There Is Only One Sinnacle

I must admit I didn’t expect at any point over the course of this website to have to talk about gay sex but thanks to Sepp Blatter comments yesterday guess I was wrong.

The jist of it was a reporter asking Sepp Blatter what should gay people do if they wish to watch the World Cup in Qatar in 2022 and Blatter jokingly says “I would say that they should refrain from sexual activities.”

Look Sepp Blatter is your crazy rich uncle who says the dumbest things about sex/creed/religion at your christmas party. Why does he do it? Cause he can. Blatter has other things to worry about than caring about if people find his comments socially acceptable. He is rich, he can do whatever he wants in his mind. If he wants to make a joke about something many people find serious he will. You can be angry, he’ll go on counting all that oil money. This is the same man who said about woman’s football, “to wear tighter shorts and low cut shirts… to create a more female aesthetic and attract more male fans.”

In other words nothing has changed. I’m not trying to defend his comments, the comments are dumb but Sepp Blatter is rich, Sepp Blatter doesn’t care about your opinions, Sepp Blatter will go on saying dumb things at dumb times because he is the most powerful man in sports. The end.

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Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini will strip Tevez of the captaincy and force him to train with the reserves. the Sun

Good

The Eastlands club are ready to sue Tevez for up to £50m if he goes through with his threat to quit football. Full story: Daily Mirror

As they should. It’s not like they paid 25 million to Manchester United in exchange for a lemon. They paid 25 million directly into Kia Joorabchian pockets. For that 25 million there should be some expectation that Tevez isn’t going to be a moody sulk and whine his way out of town in a year.

Real Madrid are unlikely to move for Carlos Tevez, despite manager Jose Mourinho’s admiration for the Argentine striker, because of Manchester City’s £25m valuation. Guardian

A report in Spanish daily ‘Sport’ has suggested that Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is the power behind Carlos Tevez ‘s transfer request at Manchester City.
Full story: IM Scouting

Don’t think either is true. I’m sure Real Madrid will at least make a phone call to Manchester City about Tevez.

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has asked the club’s management to redouble their efforts to try and land Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez in January. IM Scouting

Can’t see Mourinho stepping on Sir Alex Ferguson toes like that. Mourinho may ask S.A.F if he wants to sell Hernandez but once S.A.F says no that will be the end of it.

Chelsea enter the race to sign Portuguese teenage sensation Joao Reis, who plays for second division club Louletano. Talksport.co.uk

Everyone is trying to see the new Bebe.

Bayern Munich are keeping tabs on the progress of Everton’s England international left-back Leighton Baines. Daily Mirror

Bayern Munich will then be put off by the price tag Everton would want for Leighton Baines.

Benfica are prepared to pay Manchester City £8m for striker Roque Santa Cruz to make the move to Lisbon when the transfer window opens in the new year. Talksport.co.uk

Step in the wrong direction for Benfica. I know they are trying to catch up to Porto but 8 million for a 29 year old isn’t the blue print for how you run a Portuguese club.

Newcastle striker Andy Carroll has pledged his future to the club, insisting he wants to stay at St James’ Park, ending speculation linking him with a January transfer window move. Daily Mirror

I know Newcastle being in the Championship last year helped but how many EPL clubs are trying to give home grown players the chance to star up front at striker?

West Ham are preparing to sack manager Avram Grant, with Sam Allardyce lined up as his replacement once the former Blackburn boss negotiates his pay-off with his former club. Goal.com

I don’t know if Big Sam is a better coach but between the two of them I would give the nod to Big Sam in being able to keep West Ham from the drop.

Sam Allardyce was sacked by Blackburn Rovers’ new owners because he refused to target Scotland striker Kris Boyd from Middlesbrough in the January transfer window and instead wanted Tottenham’s Robbie Keane or Manchester City’s Roque Santa Cruz. (the Sun)

I’d leave too if Boyd one of the players the new Blackburn owners had in mind.

Liverpool owner John W Henry has revealed he has been for dinner with Reds legend Kenny Dalglish and his wife. “He needs to have a more substantive role within the club,” said the American, who added: “I understood about half of what he said, and I just nodded when I couldn’t understand.”
Full story: Daily Mirror

Not quite as insulting as Sepp Blatter.

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I don’t know what it is about me but I tend it take a soft spot for fans who cheer for suffering teams and Liverpool fans fit that bill at the moment. Once they turn things around I no longer hold a soft spot for the club and move on to my calling in life being a Ronaldo and Jose Mourinho fan boy. See this goal on the weekend for example…..Grande Jogador.

