There Is Only One Sinnacle

Last one of the season….sheds tear.

Been always meaning to do this but figured I’d run down the list of players I follow on twitter and give my opinions (not like they care what I think about them)

@jamesdrodriguez Truthfully just started following him yesterday after Porto won the Europa League. Decided to follow him cause in 2-3 years he should make his mark on European football.

@anton_ferdinand The younger Ferdinand is over shadowed by big brother Rio both on the pitch and on twitter. I do enjoy how he took it to heart when West Ham went down.

@Charlie26Adam One of the saddest things I see is people asking footballers for a RT from some kid Timmy who has a problem and Charlie Adam must be a nice guy cause he RT’s a lot of these. I’m sorry people but if you think Timmy is going to find a cure cause Charlie Adam RT’s your tweet then you have a problem or no life. Can’t wait to see if Adam will break the news on twitter over the summer which club he plans to go too.

@WayneRooney I’ve been knocking Wayne Rooney for along time but I love him on twitter. He engages with fans, talks some shit and all around seems like a early 20′s kid who is finding himself not a multi million dollar football player. Enjoy his tweets about playing video games with team mates and sending out pictures with the number 19 shaved to his chest. Also find it interesting he doesn’t follow Ronaldo on twitter but does follow Gerald Pique.

@themichaelowen Another player who I really enjoy on twitter. I’ve always wondered how players who have hit the highest of highs deal with coming down from the top of the football mountain. Owen seems at peace with his place in football and his future. He also still likes to make a wager or two as well which never hurts in my book.

@luisnani He tries that’s the best I can say.

@DominicCervi I follow the back up Celtic goalie. Mostly because he is American. Kinda enjoy the culture shock American footballers have to face and how they handle it.

@jack_wilshere His first post after I decided to follow him was about how much he enjoys Jose Mourinho. From there I knew he’d be a quality follow with great taste in football coaches.

@rioferdy5 The king of twitter. He may not have the most followers but he has over a million. He is interesting, gives away prizes, asks questions, doesn’t duck away from an issue and picks fights with Pier Morgan.

@landondonovan Landon Donovan is a prick in real life and a prick on twitter but he is just being himself which somehow endears himself to me. He is a sarcastic prick who is living out his dream. Still don’t like him much but hate him a lot less since he joined twitter.

@D6MERIT Jay Demerit The US captain with the bad groin who cheered on Green Bay to the Super Bowl and Vancouver during this Stanley Cup run. Interesting sense of humour, quick witty and you can tell he seems to be the type of guy everyone likes in the locker room.

@ClaroRonaldo Considering how uncomfortable he seemed to be in the press Ronaldo was the last twitter I figured would enbrace twitter but he has and I get a kick out of it when he replies to someone in English.

@davidamonsalve He is a Toronto goalie who has bounced around from Toronto FC to Finland and now Columbia. Interesting travels for sure. Hope he is able to make a break through somewhere.

@kaka Seems like a nice humble man in real life….seems like a nice humble man on twitter.

@Cristiano Interesting to see Ronaldo’s PR team convince him to join twitter. Not convinced he tweets however. I don’t care if he is a robot I’ll always football him.

@herculezg Herculez Gomez went from MLS reject to a top goal scorer in Mexico and onto the United States World Cup roster. Plus he is a Real Madrid fan so I follow him.

@GiuseppeRossi22 Feel bad for the grief he gets from American fans who bitch him out over not playing for the United States. Another player who if you followed blindly on twitter you wouldn’t think he was a millionaire footballer. Fist pump to Jersey. Also like how he dealt with not making the Italian World Cup squad.

@thehp3 (Heath Pearce) Don’t know why I follow him. He is weird who doesn’t talk about soccer. Which I don’t blame him, it’s not like I go home and talk about my job 24/7 but his rambling about his moustache is weird.

@huntfree (Hunter Freeman) Followed him when he was playing in Norway. Happy he now gets to play in his home state of Texas and also happy for him that he has a baby on the way.

@CarlRobinson33 Followed him when he was a TFC member. Turthfully I really don’t know what to say about him.

@jdeguz Enjoy how he always is on the look out for TFC streams to watch his brother play. Have a feeling he is enjoying the good life in Spain.

@JozyAltidore17 Jozy sure has bounced around going from Spain to England and now Turkey which makes him interesting.

@CharlieDavies9 Hope his story has a happy ending either staying in MLS or going back to Europe.

@MauriceEdu Love the fact Maurice Edu stills list Toronto as one of his locations on twitter. Back on twitter now with the season over. Love the way he interacts with his followers.

@FreddyAdu11 Nice guy, loves his followers, I don’t mean to go Dr Phil here but just seems like he hasn’t put it all together yet either on the field or in real life. I know he is young but still seems child like which is weird considering all the things he has already done.

