There Is Only One Sinnacle

I promise normal service for this website will resume tomorrow…

The say death happens in three’s. Well, let’s hope cancer doesn’t follow suit as it was a shock to the system to read about Eric Abidal having a tumor on his liver yesterday and the news Bryan Robson having surgery for throat cancer this morning. Let’s hope both pull through this.

England winger Ashley Young has told friends he wants to leave Aston Villa. A source close to the 25-year-old said: “Villa are showing no sign of breaking into the top four and Ashley knows he has to think about playing at the very top if he wants to become an England regular before the 2012 European Championships.” the Sun

With 18 months left on his deal Ashley Young has the hammer here. If he is hearing the likes of Manchester United want him will it’s hard to turn that down. I like Gérard Houllier to a point but he has done little to give the likes of Ashley Young faith in the club going forward.

Chelsea are close to finalising a deal to sign Sao Paulo forward Lucas Piazon when he turns 18. The Blues are poised to beat off competition from Juventus for the player dubbed ‘the new Kaka’. He is currently playing for Brazil in the South American Under-17 Championship. (Press Association)

Chelsea where young players go to rot.

Manchester City are reportedly considering a move for Manchester United winger Nani after hearing of the Portuguese international’s attempts to secure a more lucrative contract at Old Trafford.
Full story: caughtoffside.com

I realize players go for the money and not coaches but if I was Nani I’d stay way clear of Roberto Mancini.

Everton manager David Moyes has conceded Jack Rodwell could join Manchester United in the summer if Red Devils boss Sir Alex Ferguson offers the right amount of money for the talented midfielder.
Full story: metro.co.uk

I get why this is news but really it’s basic common sense. Any player clubs like Everton can be had at the right price.

Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner will turn down Blackburn’s £15m bid to sign him this summer, with the Dane preferring a switch to Germany. Borussia Dortmund and Hamburg are possible options.
Full story: Daily Mail

Can’t blame Bendtner for having no interesting in Blackburn.

Goalkeeper Jens Lehmann has said he is confident he can help Arsenal win the Premier League title this season as negotiations continue over his possible return to north London. metro.co.uk

He won’t but Lehmann will at least make the newspapers happy.

Manchester United are facing a battle to keep Nani, with the Portuguese winger telling close friends he is considering a new challenge after the Red Devils rejected his request to discuss a new contract and wage rise. The 24-year-old is only 12 months into a new four-year contract. the Sun

It’s not like Real Madrid are going to come calling. Nani would be foolish to leave. He slots in perfectly with Manchester United. Why throw away a spot he took so long to get too?

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce will bid £9m for Wigan winger Charles N’Zogbia in the summer.
Full story: Daily Mirror

9 million worth of talent but it’s the rest of N’Zogbia game you question. Doesn’t hurt that N’Zogbia left Newcastle on bad terms.

Liverpool will sign Rennes winger Sylvain Marveaux on a free transfer on 1 July. Daily Mirror

Different type of player I know but hey can’t be any worst then the free transfer singing of Milan Jovanović last year or my favorite free transfer bust Philipp Degen.

Blackburn are planning a £15m bid for Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner in the summer.
Full story: Daily Mail

Bendtner is planning to say no.

England coach Fabio Capello will travel to Manchester on Tuesday, when he is expected to inform injured captain Rio Ferdinand that he is reinstating John Terry as captain of the national team on a permanent basis. Daily Telegraph

Capello told journalists the news only 24 hours after his assistant Franco Baldini made a personal phone call to Manchester United centre-back Ferdinand, assuring him he would keep the armband if fit and that the Terry reports were a misunderstanding. the Sun

Both Ferdinand and Terry should be taken out back and shot. Move forward England your the European Champions in my eyes for crying out loud.

England boss Capello says Jack Wilshere is “the best young midfield player I have ever seen at his age” and believes the Arsenal star will one day captain his country. the Sun

That puts no pressure on the kid.

Nothing to do with this post but just wanted to tip my cap to Sevilla who went out and tried to actually play against Barcelona. Great intense game which ended up 1-1. Mourinho mind games are working even if it’s easy to see with through it but I love how the conversation is slowly starting to change from Barcelona is the greatest team ever to Barcelona have the referee’s in their back pocket.

I just love this picture (credit to a poster named elty on the rfd message board thread I started a million years ago)

With that here we go.

Manchester United plan to sign 20-year-old Atletico Madrid keeper David de Gea as a £15m replacement for Edwin van der Sar, who intends to retire at the end of the season. Daily Mail

Going to take more than 15 million to take David de Gea to Manchester.

Tottenham are weighing up Bolton’s 25-year-old centre-back Gary Cahill, who was a transfer target for Arsenal in January. Metro

Love the Gallas signing but he isn’t getting any younger. Tottenham would be wise to add Cahill to the mix next season.