Back to Roy Hodgson now. It’s like the earth axis has tipped over. You have Liverpool fans wanting their coach gone and Newcastle fans being mad over their coach getting the sack. Roy Hodgson however hasn’t done himself any favours by trying to deflect blame onto former coach Rafa Benitez and twisting his words around when it comes to club legend Kenny Dalglish.

To keep it simple Roy Hodgson seems like the type of person who if given a Ferrari would never put it in top gear. Now, I know many non Liverpool fans right now wouldn’t suggest Liverpool is too football what Ferrari is too cars but it’s sure is a step up from the likes of Fulham and coaching Finland.

I remember Hodgson last game in charge of Finland in a Euro 2008 do or die qualifier against Portugal. Finland had to beat Portugal to make it to Euro 2008. Granted, I know the odds were long that day (9 to 1 in fact, I put $125 on Finland thinking if Portugal wasn’t going to make it to Euro 2008 I might as well get a grand to make me feel better.) but how in the world do you play to a 0-0 tie when only a win would do? Scolari on his last legs as Portugal coach wisely knew Hodgson was one dimensional. As Portugal didn’t make a mistake at the back by not trying to grab a lead caused Finland to never have the chance to score. I remember writing breifly about this game in an article defending Scolari as every Portuguese person was forgetting what he accomplished previously in his time with the National team. Then he goes on to take the Chelsea job in the middle of Euro 2008 and Portugal flatlines but anyway this is what I wrote at the time.

Scolari has had to deal with criticism over Portugal’s lack luster Euro 2008 qualifying campaign that saw them finish second behind Poland and only barely able to clinch their spot on the last day in a 0-0 tie against Finland

While it made for a nervous 90 minutes the end result would have been the same be it a 5-0 win or 0-0 draw. Scolari crafted a smart game plan utilizing his remaining roster to maximum effect. With first choice defenders Ricardo Carvalho and Jorge Andrade injured, Scolari gave Pepe his first start for the national team pairing him up with former Porto team mate Bruno Alves to go along with another Porto defender in Jose Bosingwa. Having three players in the back four that are used to playing together was key in holding a Finland team in check. The fact that it was not an epic performance hasn’t pleased many in the press who still dream of the days where Portugal would win with style, but never after the opening round.

The Second Guessing Of Scolari April 2008

Roy Hodgson can make a bad team decent by basically trying to play 10 men behind the ball but my problem with Hodgson is every gameplan is the same from week to week. It cautious football and when that’s your only trick up your sleeve it isn’t going to take you to the top four no matter who you have in your lineup.

Paul Konchesky is another problem as in no way should Roy Hodgson have the last say in transfer dealings with the likes of Konchesky and Christian Poulsen being bought in and Alberto Aquilani told to leave. Raul Meireles is a winner but that is only one out of three.

My last problem is the fact there is no youth in this Liverpool lineup. When was the last time Liverpool produced a home grown player? Now I know little of that is Hodgson fault but If I’m a Liverpool I want to see Daniel Pacheco, Danny Wilson, and/or Jonjo Shelvey. All three of them would be seeing playing time at any non top four club. Hodgson does have control over their playing time. But Hodgson either by his lack of trust in young players or by his lack of trust in his position with Liverpool refuses to give any of the three an extended look at this point.

In the end tis the season to fire coaches (ask big sam today) and if Liverpool really want to attract top players you need to ask is Roy Hodgson the type of coach that top players will flock too? If the answer is no than he has to go.

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AC Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani says the Serie A leaders cannot afford to buy Carlos Tevez, despite having injured striker Filippo Inzaghi ruled out for the rest of the season. (Reuters)

Tevez says that no amount of money will keep him at Manchester City and if the club do not grant him a transfer in January, he will quit football altogether. Full story: the Sun

First Robinho and now Carlos Tevez are looking to whine their way out of town. I don’t feel sorry for Tevez one bit. Here you had a player who in the prime of his career got to call his own shot as a free agent. How many 25 year old World Class players get to do that? I’d would of respected him then if he went back to Boca Juniors but of course with Kia Joorabchian owing Carlos Tevez, money talked and he went to Manchester City.

If I was Manchester City I’d be asking you want to leave? “Fine, give us back our 25 million and you can go.” We all know that wasn’t going to happen. I’d respect Tevez if he quit the game altogether, I’d think he was a loon but at least then you couldn’t say it was about the money. If he joins Real Madrid then we all know Tevez is just a whining little man.