@dwaynederosario Another player who I think has someone handling his tweets. His tweets mostly seem to be about promoting himself which is very similar to the way he plays on the pitch.

There is my list and I know I could follow 100′s more players on tweeter so now I ask you who do you like to follow on twitter?

It wasn’t the best game hell it was a pretty boring game but make no mistake Porto are deserving champions of the Europa League and unlike Benfica last year who sold their best players I truely believe Porto will keep the core of this team around next season. I for one am excited to see how Porto will match up with the best in the world in the UEFA Super Cup and Champions League next season.

As for Braga my heart goes out to them. Sure they don’t play the prettiest football. Hell, there football is downright football but those players most of whom are rejects from other clubs. Despite this players never stopped working, always keeping their shape but one mistake one beautiful cross and one beautiful finish did them in. They might not be the biggest club in the world but what they did wasn’t a fluke. They knocked out Celtic and Sevilla to even make it to the Champions League. They finished with 10 points in their Champions League group, beating Arsenal along the way. In the Europa League they shut down Liverpool over 180 minutes, played down a man against Kiev for 60 minutes to hold on via away goals, came back from 2-1 down against Benfica to make it to the finals. This team deserves more respect than just being considered road kill on Porto’s way to European Glory.

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has his eye on 33-year-old Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, who may be surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge in the summer. Daily Express

Out with the old in with the new for Chelsea but I don’t see Chelsea moving him to another EPL club. Spain, France or Italy Drogba will go too.

Spurs are also considering cashing in on unsettled striker Jermain Defoe to raise money for an £8m move for Birmingham goalkeeper Ben Foster. Daily Mail

Not against the idea of Spurs selling Jermain Defoe. I am against the idea of them signing Ben Foster even if he prevented Spurs from winning the League Cup back when he was with Manchester United.

Arsenal will seek to reinforce the centre of their defence with the £12m signing of Blackburn’s Christopher Samba. Daily Mail

In other words Arsenal hopes Blackburn goes down. Between Samba and Gary Cahill who know Samba is going to be cheaper despite most likely being better than Cahill.

Liverpool, Tottenham, Aston Villa, Sunderland, Juventus and former club Newcastle are all interested in Wigan winger Charles N’Zogbia. Daily Mirror

It’s never been a matter of lacking talent for N’Zogbia, it’s only been a matter of him not being a head case which has stopped him from moving up in clubs.

QPR are weighing up an approach to Benfica for Argentina striker Javier Saviola, who could be available for £2m or on a season-long loan deal. Daily Mirror

Flashback to 2008 again with Saviola to EPL rumours.

QPR manager Neil Warnock has denied that he is set to swap playmaker Adel Taarabt for Liverpool’s Joe Cole, saying that his club could not afford Cole’s wages. Metro

This is one of the dumbest rumours I’ve read in along time. Taarabt is worth close to 10 million right now. Liverpool can’t give Joe Cole away right now.

Manchester City are set to allow Craig Bellamy to leave the club in a cut-price deal this summer but Emmanuel Adebayor’s attempts to engineer a move to Tottenham may be hindered by his £180,000-a-week wages.Daily Mirror

When Real Madrid don’t want to sign up partly because of your wages you know there is problem.

The deadline Juventus set for turning Liverpool midfielder Alberto Aquilani’s deal into a permanent switch may have passed but a deal between the two clubs could still be agreed. Daily Mail

If Juventus sign Andrea Pirlo you know there are going to knock down the price of Aquilani even lower. Roma should just end this and come in with a bid to reunited Aquilani with his former team. Makes more sense then these silly Landon Donovan to Roma rumours.

Arsenal will attempt to tie down forward Robin van Persie for the rest of his career with the offer of an improved five-year contract. Daily Mirror

He will spend two of those years injuried.

Manchester City are planning an audacious attempt to bring Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo back to the Premier League. The Portuguese winger would replace another Manchester United old boy, Carlos Tevez, at Eastlands. Daily Mirror

If Ronaldo is unhappy at playing a defensive minded game at Real Madrid I’m sure he would be thrilled playing for Roberto Mancini.

Tottenham will allow Gareth Bale to decide his own future if, as expected, they receive an offer of about £40m from Manchester City for the left-sided midfielder. Metro

United should give Tottenham 30 million and Dimitar Berbatov then call it a day.

Liverpool have made a formal approach to Lille for Belgian playmaker Eden Hazard. Arsenal, Real Madrid and Chelsea are also interested in the £20m-rated star. Daily Mirror

Smart move by Liverpool trying to wrap this one would early. Oh I always heard about the ticket price increase. Get use to that with John Henry.

