There Is Only One Sinnacle

Manchester United may have dismissed talk of Wayne Rooney leaving Old Trafford as “nonsense” but the out-of-form England striker is refusing to negotiate a new deal. the Guardian

Rooney and his wife Coleen are open to the possibility of a move away from England, opening the door to offers from Spanish clubs Real Madrid and Barcelona. Daily Telegraph

At the end of the day I realize nothing was going to stop Ronaldo from joining Real Madrid but Manchester United fans saw that as good business. While 90 million is good business even that amount of money couldn’t make up for the loss of Ronaldo. With Wayne Rooney however I’ve been saying it all along, he is more comfortable as the sidekick than leading man both for club and country. Ronaldo can’t be replace, if things were different and Manchester United sold Rooney in the summer and bought David Villa would people be missing Rooney now? Wayne Rooney has so far failed to lead Manchester United and when your best player is Nani (bless his heart but he is also a sidekick not leading man) your in trouble.

However, Manchester City are understood to be prepared to pay whatever it takes to secure Rooney’s services. The 24-year-old could earn a staggering £300,000 a week at Eastlands. Full story: Daily Mirror

Manchester United would rather lose Rooney on a free transfer I believe than sell him to Manchester City.

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho is planning to use France international striker Karim Benzema to lure Rooney to the Bernabeu in a £50m swap deal. the Sun

One thing is clear, Manchester United will not sell Rooney mid season. I’m also pretty sure Mourinho will tell everyone at Real Madrid to keep quiet about Wayne Rooney out of respect to Sir Alex. Come the summer however lots of things can happen but Benzema + cash for Rooney deal makes sense.

Manchester United and Manchester City are chasing Inter Milan’s Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder, who is yet to agree a new contract at the San Siro. Transfer Tavern

After David Silva pretty little goal on the weekend you would think it would die down rumours of players replacing him.

Liverpool face competition from Manchester United for the signature of Belgian midfielder Steven Defour from Standard Liege. Transfer Tavern

A year or two away but Steven Defour could make an impact for either team. With all that young talent in Belgium I’m shocked as to why they are awful in European qualifying.

Arsenal target Ibrahim Afellay says he will remain a PSV Eindhoven player until the end of the season, ruling out a potential move to the Emirates in the January transfer window. Imscouting.com

Smart move by Ibrahim Afellay who will be able to drive up his price tag on the open market come june.

Liverpool are preparing to replace manager Roy Hodgson with Galatasaray boss Frank Rijkaard.
Full story: caughtoffside.com

It did shock me that after a year away from the game the best job that came Rijkaard’s way was from Galatasaray.

Columbus Crew goalkeeper Will Hesmer scored a late equaliser to earn his side a 2-2 draw away at Toronto in their Major League Soccer game at the weekend. Yahoo Sports

Seems up the Toronto FC’s season in a nut shell. Gotta love all the time he was given.

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has halted talks over a new contract as he considers leaving the Old Trafford outfit, with Real Madrid a possible destination. Daily Mirror

If Wayne Rooney keeps this up Manchester United may end up being happy to sell him.

Meanwhile, the Red Devils are among the clubs interested in PSV Eindhoven midfielder Ibrahim Afellay. The 24-year-old Netherlands international has not signed a new contract so would be available on a free transfer next summer. caughtoffside.com

Can’t understand why any club would let it get to this point. You show the player a contract 12 months before his current one is up, if he doesn’t want to sign you sell him before losing the player for nothing.

Thomas Hitzlsperger, still to make his debut for West Ham since signing from Lazio in the summer, faces a further four months on the sidelines with a torn thigh muscle. The 28-year-old midfielder had been hoping to play against Wolves on Saturday. the Sun

Can’t understand how a player goes from about to play on the weekend to being out for four months.

Juventus are eager to sign Liverpool full-back Glen Johnson in the January transfer window despite the 26-year-old having a contract until 2013. Daily Mirror

18 million for a right back not named Maicon is just too high. Johnson is a good right back but for 18 million you want match winners which Johnson is not. Oh back to this rumour, not going to happen.

Liverpool may sign Villarreal’s 26-year-old Brazil striker Nilmar in the January transfer window for £14m. caughtoffside.com

Or Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson could spend £12m and acquire 25-year-old Brazilian striker Cleo from Serbian side FK Partizan. caughtoffside.com

Let the dust settle on Liverpool’s ownership mess before the paper start linking players to Liverpool again.

Philipp Lahm could be tempted to end his 15-year association with Bayern Munich and join Chelsea. Blues manager Carlo Ancelotti is keen to sign the German right-back, 26, despite Branislav Ivanovic impressing for the Premier League champions this season. caughtoffside.com

Big fan of Lahm who can play either right or left back plus knows a thing or two about winning big games due to his Bayern Munich and Germany experience.