Manchester City are weighing up a renewed attempt to sign Nemanja Vidic from neighbours Manchester United. Roberto Mancini’s side are willing to double the Serbian defender’s current £90,000-a-week wage. goal.com

I think I’d be staying clear of the mess that is Manchester City right now.

Manchester United target Alexis Sanchez will not be leaving Udinese in the January window. However, the winger’s representative has hinted that a summer move to Old Trafford remains a possibility.
Full story: sport.co.uk

In other words Alexis Sanchez’s agent hope a summer move to Old Trafford is possible.

Blackburn Rovers boss Sam Allardyce is ready to make a bid for Blackpool midfielder Charlie Adam – but he will have to pay £3m for him. Full story: Daily Mirror

That would make Adam one of the few British players whose transfer value isn’t over valued.

Everton manager David Moyes has admitted he may have to sell midfielder Steven Pienaar in the January transfer window to revive his ailing strike force. Daily Mail

Last summer there were rumours of 15 million on the table for Steven Pienaar. Should of taken it.

Real Madrid’s French forward Karim Benzema will not be leaving the Bernabeu in the January transfer window. The news will come as a blow to potential suitors Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal. sport.co.uk

Real Madrid can’t sell Benzema in January. Summer could be a different story.

West Ham manager Avram Grant wants £10m to spend in the transfer window to get West Ham out of relegation trouble. Daily Mail

Gerard Houllier has given his Aston Villa squad two days off to clear their heads after Richard Dunne’s training ground bust-up, and the Irishman could be on his way out of Villa Park.
Full story: Daily Mirror

If I was West Ham I’d make a call about Richard Dunne. Don’t know if I’m Richard Dunne if I’d want to go to West Ham however.

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Sunderland striker Asamoah Gyan is a shock transfer target for Real Madrid. The Ghana international, a £13m club record buy from Rennes last summer, has hit six goals for the Black Cats.
Full story: Daily Mirror

When you are up for African player of the year I’m sure clubs will be looking into you. Still can’t see Real Madrid making a move. While Real Madrid have never been known to go the cheap and easy way it doing so would lead to Emmanuel Adebayor. Manchester City would see it as a feather in their cap sending Adebayor to Real Madrid.

Bottom-of-the-table West Ham hope to sign Joey Barton from Newcastle in a £5m deal in January, with the controversial midfielder’s future at St James’ Park in doubt following the sacking of his manager and mentor Chris Hughton. Daily Mirror

Aside from a punch or elbow here and there Barton has turned his career around. Doesn’t mean a club should risk 5 million on him.

Out-of-favour Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia is wanted by Spanish outfit Malaga.
Full story: Daily Mail

The Manuel Almunia sweepstakes isn’t one I see heating up anytime soon.

Tottenham misfit David Bentley is wanted by his former club Blackburn, with a £1m loan switch likely for the winger. Daily Mail

How the not so mighty have fallen.

Fulham are on the brink of signing £8m-rated goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, who plays for Club America in Mexico. The Sun

I like Ochoa but my main question is why did Fulham fight so hard to keep Mark Schwarzer then?

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson may be forced to reverse his decision not to speak to the BBC as the Premier League plans to introduce rules that will require managers and players to talk to the press after every match or face a fine. The Guardian

I can’t imagine anyone forcing Sir Alex to do anything.

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(It’s the day after my Christmas party so If I make even more mistakes than usual you know why.)

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson is set to raid Aston Villa for England winger Ashley Young in a deal worth £15m. Daily Mirror

Maybe Carl Crawford can play in the midfield? I realize not a ton of Liverpool fans (the ones from England) are big baseball fans but wonder what those fans would think reading about Carl Crawford’s seven year $142 million dollar deal? You have to except them thinking hey when will Liverpool see a 100 million dollar player?

On a rant here I hate the Boston Red Sox’s? Why you ask? (Ok, I know most of you don’t care.) because they whine about the Yankees spending money but they have the second largest payroll in baseball. They remind me of Barcelona whining about Real Madrid. You already know once Manchester City starts spending the same Liverpool board will start whining about it. Bunch of hypocrites.

The Reds are also pursuing a cut-price £3m deal for Rennes and France right-back Rod Fanni, which could lead to a Tottenham bid for Glen Johnson. Daily Mirror

Tottenham, Bayern Munich and Juventus are all keen on Johnson, who looks set to quit Anfield in January.
Full story: Daily Express

Truth be told I’d sell almost every right back not named Maicon or Dani Alves for 15 million.