Chelsea are considering a swoop for AC Milan’s veteran midfielder Massimo Ambrosini. The 33-year-old Italian’s contract is coming to an end in the summer. insidefutbol.com

Ambrosini has been a great player but it’s time to put dirt on him. I don’t care about the Carlo Ancelotti link has he may not even be a the club next season.

Former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit is concerned about the mental state of manager Arsene Wenger’s players. The 40-year-old Frenchman said: “There seems to be a curse around the club at the moment. Arsenal’s key players seem to be cracking up.” the Sun

Another former Gunners star Perry Groves has urged Wenger to fire up his second-placed team to win the Premier League title following crushing defeats in the Carling Cup final, Champions League and FA Cup. Groves said: “Wenger has to pull them into a meeting on Monday morning and try to create a siege mentality and say no-one thinks we can do it.” Full story: talksport.co.uk

Groves is right no one thinks Arsenal can do it. The sad thing is Arsenal fans are resigned to this team choking on the eve of spring. No demand for answers, no demand for anyone’s head, just ho hum maybe next year.

Manchester United’s 40-year-old goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar is flattered by fans’ calls for him to continue at the club for another year but the Dutch star will retire at the end of the season because he wants to go out at the top. the Guardian

Great game for played on the weekend. No matter who Manchester United bring in next year they will miss van der Sar.

Never been so happy to see Wenger in my life.

Aston Villa and England forward Ashley Young is holding out for a move to Manchester United in the summer. The 25-year-old, whose current deal expires at the end of next season, is reported to have told team-mates of his ambitions to join Sir Alex Ferguson’s team. Daily Mail

Sadly for Villa fans this makes perfect sense. If I was Manchester United I’d pry Ashley Young away. As an added bonus since he has only 12 months left in his contract you’d get him at a better price. It would still be in the high 10′s low 20 million dollar range mind you.

Brazil striker Adriano, 29, who has had his contract with Roma terminated, has claimed his future is in his homeland despite being linked with Newcastle and Tottenham. Daily Mirror

Guess Adriano isn’t a fan of warm beer.

Juventus and Liverpool will lead the chase for Arsenal’s 25-year-old defender Gael Clichy, if the French international decides not to renew his contract with the Gunners. talkSPORT

You know there was a day when being linked with Juventus meant something.

Manchester City are interested in Belgium Under-21 international Yassine El Ghanassy. The 20-year-old, who plays for AA Gent and can operate either upfront or as a winger, is valued at £4.3m. talkSPORT

Good player but would quickly get lost in the shuffle at Man City.

Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli lasted only 57 minutes in the 2-0 defeat at Dynamo Kiev on Thursday after suffering an allergic reaction to grass. Manager Roberto Mancini said: “He had an allergy and his face was swollen.” the Sun

Balotelli suffered an allergy to running.

The chairman of a French village football team has been suspended after making an attempt to sign Barcelona’s Lionel Messi through official channels after a night out. FC Borne’s bid was intercepted by the French Football Federation. Small World News

When I read this story two days ago I loved it then and I love it now. I’m shocked it hasn’t happen move for that matter. I’d also love to have access to their internet program used to make bids for players. I’d be on it all day like it’s football manager.

Manchester City playmaker Carlos Tevez is preparing to leave Eastlands for Inter Milan in the summer.
Full story: talkSPORT

Carlos Tevez is easily City’s best player but it doesn’t help your cause when your best player is almost the moodiest one. That has to rub off on his teammates.

Arsenal are weighing up a double swoop for Everton duo Jack Rodwell and Sylvain Distin – the latter seen as a possible solution to the Gunners’ widely perceived weakness in central defence.
Full story: Metro

Poor Arsenal, don’t get me wrong Barcelona where the better side over 180 minutes but the ref’s didn’t exactly help matters for Arsenal.

Striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, on loan at AC Milan from Barcelona, has had a change of heart over his stated desire to end his career at the San Siro, and could now become a target for Chelsea and Manchester City. Metro

One of two things could be going on. Ibrahimovic’s people want it to know that him going to A.C Milan isn’t a sure thing and they will have to pay up. The second is Zlatan may not go on with someone to the point he wants to me. Or has disgraced Juventus boss once said of Luciano Moggi he is a nice guy but a gypsy.

Tottenham have signed a new £50m five-year kit deal with American company Under Armour.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Guess Tottenham now has to protect this house.

Midfielder Stewart Downing has revealed how he spends his Aston Villa wages as part of the ongoing trial of his former agent. A home cinema costing £45,000 is perhaps the most extravagant of a relatively modest set of home improvements. the Guardian

Like me or you spedning four grand really.