Former Tottenham coach Christian Gross has been sacked by Bundesliga club VfB Stuttgart after only one win in the opening seven matches of the season. VfB Stuttgart official website

Been a slow slide downhill for Stuttgart ever since winning the Bundesliga a couple of years ago.

Despite the news that Dirk Kuyt may miss most of the season with an ankle injury, Liverpool fans must be beaming with the news that Great Britain’s High Court have ruled against Hicks and Gillett in their bid to take back control over the club.

The problem with people like Hicks and to a lesser degree Gillett is that their word isn’t their bond. You get the feeling with Cowboy Hicks that because he is rich he is able to do what he pleases and promises one thing only to do another. Well a tip of the cap to you Royal Bank of Scotland and Martin Broughton for knowing Hicks and Gillett had no plans and no money to pay back their loans by the required date and to sell the club as within their rights instead of standing there waiting for Hicks and Gillett to try and screw them over again.

The only thing I liked about yesterday’s “match” between Serbia and Italy was the Italy fans chanting C’avete rotto il cazzo which depending on the person you talk too either means “We’re sick and tired of you.” or “stop busting our balls.”

The things I hate about yesterday’s match are many. The number one thing that I hate is the fact for many years this actions are blamed on football. Clarence Seedorf said it best a couple of years ago after a Lazio fan was killed when he said this isn’t a football problem, it’s a problem on the Italian society as a whole. Well this is a problem with Serbia and what is perceived to be acceptable by even a small minority or fans. It also bugs me that tough guy had to wear a mask. What did he not think that the police was going to stomp him like a grape at some point and remove his mask?

It’s just silly and in the end these actions have done nothing but harm Serbia’s chances of making it to Euro 2012 and ruined the enjoyment of that moment for the Serbian fans who are peaceful and who love football. While I feel for those fans I’m not shedding many tears over this country as a whole who will need to address this problem be it in football or tennis as everytime Novak Djokovic plays is used as a reason for this whack jobs to act like a bunch of fools.

For all the things I’ve said about English football one thing I’ll always give it credit so them recognizing this problem 20 years ago and putting together a blueprint for every other country to follow in terms of rooting out the link where criminals feel the need to link their angry to football.

Lastly I feel sorry for Sporting Clube de Portugal goalie Vladimir Stojković who moved on loan to Partizan and now has to fear for his live as a result since fans of Red Star Belgrade were lessed than pleased to say the least and tried to attack him on the team bus. I wish the hammer was dropped on these “fans” but I don’t except UEFA to do it and I don’t have high hopes for the Serbia government to care about the fact these few people are giving their country as black eye as a whole.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is considering an £18m move for Lyon midfielder Yoann Gourcuff. Daily Star

Don’t see Lyon letting Gourcuff go so soon but if it did happen can somebody ask Sir Alex Ferguson why Gourcuff was signed instead Rafael van der Vaart?

Manchester United are poised to make a bid for Danish goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard in January. Seen as a potential successor to Edwin van der Sar, the 26-year-old currently plays for Norwegian side Aalesunds. Daily Mirror

It’s October and I’m already tired of hearing this rumour.

Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor is ready to submit a transfer request – unless he is guaranteed regular first-team football by City boss Roberto Mancini. Daily Star

Transfer request it is then. Don’t see Mancini playing a lot of 4-4-2 especially with a player who doesn’t track back like Adebayor.

Three Italian clubs are chasing Tottenham’s out-of-favour striker Giovani Dos Santos – Genoa, Fiorentina and Roma. talkSPORT

Dos Santos should jump at the chance to play for either of those teams.

Chelsea midfielder Yossi Benayoun will travel to Finland for an operation on his torn Achilles tendon. He will be operated on at the clinic where former England captain David Beckham received treatment.
Full story: Daily Mail

Benayoun wasn’t worth 10 million when he was fit and this injury doesn’t help matters. Chelsea will still roll right along mind you.

Bolton striker Johan Elmander has criticised the style of former Trotters manager Gary Megson, saying: “It doesn’t help to stare and scream at me. I got tired the more of it I heard.” Daily Mail

Always enjoy hearing someone take a dig at Gary Megson.

Barcelona have lined up a sensational swoop for Manchester City forward Carlos Tevez, who the Nou Camp management see as the ideal foil for star attacker Lionel Messi. Daily Mail

Carlos Tevez fits into the Barcelona set up perfectly neither club would pull a trigger on such a huge move mid season.

But Tevez has said that he would return to his native Argentina if his daughters ever wanted him to.
Full Story: talkSPORT

I’m sure his accountant would advise him otherwise.