West Ham have joined the £5m race for Tottenham striker Robbie Keane. The Republic of Ireland international has been told he can leave in January. Daily Star

Aston Villa also plan to firm up their interest in Keane with a £6m bid. Daily Mail

Robbie Keane is over rated but at that price I wouldn’t blame Aston Villa or West Ham for taking a shot.

Stoke have been told they must pay Real Zaragoza £6m if they want to turn winger Jermaine Pennant’s loan deal into a permanent move at the end of December. the Sun

The final transfer fee won’t be 6 million. Real Zaragoza got Pennant on a free transfer you telling me they wouldn’t be happy with 4 million?

Leicester boss Sven-Goran Eriksson admits he tried to sign David Beckham on loan but the Los Angeles Galaxy and England midfielder turned him down. Eriksson has also been rejected by Tottenham striker Keane and Manchester City forward Roque Santa Cruz. the Sun

I love it when on Special One TV Sven goes “Oh David” like he is in love.

Newcastle fans are furious with the club’s reported decision to appoint Alan Pardew as their new manager. Daily Star

Fewer than 2% of those polled by the Newcastle Evening Chronicle on Wednesday wanted Pardew to succeed Chris Hughton as manager at St James’ Park. the Guardian

I love the fact Alan Pardew was given a 5 and a half year contract. I wonder what Chris Hughton is thinking right now? What a slap to the face. Once Pardew is fired I’m sure there is something in that contract to stop paying him.

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Liverpool could pip Spurs to the signing of Ajax striker and captain Luis Suarez in January.
Full story: Metro

It will be interesting to see what Damien Comolli has up his sleeves. Don’t know what the market was like for Suarez after the World Cup but have a feeling the time to sell for Ajax was then.

Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce could leave Ewood Park unless he is allowed to bid for targets such as Keane and former Rovers striker Roque Santa Cruz. The Sun

Not the first time Sam Allardyce has walked away from a club. I don’t think Big Sam is a top four manager but in his mind it must be frustrating not being able to break through the glass celling.

Liverpool are mulling over a move to sign Brazilian playmaker Ronaldinho from AC Milan, with Los Angeles Galaxy also interested in buying him at the end of the season. IM Scouting

Ronaldinho passion for football is done. Next stop is either LA or back to Brazil where he can enjoy his final years.

West Ham are planning to lure Shaun Wright-Phillips from Manchester City in a cut-price deal in January. (Daily Star)

I’m sure West Ham are planning to lure a lot of players on a cut-price deal.

Juventus are prepared to let Momo Sissoko go to Aston Villa – but the Italian giants will demand £6m. Daily Mail

If I was Juventus I’d let Sissoko walk as well. He hasn’t changed their fourtunes since coming over from Liverpool.

Martin Jol has ruled himself out of the running to become Newcastle manager because of his friendship with Chris Hughton, who was sacked from the job on Monday.Full story: The Times

Jol’s decision means former West Ham and Charlton boss Alan Pardew is likely to be named Magpies boss by the weekend. Daily Mail

Alan Pardew is one of the worst coaches in English football. Knew Newcastle wouldn’t be able to get anyone decent. They should of dug up Joe Kinnear again. Pardew may of been 5 minutes away from winning the FA Cup with West Ham but it’s been all downhill from there. He was a man who wouldn’t play Carlos Tevez or Javier Mascherano and tried his best to get West Ham sent down before he was sacked. He did manage to succeed in getting Charlton and unlike Chris Hughton who got Newcastle promoted, Charlton are now in League One. Pardew is awful and the Newcastle players will consider him a joke.

Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic could quit the club if he is shunted back out to right-back, the Serbia defender’s agent has warned. Daily Mail

Now isn’t the right time to be making demands if you are a Chelsea player.

Former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez admits he is in deep water at Inter Milan after crashing to a 3-0 Champions League defeat at Werder Bremen. Daily Mirror

For some reason I almost wish this was a bad dream for Rafa and he can wake up tomorrow as Liverpool’s coach.

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Manchester City are preparing a £60m bid for Barcelona’s midfield maestro Andres Iniesta.
Full story: IM Scouting

Iniesta isn’t going anywhere. When if Barcelona took the 60 million Iniesta would be leaving with a heavy heart and that wouldn’t be good for Manchester City.

