeeper Federico Marchetti from Cagliari. The 27-year-old, who played at the World Cup in South Africa, is valued at around £5m. IM Scouting

Can’t say I’m shocked Arsenal didn’t end up making a move for Joe Hart. I’ll at least admit that goalie is a position where you can sign a player on the cheap and have him be everybit as good as an expensive transfer.

Tottenham are looking to tempt Manchester City with a £4m bid for Bellamy. Daily Mail

Oh that will knock the socks off.

Benfica have slapped a £33m price tag on Brazilian central defender David Luiz, who is wanted by Chelsea, Manchester City and Real Madrid. Daily Mail

And it is City who are believed to be leading Real Madrid in the bidding war for Luiz. imscouting.com

While it’s very much a look to the future squad, being called up to the Brazilian national team hasn’t hurt David Luiz stock any.

France coach Laurent Blanc says he will quit before the end of his contract if he fails to secure qualification for the 2012 European Championships.

He’d be fired regardless.

Meanwhile, the Eastlands club will end their pursuit of Aston Villa midfielder James Milner and concentrate on offloading Craig Bellamy, Stephen Ireland and Roque Santa Cruz. Daily Star

You can say James Milner is better now but you can also easily say Adam Johnson has the talent to be just as good as Milner.

City are ready to sell Santa Cruz to Marseille for less than half of the £18m they bought him for.
Full story: Daily Mirror

You don’t spend 18 million on a 3rd striker. Roque Santa Cruz is one of many players who Manchester City has wasted massive amounts of money on.

Or the French side will try to sign striker Emmanuel Adebayor from Manchester City. imscouting.com

Another example right there. Adebayor brought his attitude but not his goals from Arsenal.

Striker Jo could also be on his way out of Eastlands, with Blackburn eager to snap up the City striker. Daily Mirror

Totally forgot about Jo.

Former Real Madrid striker Raul will disappoint Tottenham and Newcastle by joining German side Schalke 04. imscouting.com

This deserve it’s own post but happy for Raul. German football will add on extra years to his career. Playing in England would only mean being on the sidelines due to injury.

Maxi Rodriguez is ready to join the exodus from Liverpool, with his old club Espanyol keen to take the winger back to Spain in a bargain deal. Daily Mirror

Not a good sign when you hit the rumour mill only six months after arriving.

Blackpool are losing their fight to sign Manchester United midfielder Tom Cleverley on loan – but boss Ian Holloway will make Maccabi Haifa defender Dekel Keinan his first summer signing.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Going to be a long year for Blackpool.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will turn his attentions to German international central defender Per Mertesacker after being beaten to Sol Campbell’s signature by Newcastle. The Gunners are confident a £10m offer can persuade Werder Bremen to part with the 25-year-old. Daily Mirror

I’m sure Wenger is losing sleep at night over Sol Campbell leaving.

Several Premier League sides are tracking New York Red Bulls striker Macoumba Kandji after he played impressively against Tottenham and Manchester City in pre-season friendlies. (Daily Star)

Add me to the list of people who like Kandji who is a diamond in the rough. At 6″4 he can handle what English football has to offer.

Real Madrid’s Netherlands international Royston Drenthe is not on his way to Liverpool, despite reports – citing a supposed Facebook page for the player – suggesting a deal had been done. “I will soon be joining Liverpool FC. I hope I will have a good season,” read the page.

“Royston is definitely staying at Real Madrid. He is happy there, he has spoken to the club directors and is looking forward to the new season at the Bernabeu.”

You must be a pretty pathetic person to set up a fake facebook page for a player. It’s also pretty sad how many newspapers/websites ran with the story as fact.

Ajax’s £30m-rated striker Luis Suarez is one of three names on Tottenham’s summer shopping list. Boss Harry Redknapp also want Micah Richards and Craig Bellamy before the start of the new season.
Full story: Goal.com

Ajax and Luis Surarez are in a weird spot. Ajax knows Suarez will never be as valuable coming off the last World Cup but not many teams are out there willing to spend 30 million on one player and the few that could don’t seem interested. Even if you drop it down to 20 million the list of teams are pretty short who are willing to spend that amount.

Back to Tottenham they smartly should shake the tree that is Manchester City and hope a couple of players fall in their lap.

Midfielder Javier Mascherano has been told he can leave Liverpool, having held talks with the club’s hierarchy. ESPN Soccernet

And Inter Milan are thought to be lining up a £25m bid for the Argentine international. Daily Mail

Good for Liverpool. I like Javier Mascherano but Liverpool isn’t going to fall any further down the table with him gone. When you needed an early yellow card in a big game Javier Mascherano was your man.

