There Is Only One Sinnacle

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I was reading a bunch of different articles yesterday regarding Barcelona’s 5-0 trashing of Real Madrid and a couple of them said Jose Mourinho is not the special one anymore. I almost blew a fuse because the press overblowing everything based on 90 minutes of football. Here is a man who has won two Champions League, one of them in Portugal, countless league titles and all that is whipped out cause of one game?

Seriously it’s one game, it didn’t decide anything in the grand scheme of things. Barcelona didn’t win La Liga or the Champions League. In the end a 5-0 defeat is the same as a 1-0 defeat. Both mean zero points.

I know what some of you may be thinking, “Come now you can brush off this defeat like that?” You are correct, you can’t merely brush it away, the defeat did happen but should we just praise Barcelona til the end of time over it like the press are doing?

Now comes the challenge, after Real Madrid licks their wounds (most times slip up the next game following a bad showing. Most recent example Arsenal losing to Braga after gifting Tottenham three points) how do they respond. Do they take the challenge seeing the bar Barcelona has set and work hard to over take it or do they buy into what the press is saying about Barcelona being all that is great with football which will lead to them already being defeated once Barcelona makes their visit to the Bernabéu.

I’ve said it before but I heard a basketball coach say this and always felt it rings true in football. No matter what team you are 10% of the games they will beat any team in the world, 10% of the games they will come up flat and it’s the other 80% that will determine if the team will succeed. Barcelona had one of their 10% of games where no one would stop them and Real Madrid sadly for them had the opposite but this isn’t the final chapter of this rivalry merely a footnote in history once it’s all said and done. When talking about Manchester United few outside of Newcastle even care about Newcastle once defeating Manchester United 5-0. In the end all it meant was three points as it didn’t decide anything. Ten years from now the same will be said about yesterday’s match.

Two little points I wanted to make.

1) Does Karim Benzema pack his bags now or wait til the summer? In a game he had to do something he looked lost on the pitch.

2) For the last 18 months been saying Messi is the best player in the world. Great as he is I’m going to change my opinion. Xavi is the best player in the world. Look at the room and service Messi gets playing in Barcelona compared to his performances with Argentina? Xavi and Andrés Iniesta don’t get top billing because both of them are so vital yet interchangeable in the Barcelona setup. This is why I’m convinced if soccer were like wrestling one of them should turn into the bad guy. I’m picturing Xavi and Iniesta at the barber shop with Brutus beefcake. Iniesta wearing a leather jacket giving Xavi til he superkicks right in the mouth and throws him throw a window then reveals a Real Madrid jersey. Neither player gets their full credit cause the other is equally as great.

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says he will not be buying any new players in the January transfer window. Metro

To be fair to Wenger unless you have Arshavin fall in your lap January is an awful time to spend big on players.

Former Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard is almost certain to replace Roy Hodgson as the next Liverpool manager. footylatest

I’d be making that call if I were Liverpool. You have a coach who should want to regain his standing in world football with a club looking to do the same. Yes I do feel silly now thinking Hodgson could lead Liverpool to second place in my EPL predictions.

Tottenham are lining up a “sensational” swoop for unsettled Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor. The Sun

Tottenham would love to do it just to piss Arsenal off but Manchester City isn’t going to help Tottenham.

Chelsea and Manchester City are gearing up for a bidding war over Benfica’s £25m-rated defender David Luiz. The Sun

As I’ve said time and time again, Portuguese clubs will not sell their best players mid season. The same 25 million will be there in the summer.

Chelsea meanwhile have made enquiries about signing Lazio midfielder Cristian Ledesma who is valued at £15m. imscouting

Chelsea could of had Ledesma for next to nothing this time last year.

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson wants to bring Sunderland striker Darren Bent to Anfield. But it may take about £22m to lure the 26-year-old away from the Stadium of Light. caughtoffside

Or, Hodgson is considering an offer to Panathinaikos in order to bring striker Djibril Cisse back to Anfield.
Full story: Metro

The papers should know Hodgson will have little say on the make up of this club going forward.

Liverpool left-back Paul Konchesky admits his performances have not been good enough this season. The 29-year-old took full responsibility for being caught out of position and allowing Aaron Lennon to score the winner for Spurs in Sunday’s Premier League game. The Sun

This is a big reason why (sorry about the Sun credit Liverpool fans. I do avoid linking Liverpool stories from the sun but figured this news was pretty common knowledge.)

Manchester United are planning to make summer moves to sign Aston Villa youngster Ciaran Clark and Blackburn Rovers defender Phil Jones. Full story: caughtoffside

Going to take a moment to talk about Gérard Houllier. Good on him for giving players like Ciaran Clark, Marc Albrighton, Nathan Delfouneso, Barry Bannan, and Eric Lichaj a run out with the first team. Most of these players were never giving the light of day under Martin O’Neill who like most coaches would rather spend money for a ready made player instead of taking the time to bring a kid up. It’s an off year anyway for Villa with O’Neill leaving right before the season so smart on Houllier to figure out which players will be part of his core going forward into next season.

