There Is Only One Sinnacle

I’m not going to get into a big long rant on Canadian TV since most of you are not Canadians. For the Canadians who do read this I’m not going to go on about how Rogers Sportsnet One is one of the worst launches in TV history. If you are a Toronto Blue Jays fan you already know the feeling of having games you use to get for free put on a station which few get and when you do get you will need to soon pay extra for it.

Last year Rogers Sportsnet had a good little thing going on. They have two Champions League games spread out of there four regional channels (they should of had four different games on those four channels but two wasn’t bad.) and an extra game on Setanta sports. Three games out of the eight played in the Champions League group stage is pretty good. At the very least you get two games if you don’t want to shell out for Setanta.

This year Rogers Sportnet decided sell a piece on their Champions League rights to TSN and TSN2. The only thing that bugged me about this move is during the TSN promos for Champions League soccer they for some reason included Manchester City. What does bug me is how Rogers Sportnet only shows one Champions League match on there four regional channels and the second one is now on Rogers Sportnets One which no one gets. I meam come on, that is like stealing from Peter to pay Paul. Would it of been so hard to keep the two Champions League games on Rogers Sportnet and add a 3rd one to Sportsnet One, add that to Setanta and you get four games. Not too bad, but of course Rogers is the king of making you pay more for things you use to get cheaper.

I can’t blame A.C Milan for going out there and getting Robinho on the cheap even when they didn’t need him. A talent like his is hard to pass up even if it throws everything out of whack up front. If I’m Massimiliano Allegri the only way I can see a four man attacking front working is to follow what Mourinho did last weekend with Real Madrid when he played Gonzalo Higuaín up front with Mesut Özil in behind him then Ronaldo and Karim Benzema out wide. Something like that could work for A.C Milan with Ibrahimović up front Ronaldinho playing just behind him and Robinho and Pato out wide. The main sticking point would be does moving Pato out wide chop him off at the knees?

Even if Allegri decides to only play three at a time this could be the first time since the 2006 World Cup Ronaldinho will be motivated by football. Robinho is first choice on the Brazilian team where as Ronaldinho doesn’t even get a call. If I was Ronalddinho I’d be wanting to put the boots on Robinho to keep him on the bench that way the calls will get even louder for Ronaldinho to make his return to the Brazilian national team. After all it’s hard to not call up a player who is playing ahead of your first choice attacking midfielder in Robinho?

Chelsea are preparing a £16.5m January bid for Sevilla winger Jesus Navas. Talk Sport

For a player who claims to suffer from home sickness Jesus Navas sure is taking his sweet time signing a new contract.

Bayern Munich’s French midfielder Franck Ribery has reignited speculation of a move to Real Madrid by claiming the manager of teh Spanish club, Jose Mourinho, admires his ability. imscouting.com

Wonder what Mourinho thinks about knowing that he can convince just about any player to play for him?

Liverpool will launch an £18m double swoop for two West Ham players in the new year – striker Carlton Cole and midfielder Valon Behrami. caughtoffside.com

Once rumours hit last week of West Ham being 100 million in the hole you knew a fresh round of transfer rumours would appear.

Manchester United, Liverpool and Italian side Juventus will battle it out for the signature of Real Madrid’s French striker Karim Benzema. caughtoffside.com

Even if Real Madrid were to sell Benzema it won’t be til next summer. With two strikers on the books Real Madrid are not about to sell one of them.

Marseille have entered the race to secure the signature of Wigan midfielder Charles N’Zogbia.
Full story: Talk Sport

Considering N’Zogbia was Sir Bobby Robson’s last signing it’s amazing to read that he is still only 24 years old.

Former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp, now a pundit with Sky Sports, criticised Reds striker Fernando Torres for his “diabolical” performance in the 0-0 draw with Birmingham on Sunday. Daily Mirror

Be it fitness or something going on in his head there is something off with Fernando Torres. To be fair it isn’t like Roy Hodgson has Liverpool running around out there like they are Barcelona.

Striker Wayne Rooney has pleaded with Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson to play him against Rangers in the Champions League on Tuesday. Daily Mail

If I was a striker for Manchester United I’d want to play against Rangers too.

Beckham, who made his playing comeback for as a substitute in LA Galaxy’s 3-1 win over Columbus Crew on Saturday, says he will not try to con England boss Fabio Capello over his fitness. The 35-year-old hopes to return to the international fold under the Italian. The Sun

Never hated David Beckham but never been his biggest fan either. One thing I will say is that I have total respect for his commitment to football. It’s impressive at his age to come back so soon from a serious injury.

Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce says goalkeeper Paul Robinson may come out of international retirement if England boss Capello was to make him his first-choice. Robinson quit the international scene after being selected in the squad to face Hungary in a friendly in August. Daily Mirror

Despite his mistake on the weekend Joe Hart is the future, Paul Robinson is in the past.

Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho will temper his disappointment at not signing Chelsea striker Didier Drogba by making a January move for Manchester City forward Emmanuel Adebayor. (Daily Star)

If you can’t get Drogba, might as well get Drogba light. If I’m Adebayor I’m praying at night this move happens.

Borussia Dortmund are interested in offering midfielder Steven Pienaar a return to Germany if he fails to sort out his future with Everton. talkSPORT

One thing about German clubs is that they do pay well. I also think Pienaar is setting himself up for a move away from Everton.

Atletico Madrid are keeping tabs on Manchester City winger David Silva as the Spanish international tries to adjust to the Premier League. Daily Mail

Wonder how David Silva feels seeing David Villa star for Barcelona while he is playing behind Shaun Wright Phillips?

England and Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has been the subject of allegations concerning his private life and he can expect some “stick” if he plays against former club Everton on Saturday, according to Goodison Park centre-back Phil Jagielka.
Full story: the Independent

Rooney can expect some stick in every stadium Manchester United travels too this season.

Manchester City’s Argentine striker Carlos Tevez says he may quit international football before the next World Cup in 2014 as he is “tired and old” – at the age of 26. Daily Mirror

It feel almost amaze me the travel these players have to put in going from European to South America and back countless times a year.

Tottenham will renew their attempts to sign Aston Villa and England winger Ashley Young when the January transfer window opens. The 25-year-old was close to a move this summer until Martin O’Neill resigned as manager at Villa Park, which meant any transfer activity was put on hold. talkSPORT

Nothing against Ashley Young who is a fine player but he is really the one who can put Tottenham over the top?

PSV Eindhoven’s Dutch winger Ibrahim Afellay, 24, claims he turned down a move to Everton this summer because he did not like “the feel” of the Goodison Park club. Daily Mirror

Translation he most likely disliked Liverpool.

Fiorentina’s Italian international playmaker Riccardo Montolivo has played down speculation linking him with a move to Arsenal, saying he is “fine in Florence”. Full story: Daily Mirror

I know a career shouldn’t be judged on three games but Montolivo didn’t exactly light up the World Cup. Arsenal would be fine without him.

Veteran goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer hopes to sign a pre-contract agreement with a European club in January in a bid to leave Fulham on a free transfer when his contract expires next June. Cottagers boss Mark Hughes denied the 37-year-old Australian the chance to move to Arsenal in the summer transfer window. Daily Mirror

Even more reason as to why Fulham should of sold Schwarzer this summer.

Yuri Zhirkov will consider his future at Chelsea if he remains a bit-part player. Zenit St Petersburg and Spartak Moscow could move for the left-sided 27-year-old, who joined the Blues for £18m from CSKA Moscow in July 2009. (Full story: Daily Mail)

I’m sure if either club paid Chelsea the 18 million they originally paid for Zhirkov he’d be sold.

Inter Milan are set to launch a January bid to sign Bolton centre-back Gary Cahill, although the 25-year-old could cost £17.5m after his England debut led to an increase in the value of his buy-out clause. IMScouting

Good for Gary Cahill who deserved to crack the England team. These English players to European clubs trend to only be a rumour and nothing more. Can’t see Inter Milan paying for Gary Cahill what they did for Wesley Sneijder.

Tottenham midfielder Gareth Bale was the subject of a “big-money” bid over the summer, according to Wales manager John Toshack. Daily Mirror

Nice of John Toshack to only say half the story. Gareth Bale could of been a part of a small money move in the summer of 09.

Spartak Moscow are ready to offer Yuri Zhirkov a route out of Chelsea after Russia coach Dick Advocaat warned the defender he must be playing regular football to feature for his country. Daily Mail

This is a make or break year for Yuri Zhirkov who doesn’t seem to fit the Chelsea set up this far. He’ll need to find a way to impress this season or else Chelsea will sell him next summer.

England fly-half Danny Cipriani has thrown his rugby union future into doubt after travelling to the United States for a trial with Major League Soccer club Colorado Rapids. Times

It’s either Cipriani really loves soccer or rugby players don’t get paid that much. I should look up one day how much rugby and cricket players get paid.

Former Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier is set for a dramatic return to English football with Aston Villa after holding talks with the club’s owner Randy Lerner. Daily Mail

But former England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has been ruled out of the running for the vacant managerial post at Villa Park.
Full story: the Sun

With the state of French football I don’t blame Houllier if he looks to jump ship from the French FA.