Manchester United striker Federico Macheda has moved to clarify comments he made about team-mate Wayne Rooney. The Italian referred to Rooney as a ‘coatto’, which has been translated by some English newspapers as ‘chav’, but in Friday’s Gazzetta dello Sport he said: “I like him and I have maximum respect for him. What I wanted to say is that for me he is a free spirit and genuine.” (Press Association)

Talk about the press running with a non story on a slow news day. Besides I’m Wayne Rooney has more pressing matters to concern himself with at the moment.

Tottenham have made Real Madrid’s French striker Karim Benzema a January transfer target.
Full Story: goal.com

Good luck with that. Benzema may not be Mourinho cup of tea but Real Madrid can not afford to lose another striker.

Chelsea and Arsenal could be interested in Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, who is thought to be unsettled at the club. Footylatest.com

One year great, next season bad. It’s been like this for the last couple of years with Bayern Munich. Last year they also got off to a slow start but they turned it around by this point last season.

Edwin van der Sar’s hint that he may quit playing at the end of the season has led Manchester United to step up their search for a new goalkeeper. Norwegian club Aalesunds number one Anders Lindegaard and CSKA Moscow’s Igor Akinfeev are two potential targets.
Full Story: Daily Star

However, the agent of Juventus keeper Gianluigi Buffon has rubbished reports that his client will move to Old Trafford.: imscouting.com

I do think there is legs behind the Anders Lindegaard rumours. I don’t think there is a chance of Buffon linking up with Manchester United.

New Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier is weighing up an £8m bid for Tottenham midfielder Niko Kranjcar in the upcoming January transfer window, though Monaco could rival the Frenchman for the player’s signature. footylatest.com

Niko Kranjcar should wear a come and get me sign. Would be useful to a lot of clubs.

Chelsea winger Florent Malouda wants to end his playing days in Brazil. The France international wants to end his European club career at Stamford Bridge, but would like to finish his playing days at Vasco da Gama or Flamengo. Daily Mirror

Not everyday you see a top European player make his way over to South America.

The Football Association has so far failed to get in touch with highly rated youngster Eric Dier. The 16-year-old centre-back, who is already playing for Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon’s under-19 side, is qualified to represent England but could apply for dual nationality when he turns 18. Daily Mail

In other words this is a non story for another two years.

Paul Dalglish believes that father Kenny, who offered to return to Liverpool’s managerial hot-seat before the appointment of Roy Hodgson, could still do a job at Anfield. talkSPORT

Kenny Dalglish returning to Liverpool would have the same effect Kevin Keegan returning to Newcastle did.

Birmingham midfielder Alexander Hleb says that moving to St Andrew’s from Barcelona this summer was a backwards step and has criticised the team’s long-ball style. Daily Star

Don’t feel sorry for Alexander Hleb at all. What else was he expecting going to Birmingham? The great Rui Costa flew to Barcelona in order to sign Hleb and he turned down Benfica? While it hasn’t been the best of seasons so far Benfica play good football. It couldn’t of been about the money since between Benfica and Barcelona his salary would be covered. When you throw in Champions League football the only rational reason Hleb would turn down Benfica is not wanting to learn another language/culture.

Unless you are living under a rock these last 24 hours you all know that a bid from New England Sports Ventures (the people behind the Boston Red Sox’s) was accepted much to the delight of Liverpool fans and much to the disgust of Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

Despite what is out there in the press right now not all the moves have been made. The only thing that is certain is there will be a bunch of lawyers who will paid very well in the coming weeks and months as this offer basically leaves Hicks and Gillett out in the cold.

What I also know is that business schools should use this as an example of how to run a club into the ground from a business point of view. Being greedy is common in business, being stubborn is a fault. Of course few could predict the recession at the time Hicks and Gillett brought the club but the very second they couldn’t come up with the money to build a new stadium they should of sold it and walked away with some profit instead of nothing. Once the American duo couldn’t build a new stadium red flag were raised. Coupled with Gillett having to sell the Montreal Canadiens and Hick’s Texas Rangers going into bankruptcy and there was blood in the water. Any smart business person was going to sit back and wait for the bank to take it over and cut Hicks and Gillett out of the picture by dealing directly with the bank.

My last point I wanted to make is are there any rich English people? Why are crown jewels of English football always being sold to foreign ownership groups?

Brazilian striker Neymar, 18, says he would be thrilled to move from his club Santos to Stamford Bridge, saying: “It would be great to get the chance to play for Chelsea. I feel excited about it.”
Full story: The Sun

Santos may regret not selling Neymar previously. Ever since he signed his new contract Neymar has been a gaint pain to deal with.

Juventus intend to capitalise on Liverpool’s financial problems by sealing a cut-price £10m deal for midfielder Alberto Aquilani in the January transfer window. Daily Mail

It’s not just the Red Sox’s owners who are looking to pick whatever is left off the Liverpool bone.