Tottenham midfielder Rafael van der Vaart says his heart belongs to Hamburg and although he is happy at White Hart Lane, he wants to return to the German club again one day.
Full story: fourfourtwo.com

Rafael van der Vaart couldn’t wait to leave Hamburg back in the day. First to Valenica and finally to Real Madrid.

Out-of-favour Manchester City striker Roque Santa Cruz may return to his native Paraguay to secure first-team football again, according to his father and agent. imscouting

I know his stock has dropped but I’m sure Sanata Cruz won’t need to play in Paraguay to get first team football.

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When I read the news last month that La Liga officials were thinking about pushing back El Clasico from November 28th to Monday November 29th due to elections in Catalonia my first reaction was did NHL commissioner Gary Bettman suddenly learn Spanish and took over La Liga? To be fair I don’t think even Gary Bettman could butcher this one.

I’m not so annoyed that the game was pushed back due to yesterday’s elections, I’m annoyed at the person who originally scheduled El Clasico on November 28th to begin with. You would think with one of the biggest soccer games in the world some more planning would go into showcasing this event. For all the grief I give to English soccer the EPL marketing people are genius. Not a chance they don’t expose such an event to the masses.

While I’m getting things off my chest good on Sevilla Chairman José María del Nido for hitting out against the unfair way TV rights are spread against the 20 teams. Another model where England gets it right is that the base of the payments are spread out depending on the teams league place. The way it should be, not the way La Liga does it and cuts Barcelona and Real Madrid a huge cheque and leave everyone else fighting for scrapes.

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Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson is interested in Bolton’s in-form Swedish striker Johan Elmander, who is out of contract in the summer. Daily Mirror

I know Liverpool are in a new era in the transfer market. I also know Johan Elmander on a free transfer is something Liverpool should look at but this signing isn’t going to excite the Anfield faithful.

Panathinaikos striker Djibril Cisse could be in line for a return to the Premier League with Fulham joining Aston Villa amongst the clubs interested in his signature. Inside Futbol

I’ve never been a Cisse fan. I can see why clubs want to sign him but when he isn’t scoring Cisse does nothing else for you. Yes, I know you can say that about many other strikers too.

Manchester United are keeping their goalkeeping options open after admitting that Edwin van der Sar’s retirement looks likely this summer. Among those under United’s radar are Rangers’ Allan McGregor, Bayer Leverkusen’s Rene Adler, Manuel Neuer of Schalke and David de Gea from Atletico Madrid.
Full story: Daily Mail

I guess the Manchester United goalie rumours haven’t stopped. The Dimitar Berbatov transfer rumours sure did however.

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has admitted that he would be “the last to know” if speculation that Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola is being lined up to replace him is true. Daily Express

Poor Ancelotti, Unless Mourinho is going back there is no coach better suited for Chelsea than Carlo Ancelotti.

Roma are to offer unsettled Ancelotti the opportunity to escape Stamford Bridge and take up the reins at his former club. the Independent

Ancelotti has always wanted to coach Roma and the Italian national team. Don’t think he’d jump mid season.

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson thinks it is “sad” for the game that his team have drawn Manchester United in the third round of the FA Cup because of the calibre of the two clubs. Daily Telegraph

What a Debbie Downer

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Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier has placed an £80m price tag on Ashley Young after Manchester United and Liverpool revealed their interest in the winger. Daily Mail

Managers comes off foolish quoting these types of transfer fees. Aston Villa sold James Milner for about 25 million so guess what the price tag for Ashley Young is around 25 million as well.

Tottenham defender Benoit Assou-Ekotto has agreed a new five-year contract with the club following his fine recent form. goal.com

Not the biggest Assou-Ekotto fan but can’t say his play hasn’t earned him a new deal.

Argentine forward Carlos Tevez could be offloaded to Barcelona in January with Manchester City rumoured to be lining up a move for Spanish striker Bojan Krkic as his replacement. Metro

Maybe in fantasy football but not in the real world.

Arsenal and Manchester City have joined the race to sign Sporting Lisbon’s teenage winger Zezinho, dubbed “the new Cristiano Ronaldo”. talksport

More like the next Yanick Djalo.

Liverpool are considering recalling midfielder Alberto Aquilani from his season-long loan to Juventus.
Full story: caughtoffside.com

Should of never let him go in the first place.

West Ham striker Carlton Cole could be on his way to Liverpool in January after publicly criticising the tactics of Hammers manager Avram Grant. Metro

West Ham should of sold Carlton Cole last summer. Cole looks the part of a star striker but the reality is he is far from a star player.