Poor Sven who despite his flaws did do a good job at Manchester City.

Blackburn striker Benjani Mwaruwari claims there is ”no trust” at his old club Manchester City and that some of their players are motivated primarily by money: Daily Telegraph

You mean Yaya Toure didn’t leave Barcelona for a new football challenge?

Birmingham will offer manager Alex McLeish a major pay-rise in an effort to get get him to stay, according to City’s vice president Peter Pannu. Daily Mirror

The last thing Birmingham need is McLeish leaving mid season like Steve Bruce did for Wigan. Not the biggest McLeish fan but by all accounts he deserves a new deal.

Been debating trying this for awhile now. Held back because it would be depressing if I saw nothing in my mailbox.

These next 10 days will be pretty boring with the transfer window closed and domestic leagues on break. With that to freshen things up on the site I want to add an ask sinnacle type of mailbag.

Believe me I try very hard not to come off as a know it all. I just want to come off as someone with an opinion, nothing more. So it isn’t to create this elevation that I’m some kind of expert. Just something to create content for the site in the coming weeks.

So this is where I need your help. Ask me a question about the world of football or this site, make a comment, hell draw a picture I don’t care. I can pretty safely say I’ll answer it when I plan on doing this mailbag (plan on doing it Monday or Tuesday, most likely Tuesday) If so please e-mail me at dmmd98@sinnacle.com or use the form in the contact us section of this site.

I’ll keep my fingers cross now and hope tis idea won’t turn into the new coke.

Thanks

Jose Mourinho pleaded with Real Madrid president Florentino Perez to sign Chelsea striker Didier Drogba until the very last moment of the Premier League transfer window, which shut at 1800 BST on Tuesday. IMScouting.com

A major transfer like Drogba leaving Chelsea just can’t happen at the last minute. Besides there is no way Chelsea sells because for their style of player he is irreplaceable.

Liverpool are believed to have offered Brazilian midfielder Lucas Leiva and Dutch forward Ryan Babel in exchange for West Ham striker Carlton Cole but neither player wanted to leave Anfield for Upton Park.
Full story: The Guardian

Perfect reason why player exchanges rarely happen in football.

Arsenal missed out on signing Mark Schwarzer for £4m after Fulham were denied a move for Crystal Palace’s £1.5m-rated goalkeeper Julian Speroni. The Cottagers were also thwarted when they tried to land Brazilian keeper Alexander Doni from Roma, but a season-long loan deal could not be arranged in time before the end of the transfer window. Mirror

Like a said yesterday, the deadline day winner is Manuel Almunia. Granted Mark Schwarzer may not of been the answer but Almunia has been more than enough rope to hang himself. This Arsenal team is again doom to fail for all the same reasons as in previous years.

Stoke boss Tony Pulis says he was advised to make a move for Eidur Gudjohnsen by Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp, who had signed the Iceland international striker on loan from Monaco last season.
Full story: Mirror

Left it left but nice job by Tony Pulis pulling a couple of good players out of a hat. Gudjohnsen showed he still had some gas left in the tank with Tottenham last season.

Striker Roque Santa Cruz faces being frozen out at Manchester City after a deadline-day move to Italian club Lazio collapsed. The Sun

Roque Santa Cruz is used to it from his Bayern Munich days. Besides the pay is still the same every two weeks.

The £250m spent in the 2010 summer transfer window was the lowest total since 2006, according to research by financial analysts Deloitte. Mirror

Slowly English football seems to be coming to grips with reality.

An ankle injury has forced Newcastle striker Andy Carroll to pull out of the England Under-21 squad to face Portugal and Lithuania. Daily Mail

In other words Andy Carroll blew the under 21 squad off.

Aston Villa caretaker manager Kevin MacDonald says he wants to the job permanently.
Full story: The Sun

Took him awhile to admit it but you can’t blame him. The Aston Villa job fell into his lap after a lifetime in the game. It would be hard for anyone to give it up.

Newcastle defender Sol Campbell was taunted by Sunderland supporters for being overweight as he made his debut on Tuesday night, playing only the first half of a reserve match at the Stadium of Light.
Full story: Daily Mail

Sol Campbell has always struck me as an idiot and showing up fat this year and signing for Notts County last year doesn’t help his cause. You’re a football player, your only real job is to keep in decent shape to play football. Besides eating what in the world is Sol Campbell doing with his free time?

New Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has played down their disappointing opening day draw with Real Mallorca, and says he is the man to bring long-term stability to the club. “I am a coach not Harry Potter. He is a magician. Magic is fiction and I live for football which is real,” he said. (Reuters)

In other words Shut Up La Liga.