Inter striker Mario Balotelli has rejected a bigger pay packet at Manchester United to join former boss Roberto Mancini at Manchester City. Daily Mirror

I honesty believe agents throw out these rumours to make their players seem more important. Just the other day mentioned Celtic’s Efraín Juárez mentioned how he turned down Barcelona for Celtic.

Meanwhile, Manchester City are offering England winger Shaun Wright-Phillips as part of a deal to sign James Milner from Aston Villa. Daily Mirror

Take the cash and Shaun Wright-Phillips and move on. Don’t let this drag on into the season.

Tottenham want to sign West Ham’s Scott Parker but have been put off by a £15m price tag for the England midfielder. The Mirror

As would I be put off by that price tag.

Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia is wanted by his first club Osasuna, a transfer that could rekindle the Gunners’ move for Fulham’s Mark Schwarzer. Daily Mail

The Manuel Almunia for England rumours still amuse me.

Out with the old and in with the new as new Brazilian coach Mano Menezes looks to test out the next generation of Brazil footballers ahead of their friendly against the United States on Aug 10th.

List of players, in alphabetical order:

Alexandre Pato – Milan
André – Santos
André Santos – Fenerbahçe
Carlos Eduardo – Hoffenhein
Daniel Alves – Barcelona
David Luís – Benfica
Diego Tardelli – Atlético Mineiro
Ederson – Lyon
Paulo Henrique Ganso – Santos
Henrique – Racing Santander
Hernanes – São Paulo
Jeferson – Botafogo
Jucilei – Corinthians
Lucas – Liverpool
Marcelo – Real Madrid
Neymar – Santos
Rafael – Manchester United
Ramires – Benfica
Renan – Avaí
Rever – Atlético Mineiro
Robinho – Santos
Sandro – Internacional
Thiago Silva – Milan
Victor – Grêmio

I’ll keep this short as I tend not to involve anything personal on this site. Friday morning I got up and do what I usually do by updating the site then checking my e-mail. When I checked my e-mail got this lovely e-mail.

Dear Sirs,

Thank you for your cooperation.

So if you noticed previous posts missing pictures that is why as I’ve taken down previous pictures/logos hosted on my site. Now I get the fact that’s it their trademark so by the letter of the law I should remove the pictures which I have. What bugs me is how backwards people are. I’d understand if I was a commercial website making money off the backs of the EPL but I’m clearly not. Nothing I do on this site or the 1000′s of sites like these hurt the EPL/SPL bottom line.

I know that the EPL/SPL doesn’t need me too but I’m promoting them like the thousands of other small websites out there. Again they don’t need me too but I’m still providing them a service by doing my small part in keeping interest in British football. It just seems pitiful to bully the little guy by removing pictures.

Back to my point above, yes by the letter of the law it should be taken down which I have done. I’d be able to understand it more if the EPL/SPL had some sort of service where a blog owner would pay for the rights to use match pictures and team logo’s but one has to go around getting permission to use team logo’s for each club at a heavy cost I’m sure. If I was taking away from such a service I’d understand more taking down those pictures. It’s like youtube videos and how often clips are taken down. If the EPL had a video service like youtube which shown goals/highlights then again I’d understand the right to take those videos down but they don’t and people from all over the world need for run around finding clips that the FA should be bright enough to have such a service in one central location under their own roof.

In the end trying to turn a negative into a positive. You may notice the Michael Ballack picture upon this post which is linked from picapp.com that offers websites access to legal images. So good news to anyone who may of been tired of seeing the same old logos everyday during the EPL Gossip post, more action shots should be on their way as I’m still playing with the look and feel of picapp.com which has been a godsend.

It’s been coming for awhile now but like Boys to Men would sing we have come to the end of the road for Raul and Guti. The time is right for both to go as sadly football doesn’t have a long memory. With a new coach coming in Raul and Guti just didn’t fit into the plans going forward and there is only so much time you can keep a hold of a player due to past glories.

Guti will now links up with former coach Bernd Schuster at Beşiktaş and Raul should annouce in a coming days that he’ll be moving to Schalke as he must of seen what German football as done to former team mate Ruud van Nistelrooy, breathing new life into his career since moving to Humburg.

Inter Milan striker Mario Balotelli’s agent denies rumours that the teenage star has signed for Manchester City. Mino Raiola said: “Nothing has been signed and I doubt anything will be in the next few days.” (AFP)

Inter’s 19-year-old striker Balotelli could be on his way to Eastlands in a £24m deal.
Full story: Daily Mail

Rafa won’t cry to see Balotelli gone if he gets to spend the transfer money elsewhere. A new coach needs to make his mark and one of the ways to do so is moving a high profile player out.