Meanwhile, former Hammers defender Anton Ferdinand could be on his way back to Upton Park with the Sunderland centre-back set to leave the Stadium of Light. Metro

Speaking of players who look the part here we have Anton Ferdinand who could use a move back to West Ham.

Manchester United expect to clinch the signing of 26-year-old goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard, of Norwegian club Aalesund, by the weekend. talksport

Hopefully this will stop linking Manchester United to every goalie out there.

In-form striker Johan Elmander has stalled on signing a new contract with Bolton – and sparked a scramble for his signature. Liverpool, Newcastle and Stoke are interested. Daily Mirror

If I was Liverpool I’d at least kick the tires to see what it would take to sign Elmander.

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Happy Thanksgiving to all my American visitors.

Blackburn are weighing up a £4m January move to bring Manchester City striker Roque Santa Cruz back to Ewood Park. The Sun

After 18 months of not playing I’m sure Roque Santa Cruz would love a return to Blackburn and the regular playing time that came with it.

Arsenal, Tottenham and Newcastle are battling for FC Lorient striker Kevin Gameiro. AS Monaco, Hamburg, Schalke 04 and Benfica are also interested in the 23-year-old. imscouting.com

I’m convinced papers/rumour sites like to link rivals Arsenal and Tottenham with the same players.

Stephen Ireland is looking for a January move away from Aston Villa. Fulham boss Mark Hughes is keen after the pair worked together at Manchester City, but the Cottagers would struggle to find the £8m asking price. Daily Star

No denying Ireland talent. A lot of questions can be raised about his attitude however.

West Ham striker Carlton Cole has questioned the tactics of under-fire Hammers manager Avram Grant during their 3-0 loss at Liverpool last weekend. “In the first 10 minutes we had lost the game, psychologically anyway,” said Cole. Daily Mail

Avram Grant can’t be liking those comments. When players hit out at you to the press that is a big red flag.

Chelsea striker Salomon Kalou insists the west London club have not been affected by last week’s shock departure of assistant manager Ray Wilkins. The Sun

Just weird timing is all. I’m sure one had nothing to do with the other.

Former assistant manager Ray Wilkins was sacked by Chelsea only two weeks after a bust-up with the club’s chief executive Ron Gourlay, who had criticised the management team’s use of substitutes.
Full story: Daily Express

Finally something coming out about why Wilkins may of been let go.

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Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti has set aside £42m in a bid to sign Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas. Daily Mirror

Maybe Moratti can set aside some extra funds to bring over Wenger as well.

Espanyol midfielder Javi Marquez says he is flattered by the interest shown by Tottenham Hotspur and Wigan Athletic but wants to stay with the Catalan-based club. Daily Mail

I’m pretty sure Marauez is more flattered with Tottenham’s interested compared to Wigan.

Liverpool are heading the queue to sign Stoke’s Ryan Shawcross, with Potters boss Tony Pulis eyeing Uruguay defender Mauricio Victorino as a replacement centre-back. caughtoffside.com

Shawcross is just coming into his prime and would be a boost to the Liverpool back line. While he never did play for Manchester Unitd wonder how Liverpool fans would take to Shawcross if this ever did happen?

Manchester City are ready to offer £20m for Porto’s Brazil striker Hulk, real name Givanildo Vieira de Souza, to ease the burden on Carlos Tevez. Daily Mirror

Roberto Mancini would suck the life out of Hulk. Plus Porto won’t sell any of their key players mid season.

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce is weighing up a move for Tottenham midfielder David Bentley but faces competition from Everton. Daily Mail

It worked once for Steve Bruce recusing Darren Bent from Tottenham. Couldn’t blame him for taking a flyer on David Bentley.

Everton are monitoring the availability of Porto’s Cristian Rodriguez, nicknamed ‘the onion’ because he has reduced his opponents to tears. The Uruguay midfielder is valued at £7m. talkSPORT

Rodriguez is very good on the ball and would be a good replacement for Steven Pienaar if he does leave. Rodriguez isn’t known for tracking back however.

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Emmanuel Adebayor has revealed Manchester City have agreed a loan deal with Juventus that will see the out-of-favour striker leave for Italy in January. Metro

I’m sure Manchester City love the fact Adebayor let the cat out of the bag a month early. If this does happen Adebayor would be a decent replacement for the injured Amauri.

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has ruled out a January move for Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema. talksport

More than likely Real Madrid ruled it out.

Spurs boss Redknapp is interested in Wigan winger Charles N’Zogbia though and is hoping to pip Marseille to the signing of the Frenchman. Metro

I know few people care about Wigan but why isn’t Roberto Martinez under more heat? He was suppose to do the job Owen Coyle is now doing with Bolton. With only 10 goals in 14 games Wigan can’t score like Martinez promised or defend.