Marseille are interested in bringing Chelsea striker Didier Drogba back to the south of France. The Blues bought Drogba from Marseille for £24m in 2004. IM Scouting

I know Chelsea are in a poor run of form but Drogba isn’t going anywhere yet. He may end his career with Marseille but not until Chelsea are done with him.

Juventus are prepared to offer a £20m package to beat Manchester United and Liverpool to the signature of Stoke City defender Ryan Shawcross. talkSPORT

I have a hard time wrapping my head around Juventus paying 20 million for a British defender.

Stoke boss Tony Pulis has said his centre-back will not be sold in January’s transfer window.
Full story: the Sun

In other words come back to me in the summer.

Newcastle could face the loss of star striker Andy Carroll as the board face a dressing-room revolt following the sacking of boss Chris Hughton. the Independent

Bet Carroll feels annoyed seeing Hughton go a couple of months ago signing a new contract.

Manchester United are rumoured to be interested in Shakhtar Donetsk midfield pair Douglas Costa and Willian as Sir Alex Ferguson looks to add more youthful talent to his Old Trafford squad. caughtoffside.com

It does fit the profile of the types of players Manchester United go after.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is hoping to lure Manchester City keeper Shay Given to the Emirates with the promise of regular first-team football. caughtoffside.com

Manchester City will let Shay Given rot on the bench before selling him to Arsenal.

Southampton boss Nigel Adkins has issued a hands-off warning to Arsene Wenger over Arsenal’s pursuit of teenage midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Daily Mirror

That should stop them.

Former Arsenal striker Julio Baptista, now with Italian side Roma, has ruled out a move to Tottenham in January. talkSPORT

Baptista couldn’t run from London life fast enough. Don’t see him wanting another go around.

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp is lining up a move for Athletic Bilbao striker Fernando Llorente.
Full story: caughtoffside.com

Can’t see a top Spanish club letting Llorente slip from their fingers.

Another potential target for Spurs is Russian striker Pavel Pogrebnyak, who is reportedly learning English in anticipation of a move to England after falling out with Stuttgart manager Jens Keller.
Full story: Daily Mail

This makes more sense.

Redknapp is also considering an audacious move to bring midfielder Michael Carrick back to White Hart Lane from Manchester United. caughtoffside.com

Carrick will never be accepted by Tottenham fans. Lots of other midfielders like him out there.

Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson will swoop on former club Fulham with an attempt to sign attacker Clint Dempsey in January. caughtoffside.com

Makes a decent headline plus Dempsey would fit in well at Liverpool but Fulham won’t sell unless Liverpool goes over the top with an offer.

Midfielder Scott Parker is ready to hand in a transfer request to force through a move from West Ham to Tottenham. The Hammers club captain is reportedly unimpressed with manager Avram Grant and it is rumoured that he has also fallen out with team-mate Matthew Upson. Full story: Goal.com

Tottenham will use striker Robbie Keane in their bid to sign Parker.

Atleast Robbie Keane would stay in London with this move.

Former Tottenham manager Martin Jol, who resigned as Ajax boss on Monday, is in the frame to fill the Newcastle hot-seat vacated by Chris Hughton. Guardian

Newcastle legend Micky Quinn has launched a furious attack on the club’s owner Mike Ashley for sacking manager Chris Hughton. “I am absolutely fuming about this,” said Quinn. talkSPORT

If Jol thinks he got the shaft from Tottenham just give him 12 months on the Newcastle job. I’d be shocked if any decent coach would want to take over at St James Park.

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For the last 36 hours being reading countless articles by American and British journalist/bid organizers over how flawed the World Cup bidding process is. BBC aside now these journalist have figured out what the common soccer fan has known all along or simply a case of these jouranlist/bid organizers who were more than happy to get into bed with a snake now expressing outage when the snake bites them.

My favorite part of the World Cup bidding process is people being mad at the BBC for exposing how corrupt the power brokers of Fifa are. How dare the BBC shine light on dirty deeds when a World Cup bid is at stake. Not one group tried to suggest anything was even slightly wrong in the World Cup bidding process when everyone else could see that there was. This is why I feel little pity for the England or United States bid as both were quite happy to play Fifa’s game right til the end. I can’t feel sorry for you when Fifa does what it always does and goes after the money before anything else.

In the end this will blow over like everything else cause before justice people love football first and foremost and Fifa controls that with an iron grip. A lot of noise will be made, maybe Fifa will set up some “special task force” on the subject but when it comes to the next round of World Cup bidding 8 years or so from now it will be business as usual with the World Cup going to the country who can lining Fifa’s pockets the most.