Former Manchester United and Aston Villa midfielder Eric Djemba-Djemba, currently at Danish side Odense, has emerged as a target for Premier League newcomers West Brom. (Press Association)

Boy there is a name I never figured to read about again.

England midfielder James Milner, who is being courted by Manchester City, will hold talks with Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill on Monday over his future. the Guardian

Villa boss O’Neill fears he may also lose £30m-rated winger Ashley Young, who could be a target for Tottenham this summer. (The Daily Mirror)

After Martin O’Neill threw James Milner under the bus last week with his comments about the player wanting to leave it’s unlikely the talk will last very long. As for Ashley Young, two years ago I saw a supserstar. Last year I just saw another Shaun Wright-Phillips. Wonder if Ashley Young will be able to make the leap up to Superstar this season?

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho is set to reveal that Chelsea defender Ashley Cole is at the top of his wish list of new signings. (The Sun)

However, Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti has reassured fans by insisting that Cole will not be swapping Stamford Bridge for Spain this season. (The Daily Telegraph)

I’m not sold these Ashley Cole to Real Madrid rumours but Carlo Ancelotti really has little say in this matter. It was Ancelotti as an example who kept saying Joe Cole wasn’t going to leave Chelsea.

Midfielder Stephen Ireland is on his way out of Manchester City after a bust-up with boss Roberto Mancini on the club’s trip to New York. Daily Mirror

Just about every EPL club should be picking up the phone trying to sign Stepghen Ireland. Clearly a case where a team can buy low and sell high later on.

Everton’s veteran defender Sylvain Distan has urged the Toffees to fend off bids for Phil Jagielka as Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger looks set to up his efforts to land the defender with a £16m bid. (The Daily Star)

I like Phil Jagielka but this isn’t the player I’d be hoping Arsene Wenger spends big on.

Sorry about yesterday was away from the computer all day.

Inter Milan have confirmed there is a “dialogue” with Manchester City about striker Mario Balotelli, and they are “waiting and considering” but have yet to take a definite decision on his future (Italian Sky Sports, 1150 BST).

I’m sure part of the reason Roberto Mancini wants Balotelli is to do something Inter have failed to do thus far and get the best out of the player.

AC Milan are ‘very close’ to completing a £12.5m deal for CSKA Moscow ‘s Japan World Cup star Keisuke Honda. Honda has been linked with Premier League clubs including Arsenal and Liverpool. (Goal, 1230 BST) goal.com

If this goes ahead does A.C Milan bring back David Beckham?

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce says goalkeeper Marton Fulop can leave the club, with former Black Cats boss Roy Keane, now at Ipswich, one of those who has shown interest in signing him (Press Association, 1040 BST).

Sunderland must still be kicking themselves over losing a near 3 million pound transfer fee for Marton Fulop last year at the last minute.

Manchester City will make a take-it-or-leave-it £24m bid to sign Aston Villa’s England midfielder James Milner. The Guardian

Aston Villa should take it and get on with it. James Milner is not pretty then Angel Di Maria who went to Real Madrid for less.

Milner though has been left fuming and demanding talks with manager Martin O’Neill after being accused of wanting to walk out of Villa Park. Daily Mail

While dirty a club like Aston Villa has to throw dirt on James Milner on the way out. James Milner saw what happen to Gareth Barry last year, he should of known it wasn’t going to be any different.

Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano will seek a move from Anfield and link up with his former Reds boss Rafael Benitez at Inter Milan. Daily Mail

Been saying this all summer and will say it again. Liverpool should sell him and use the 20 million or so they get for him on other players. Loic Remy for example, even if I’m not sold on him.

Veteran defender Sol Campbell has ended speculation over his future by deciding to stay with Arsenal for another year, despite major interest from Celtic. The Sun

Who cares. Why is it that where is Sol Campbell going to rumours appear every day yet you rarely head a word about William Gallas? Hell if I was Liverpool I’d be calling Gallas up.

West Ham have dropped their asking price for striker Carlton Cole to £12m. Times

All the physical tools to be great but that vision to think one step ahead always seems to be missing for Carlton Cole.

German side Schalke say they remain confident of signing veteran Real Madrid striker Raul, despite reported interest from Tottenham. (Guardian)

Raul will be like a lost puppu in Germany. Too bad an MLS club isn’t making a serious run for Raul as going state side would bring new life to Raul. On the subject of Raul who pissed do you think he is missing out on not only the European Champions but World Cup? Talk about awful timing for your career to close down.

How Thierry Henry kept his cool in this interview I’ll never know.