Chelsea are facing a fight to keep Gael Kakuta at Stamford Bridge with Bayern Munich preparing to swoop for the 19-year-old striker, who is out of contract at the end of the season. Daily Mirror

Kakuta should go. With clubs like Chelsea they will most likely shell out big bucks for a player like Neymar instead of bringing someone in their youth setup to the first team.

Everton will be prepared to let South Africa midfielder Steven Pienaar join Tottenham in the January transfer window – as long as Niko Kranjcar moves the other way. talksport.co.uk

Considering Everton is about to lose Pienaar for nothing this wouldn’t be the worst thingt hey can do. Nothing Everton has done this season would convince Pienaar to stay.

Real Madrid midfielder Lassana Diarra has opened the door to a January return to England – with Manchester United and Tottenham in the queue to sign the France international. Daily Mail

Not the wisest move by Diarra saying he wants to play every game. With two starts and two more appearances off the bench it’s not like he has been forzen out.

Arsenal-mad Ryder Cup hero Ian Poulter says his experiences at Celtic Manor over the last few days have given him a glimpse of what it feels like to be a football star. Daily Mirror

And unlike Arsenal Ian Poulter knows what it’s like to lift a Cup.

Sir Alex Ferguson is rumoured to be considering a surprise move to bring Atletico Madrid striker Diego Forlan back to Old Trafford. caughtoffside.com

It’s always easy to second guess after the fact but nothing would of suggested Diego Forlan was going to come back and haunt Manchester United when he left. Can’t see him coming back either.

Goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer has reignited the possibility of a move to Arsenal by saying he will consider offers that are put to Fulham in January. ESPNsoccernet

Schwarzer’s departure would result in Fulham boss Mark Hughes renewing his efforts to lure Manchester City keeper Shay Given to Craven Cottage. (Daily Express)

All things being equal I’d move Schwarzer even if I have a pay a couple of extra millions to bring Shay Given into the fold.

Arsenal are set to bid £12.9m for Anderlecht’s promising young striker Romelu Lukaku. caughtoffside.com

Aresenal can’t sign Drogba so might as well try to sign the young verison of him. I’m sky high on Lukaku but I think it’s only a matter of time before Real Madrid not Arsenal sign him.

Bolton manager Owen Coyle is to hold talks with Johan Elmander about a new contract, with the striker available on a free transfer at the end of this season. Daily Mail

Granted things have changed nicely for Elmander since Owen Coyle took over but he has good timing turning his career around right before his contract comes due.

Tottenham midfielder Niko Kranjcar has admitted he may have to leave the club after growing frustrated at a lack of first team opportunities at White Hart Lane. (the Times)

Kranjcar, 26, is reportedly being tracked by Monaco and two unnamed Premier League sides. (Sky Sports)

I’m sure linking up with Harry Redknapp was appealing at the time but it’s clear Niko Kranjcar should of never moved to Tottenham in the first place.

Inter Milan midfielder Sulley Muntari looks set to quit the Serie A club following a bust-up with manager Rafael Benitez with Tottenham said to be interested in the former Portsmouth man. caughtoffside.com

Always nice to see Rafa Benitez personality winning over players yet again.

Manchester United have told Everton and Lazio to forget about signing striker Federico Macheda on loan.talkSPORT

Couldn’t see this one happening. Manchester United usually take care of loan deals before the season starts.

United meanwhile have been linked to Athletic Bilbao’s Spain midfielder Javi Martinez. imscouting.co.uk

Javi Martinez is another player I’m sky high on. He may of rode the bench but Javi Martinez is already a World Cup Champion. Don’t find many 22 year olds who can say that.

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini and his captain Carlos Tevez had a half-time bust-up during their 2-1 win over Newcastle on Sunday. Daily Mail

Tevez swung his arms at the Manchester City boss who poured out a stream of insults at his skipper during Sunday’s clash with Newcastle. Full story: the Sun

Another coach with a winning personality. Roberto Mancini wore out his welcome with Inter and in another year or two the same can easily be said with Manchester City.

When I heard Wayne Rooney utter those words naturally right away Human League’s 1985 single Human came into my mind. I hate this song, It’s no don’t you want me and love it at the same time. The reason I love it is simple. For the first three minutes of the song the guy is trying to get his girlfriend to forgive him for cheating on her. The best part is near the end where the girl basically says she isn’t crying because of his cheating but because she cheated on him too. Suck on that sync pop lead singer. Just always brings a smile to my face whenever I hear it.

Basically what I’m saying is what is good for the goose should be good for the gander too. In other words Coleen Rooney should take up with Fernando Torres for a couple of nights and see how Wayne Rooney feels about that.