AC Milan are ready to use former Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini as a makeweight in an offer for Tottenham’s Brazilian anchorman Sandro. talkSPORT

I’m sure Tottenham on some level would love to grab a former Arsenal player but Flamini isn’t going to push the over the hump.

Bolton defender Gary Cahill has told friends that he is optimistic about securing a move to Arsenal over the summer. Daily Mirror

I’m not as optimistic that Arsenal will pony up the dough for Cahill.

Everton are believed to be the unnamed English club who have had an offer rejected for Sporting Lisbon forward Yannick Djalo. talkSPORT

Not going to be a difference maker for Everton but Djalo does have pace which is always usefull. Think a cheaper Gabriel Agbonlahor.

Manchester City are planning a £25m bid for Everton’s 26-year-old left-back Leighton Baines.
Full story: Daily Mirror

If anything was learnt from Joleon Lescott is that you will survive if you sell a very good player for an over the top fee.

Meanwhile, Spurs boss Harry Redknapp has admitted he needs to buy a couple of top-class players if Tottenham are to compete for a Champions League place. the Sun

We get the point Harry….Tottenham needs to spend to keep you happy.

Newcastle are lining up a bid for West Ham striker Carlton Cole. The 27-year-old could be available for £7m. Full story: Daily Mirror

Makes a good deal of sense. As an added bonus I believe Cole would be within five goals of whatever goal tally Andy Carroll tallys up.

Liverpool and Everton have been warned by West Brom boss Roy Hodgson that he will fight to hold on to star midfielder Chris Brunt, 26, if they make an approach. Metro

Brunt is a good little player and he is great from set pieces.

Striker John Carew, 31, has said he wants to quit Aston Villa and make his loan move to Stoke permanent. Daily Express

He is a free agent who Aston Villa no longer wants. What is Carew quitting exactly?

Ferguson may escape Premier League sanctions if he fields a weakened side in United’s final game of the season against Blackpool at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Full story: the Guardian

However, the United boss has promised Blackpool’s relegation rivals that whatever team he picks on Sunday will play to win. Daily Express

Manchester United won the league they have the right to field any team they want. They put on a weaken side two years ago against Hull and won 1-0 in the final game of that season.

Chris Hughton is in pole position for the West Ham job after former England boss Steve McClaren ruled himself out of the running. Daily Mirror

Hughton does have the experience of working under whack job owners.

Maybe next year if referee’s don’t wish to decide games between Barcelona and Real Madrid will people place Ronaldo back on top as world player of the year. In other words come on Manchester United. Also great move UEFA by not suspending Sergio Busquet. Maybe next time he’ll just have a banner reading monkey to make it more clearer. Double standards, one rule for Barcelona another for everyone else. Great massage UEFA sent on there intentions to crack down on racism.

Former England manager Steve McClaren, who was sacked by German side Wolfsburg in December, will be West Ham’s new manager. talkSPORT

Don’t even get why McClaren would want to go to a club run by a ship of fools. David Gold and company have gone done three out of the last six years and the way they went about sacking Avram Grant right after the game was classless. West Ham is a club rotten to it’s core right now.

Ajax have told BBC Sport that goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg, reported to be a possible target for Manchester United, is having discussions with the Dutch club about a new contract.

Doesn’t not matter what van der sar says Stekelenburg wouldn’t be wearing a United jersey next season.

Striker Carlos Tevez says the prospect of trying to wrestle the Premier League title from Manchester United’s grasp is “a great motivation” for him to stay with Manchester City.
Full story: the Sun

And Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini will demand an answer from Tevez, 27, over his future in the next fortnight. Full story: Daily Express

Sell the moody sulk and be done with it. Your best player can’t be the bestest downer in the dessing room.

West Brom are set to put in a £4m bid for Fulham’s Andy Johnson, which would result in the 30-year-old striker being reunited with ex-Craven Cottage boss Roy Hodgson, who is now manager of the Baggies. Full story: Daily Mirror

Roy Hodgson never fails to excite in the transfer market.

Sir Alex Ferguson is set to carry out the biggest overhaul of his Manchester United squad in 16 years this summer with Paul Scholes, Tomasz Kuszczak and Michael Owen among those who could leave the club. Daily Mail

Kuszczak and Owen are good as gone.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was left despondent after Sunday’s defeat by Aston Villa with third place in the Premier League – and automatic qualification to the Champions League – now out of his side’s hands. talkSport

Losers

Sacked West Ham manager Avram Grant was persuaded to travel back to London from Wigan with the players after he suggested he would go home on his own by car. Daily Mail

Classy man, not the greatest manager but classy man none the less.

Chelsea will have competition for Marco van Basten’s signature should they decide to dispense with current manager Carlo Ancelotti’s services and make an approach to the former Netherlands boss. Van Basten, who has been linked with Sporting Lisbon and Fiorentina, has several jobs offers to consider already according to his agent. (Press Association)

What a player but what an average coach. I feel pretty safe in the knowledge that wherever van Basten ends up next it won’t be Chelsea.

Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti has revealed that his club is interested in Lille playmaker Eden Hazard and Villarreal striker Giuseppe Rossi. (Agence France-Presse)

Both players would be perfect for Inter. You would think with Hazard comnig in would mean Wesley Sneijder leaving.

Real Madrid have turned down an offer of 30m euros (£26.4m) from Juventus for French striker Karim Benzema. (La Gazzetta dello Sport)

There goes the Benzema to Arsenal rumours then if this offer was really rejected.

Manchester City are in talks with two Abu Dhabi-based companies over a stadium-naming deal that will generate between £10m and £12m a year for the club. Goal

It’s not like their stadium has a ton of history behind it. Get that money I’d say.

City manager Roberto Mancini has asked playmaker David Silva to convince Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas to move to Eastlands in the summer. the Sun

I know both are on the National team but it’s not like Silva and Fabregas have this deep history together.

Ruud van Nistelrooy has issued a “come and get me” plea to Premier League clubs after the Hamburg striker opened the door to a summer return to England. Tottenham and Blackburn are both reportedly keen on the Dutchman. Daily Mail

Come to TorontoFC

Manchester United could be set for a £14m summer move for Roma’s Italian midfielder Daniele de Rossi, who has a year to run on his current contract but is not close to signing a new deal.
Full story: caughtoffside.com

I’m sure the new Roma owners who have a connection with the Liverpool owners are really looking forward to selling Daniele de Rossi to Manchester United.

There are fears in the England management that Robert Green could retire from international football just days after fellow goalkeeper Ben Foster took an indefinite sabbatical to concentrate on his club career. Full story: Independent

Really? Someone really fears this?

Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets could be suspended from the Champions League final against Manchester United after he was charged by Uefa over allegations that he directed racist comments at Marcelo in the semi-final against Real Madrid. If found guilty he may be suspended for the final at Wembley on 28 May. Daily Mail

Took UEFA long enough. Hope they give Busquets the same five games they gave Mourinho for telling the truth.

Porto coach Andre Villas Boas has denied reports he is to move to Chelsea or Juventus.(Daily Telegraph)

Just give me one more year with this current Porto team that is all I’m asking. May be biased but have a feeling Porto wouldn’t look to sell this summer because they know the price tag will be the same if not more next summer. When you look at the two main players Porto sold last summer Bruno Alves and Raul Meireles both were getting close to 30 so the time was now to sell. With the core of this Porto team in their early to mid 20′s they can afford to wait another year before cashing in them.

Manchester City are to offer Barcelona star Xavi a massive final payday to end his career at Eastlands in a move which could result in Arsenal’s Cesc Fabregas heading to the Nou Camp.
Full story: Daily Mirror

But the FA Cup finalists have been told not to bother Inter Milan with bids of less than £45m for star striker Samuel Eto’o. talkSport

The Xavi to Manchester City is a pipe dream. Now let’s talk about Eto’o who Barcelona should of never sold. If David Villa wasn’t Spanish a ton of questions would be asked about how his goals have dried up the second half of this season.

Robert Green will lead the West Ham exodus with a summer move to Aston Villa – even if the Hammers avoid relegation. The Sun

Great at saving penalties, average at everything else.

Tottenham could be willing to let as many as nine players leave in the summer, with Robbie Keane, Jonathan Woodgate and Roman Pavlyuchenko amongst the high profile names up for sale. The Independent

There is a lot of dead weight on this Tottenham side.

Lazio are lining up a £9m offer for Arsenal striker Marouane Chamakh. talkSport

Wouldn’t be the worst piece of business getting 9 million for a player they signed on a free transfer.

In what one can only say is well deserved Kenny Dalgish has been handed a three year deal to continue coaching Liverpool. Considering the depths Liverpool were stuck in when Dalgish took over he deserves all the credit he can get for getting Liverpool back into Europe. Sad for them that season is ending or else they could of easily been a top four club again.

Hope is a great word in the world of football and Dalgish has given Liverpool a fresh leash on life with his attacking style of play. Dalgish also played the interm tag perfectly. Unlike Rafa who is always looking at making a power play Dalgish went about his job and deflected questions about his future which in turn left the ownership group to go about it’s business without feeling the day to day pressure of locking Dalgish up.

In the end John Henry and company had no choice but to sign Dalgish. I try not to compare Liverpool and Manchester United but the same way whoever replaces Sir Alex Ferguson is just setting himself up to fail the same could be said for whoever was chosen to lead Liverpool next year. After one or two bad games fans would wonder why did we make such a switch when Kenny Dalgish had Liverpool playing the best football in the country before leaving?