Birmingham manager Alex McLeish fears Chelsea are plotting raids for Blues central defenders Roger Johnson and Scott Dann. Metro

Roger Johnson is a lifelong Chelsea fan so I’m sure he would jump at the chance to join the Blues.

Barcelona will move for Manchester City right-back Micah Richards should Brazilian defender Dani Alves leave the Nou Camp. talksport

Even if it’s false Micah Richards must be pretty happy reading this.

Manchester United midfielder Anderson is a target for Greek champions Panathinaikos. InsideFutbol

On the other hand Anderson must be depressed reading this.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is reportedly interested in signing Zenit St Petersburg midfielder Danny. imscouting

I’d like to see this happen for biased reasons but can’t see Danny at the top of Manchester United’s wish list. He did tear Manchester United apart in the Super Cup two years ago.

Everton target Yannick Djalo says he is interested in joining the Toffees from Sporting Lisbon in January but only if it is for the good of the Portuguese club. Daily Mirror

Djalo turned down a move to France this summer so there is truth to what he is saying.

Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier could be lining up a move for Brazilian midfielder Juninho, 35, who played for the Frenchman at Lyon. Daily Mirror

Maybe this would make sense if they could sub Juninho to take free kicks but he doesn’t have the legs to handle English football.

Chelsea’s stars fear for the future of manager Carlo Ancelotti who they feel is being seriously undermined. the Sun

If Mourinho cared I’m sure he’d be smiling. Ancelotti isn’t leaving but if he did it would be two top managers Chelsea forced out. No idea why they cut the legs under Ancelotti when everything was going smoothly.

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Bayern Munich chief Karl-Heinz Rummenigge says the club want to keep Bastian Schweinsteiger , but has warned that if the midfielder fails to extend his contract, he’ll have to see out his current deal, which runs out in 2012. Imscouting

Bayern Munich won’t roll over for Schweinsteiger. They managed to keep hold of Franck Ribéry last year (they may regret that now) and it wouldn’t shock me if at somepoint Schweinsteiger signs on as well.

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp is exploring the possibility of bringing in France striker Karim Benzema on loan from Real Madrid in the January transfer window. Daily Mail

Real Madrid gifted Tottenham Rafael van der Vaart who wasn’t playing. Karim Benzema may not start but he does play plus Real spent 40 million on him so there is little chance he’ll be sent away on loan.

Redknapp also looks likely to renew his interest in West Ham midfielder Scott Parker who he bid for in the summer. the Sun

A team at the bottom can’t sell their best player. The funds West Ham would lose by dropping down a league would be much more than the fee Scott Parker would get them.

Liverpool right-back Glen Johnson has told friends he expects to join European champions Inter Milan in January. goal.com

Johnson wouldn’t last a month in Serie A. Defenders need to actually defend in Italy.

Manchester United are set to sell striker Dimitar Berbatov, in order to fund a move for Athletic Bilbao duo, forward Fernando Llorente and midfielder Javi Martinez. caughtoffside

Berbatov has gone back to his usual Manchester United form after his hat trick against Liverpool earlier this season.

Or, United will offer Real Madrid Berbatov as part of a deal to bring Karim Benzema to Old Trafford.
Full story: Metro

I’m sure Berbatov who doesn’t track back and Mourinho would get along so well.

Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier is ready to make a £1.2m move for Middlesbrough central defender David Wheater. Daily Mirror

How David Wheater stock has fallen. From being called up to the England team to playing in the Champsionship. He is still worth more than 1.2 million however.

Chelsea are leading the race to sign Roma defender Philippe Mexes, as the club look for cover for injured captain John Terry. caughtoffside

Or, Chelsea will battle Arsenal for the signing of Fulham defender Brede Hangeland. Metro

Told you Chelsea would miss Ricardo Carvalho at some point. I didn’t except it to be so soon. Figured it would be in the knockout stages of the Champions League.

Blackpool can activate a £250,000 clause to sign on-loan striker Luke Varney from Derby County permanently in January. Daily Mail

Even Blackpool will send off at that price. Nice little goal Varney bagged himself on the weekend.

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has ­challenged the Spurs board to spend big in January and turn his squad into title winners. Daily Mirror

On who? World Class defenders aren’t exactly flooding the marketing in January.

Bolton will offer striker Johan Elmander a new one-year deal this week in order to sort out the Swede’s future. Daily Mirror

A one year offer isn’t going to tie Elmander down.

One of the first acts of Blackburn’s new Indian owners has been to announce plans to rip up 120 years of history by renaming Ewood Park. Daily Express

It’s not like they are blowing up the park. Calm down.