Liverpool and Tottenham are back in the chase to sign January transfer target Mirko Vucinic after his agent hinted that Roma may listen to offers for the 27-year-old striker in the summer. Metro

No real owner, no real coach, you knows about the future of many Roma players. This ownership battle has been dragging on too long. They need to sort that out to give the club a clear direction with or without players like Vucinic.

Italian giants Juventus are weighing up Bolton’s Swedish striker Johan Elmander, who is available on a free transfer this summer. Daily Mirror

I like Elmander and think he’d do fine in Italy but it’s sad to see a side like Juventus being linked with a free transfer from Bolton. Shouldn’t this go the other way around?

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says rivals Tottenham are still in with a shout of winning the Premier League title, even though the White Hart Lane outfit are currently 12 points off the pace. Metro

Wenger is just being nice. Oh go Gunners today.

Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe, 28, says he was so frustrated after being left out of key games by manager Harry Redknapp that he almost quit the north London club in January. Daily Mail

Redknapp should turn around and say I’m so frustrated at you missing easy chances I was going to sell you in January.

Manchester United are missing a Roy Keane-style midfield general, according to ex-Red Devils striker Teddy Sheringham. Daily Mirror

They are missing Ronaldo.

Meanwhile, Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola says Fabregas’s Arsenal colleague Jack Wilshere would be in the reserves if the teenager was a player at the Spanish club. Daily Mirror

I wonder if Pep could do it over would he make the same comment. Entertaining quote however. I do like Wilshere and I’ve already said It’s him not Fabregas Arsenal should give the keys too.

What bullshit took place on Sunday. Let’s revelate one’s hierarchy of morals. What is worst. a) a player who may or may not be a punk but let’s just say he is a punk. Who does try to take advantage of things by getting a foul called in his favor to the annoyance of fans. or b) a player who of course it can not be proven picked the perfect time to try and injury a player. Being 2-0 up close to half time it isn’t the worst time to take a shot. What an awful tackle, how can a player who has played the game since he was a kid make a tackle like that? Surely, you know beforehand you are going in high. Another thing which I always find curious Nani is five foot nothing. Does hurting the kid really make you tough? Wayne Rooney (also five foot nothing I know) who is also a punk, why doesn’t he ever get on the receiving end on such a tackle? I’m sure the story would be different today if it was Mr I don’t show up for big games unless it’s Manchester City Rooney instead of Nani.

My biggest question is why in the world wasn’t that a red card. Why are referee’s chicken shit. If you are a club of any importance heaven forbid a referee makes a tough decision in front of the home fans. Of course unless you are Arsenal, for some reason I think referee’s like annoying Wenger. Phil Dowd should of shown a red card. If that isn’t a red card what in the world is? Tackle was high, tackle was late, and tackle right through Nani’s leg.

The last thing which bugs me is hypocrisy. I love how fans quickly point out when a player on another team dives and “cheats” but either look away when their own players does it or my favorite just say “well everyone else does it.” and brushes it off yet want to run onto the streets with pitchfolks if someone on another team did the same thing.

Nani isn’t patient X when it comes to diving in football. This ideal that the English game is far above that is laughable and been proven wrong time after time. Captain on the decline (Gerrard is clearly Liverpool’s 4th best player, 5th is Carroll is worth half his transfer fee) clearly proves this

I can’t even link to his clear dive against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League because of some over the top comment made in the clips I’ve found. Yet players like Nani somehow is deserving of almost having his leg snapped in half. Fabio (edit Rafael) tackle would never needed to have happened if Dowd would of been a man, done his job as outlined in the rule book and shown the red card.

As for Nani getting up then going down. You know what if my leg was split open in two I’d be in shock and not exactly in control of my emotions. I loved seeing Captain M.I.A Gerrard saying get up. Was Nani over the top….of course but I’d be acting crazy too in that same spot.

As for the good, besides Luis Suarez ripping Manchester United apart. (why in the world did Carrick get a new 3.5 year contract? I’m sure it took him two seconds to sign that one.) Great job by Kenny Dalglish. I’ve been waiting to see how Dalgish adapts to a team he has faced before. The Liverpool team that took on Manchester United in his first game back is very different from today’s game but give him credit for getting everything spot on against Manchester United who really have huge questions to ask in midfield and defence.

By the way yes I know Carragher stayed in front of the United locker room after the game to say I’m sorry. I’m indifferent to that. Sure it’s a nice thing to do but what would of been nicer if he didn’t go knee high on his tackle.

As for Manchester United blanking out the media. Yeah it’s sour grapes but I’d be annoyed at the media in good and bad times too. If I was a manager i’d set up a twitter account to get my message out withing having it go through a middle man.

Great week for both Hazard and Lille. First Hazard signs a new contract on Friday then goes out and scores this beauty on the weekend. Lille must be thrilled keeping the pace on top of Ligue 1 with a late 2-1 victory over Marseille.