There Is Only One Sinnacle

Three Games Today

Braga -0.5 -125 vs Vitoria Setubal
Benfica – 1 -115 vs Nacional da Madeira

If you think me being Portuguese and all would lead to me being good at Portuguese soccer you’d be wrong. I’d be happy with a split or a Braga win and a Benfica push.

Villarreal +2 and +2.5 -129 vs Barcelona

Record 24-21-5 +.03

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp is closing in on West Ham midfielder Scott Parker after putting in an improved £6m offer. Full story: the Sun

Stoke boss Tony Pulis is set to sign Honduras midfielder Wilson Palacios from Tottenham for £6m.
Full story: the Sun

You know with Harry Redknapp’s history and after the trashing Manchester City gave them that Tottenham is going to clear players in and out before the transfer window closes.

Arsenal are interested in signing £10m-rated Chelsea’s Brazilian defender Alex.
Full story: the Sun

Since I had money on Arsenal against Udiense I was quite happy with their performance but never did I think it was going to lead to a turn around. Arsenal defeated a team who sold their best player and best defender in the off season. Plus Udiense isn’t considered a giant of Italian football to begin with. If I was an Arsenal fan I’d almost be insulted after racking in close to 65 million in transfer fees the first player Wenger brings in is a South Korean striker playing in the French second division for 3 million. By all amounts he is a decent player but he isn’t going to change things. The trouble is players go to teams to either win or get paid and Arsenal can offer neither at this point.

Juventus defender Zdenek Grygera is set for a move to Fulham as boss Martin Jol chases Birmingham forward Cameron Jerome and Crystal Palace youngster Wilfried Zaha. Full story: Daily Mail

It’s funny how the second Martin Jol takes over a team they start leaking in goals.

Harry Redknapp has revealed that Luka Modric asked him not to play him against Manchester City on Sunday. The Croatian playmaker did start, but was taken off in the second half. (Various)

I’d love to ask my boss to not make me work.

Tim Howard hailed Everton’s “crazy” win over Blackburn as the potential turning point that can spark their season. The Blues keeper saved a penalty and saw another against him missed before Mikel Arteta’s spot-kick success gave Everton their first win of the season.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Bad things happen to bad teams and Blackburn is a bad team.

None of these videos can inspire a full blown review but these are the things which come to mind when I watch these videos. On a side note I turn and leave on Much More Music (think VH1 for your Americans) when I get ready in the morning. I am not admitting or denying I like any of these songs.

Here we have Maroon 5 who have extended their 15 minutes with Moves like Jagger featuring Christina Aguilera. I try to be mean about someones looks but screw it I’m feeling like a prick today plus I’m nervous about the upcoming Porto-Barcelona match this afternoon.

I love the fact Christina Aguilera is in the same frame as Adam Levine for like a split second in this video. Why? Because he is 6’2 160 pounds….she is 5’2 160 pounds not exactly a good look for her. Next to him she looks like the blonde Snookie. Again not trying to be mean but I have a feeling she is working on a remake of her hit song dirrty except this time it’s called hungrry and the video takes place in a Las Vegas Buffet.

The next song is Martin Solveig ft. Kele – Ready 2 Go. I will admit his last two videos have been brilliant. His video from Hello which took place at the french open was brilliant and Ready 2 Go being shot in the backdrop of a French national team match also is brilliant. I do have one big problem with this video. I have no idea how a stadium full of French people can be happy seeing one of their own sing an English song. The only thing I could compare it too is if Nena ran in and sang 99 luftballons while planting the German song right in the middle of the stadium.

I had a third song in my mind I was going to talk about but I have since forgetten about it. Shrugs shoulders.

I realized the guy killed himself but he hit his fame whoring wife so in my books that makes it fair game. Everytime I see the guy I think of Milhouse and hope his life didn’t follow the same direction.

On a side note I do believe Milhouse may of been inspired from Paul on the Wonder Years.

Sings….what would do if I sang out of tune………….

A very good draw as far as Portuguese clubs are concerned! It was quite nice seeing Porto in as a first seed. Shakhtar Donetsk and Zenit are both tricky teams and the away leg must suck travel wise but knock on wood Porto should still be in a good spot to claim one of the top two places in the group. Benfica as usual is the case faces up with Manchester United but the good news is the fact that Basel and Otelul Galati round up the group. Benfica should be head and shoulders above those two. Both Man United and Benfica should be happy with that group.

Bring grouped third it was a safe guess to say Manchester City was going to be in the group of death. Should be some interesting battles between Bayern Munich, Villaareal, Manchester City and Napoli.

Group A:

Bayern Munich, Villarreal, Manchester City, Napoli

Group B:

Inter Milan, CSKA Moscow, Lille, Trabzonspor

Group C:

Manchester United, Benfica, Basel, Otelul Galati

Group D:

Real Madrid, Lyon, Ajax, Dinamo Zagreb

Group E:

Chelsea, Valencia, Bayer Leverkusen, Genk

Group F:

Arsenal, Marseille, Olympiakos, Borussia Dortmund

Group G:

Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk, Zenit St Petersburg, APOEL Nicosia

Group H:

Barcelona, AC Milan, BATE Borisov, Viktoria Plzen

Two out of three ain’t bad yesterday. Only one game today

Arsenal pk +101 vs Udinese

Record 23-21-5 -.98

Tottenham have agreed a loan deal for Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor.
Full story: the Sun

After throwing in the towel against Manchester United on Monday you know Tottenham is going to want and make a move in a hurry

Forward El-Hadji Diouf has criticised Blackburn manager Steve Kean for freezing him out at Ewood Park.
Full story: the Sun

I wouldn’t let El-Hadji Diouf come within the city limits never mind play him on my football team.

Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli says he fancies a move to Serie A side Palermo – the city where he was born. Full story: Daily Mirror

But Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini insists the club have little chance of signing Balotelli because he is too expensive. Full story: talkSPORT

Pretty much ends this story.

Aston Villa are set to make a £3.5m bid for Manchester United midfielder Darron Gibson.
Full story: Daily Mail

Darron Gibson should see the writting on the wall and pack his bags.

Arsenal target Eden Hazard has once again reaffirmed his commitment to Lille by ruling out a move to the Emirates this summer. Full story: talkSPORT

Shame for Arsenal

Misfit Liverpool midfielder Joe Cole wants a permanent move away from Anfield – and wants to join Tottenham. Full story: Daily Mirror

Another club where he wouldn’t play everyday at.

Meanwhile, Chelsea have lodged a bid of around €20m [£16.6m] for the highly rated Porto wing-back Alvaro Pereira. Full story: the Guardian

Well, it wouldn’t be the first time he has replaced Jose Bosingwa.

Rumours that striker Andy Carroll was leaving Liverpool erupted on Twitter after he was ‘spotted’ outside Manchester City’s stadium. But thankfully for Kopites, it was just a case of mistaken identity after his namesake’s tiling firm rocked up outside City’s club shop. Full story: Metro

I find it funny that people figured this could be real. Not for nothing but I don’t think teams are tripping themselves to say Andy Carroll right now.

I loved my Ispwich pick last week where after going up 1-0 they end up losing 7-1. Shrugs shoulders, rather lose like that then in a last minute heart breaker.

On to today

FC Zurich-Bayern Munich under 3 -117
Wisla Krakow +0.5 and +1 -106 vs APOEL Nicosia
Racing Genk -0.5 +107 vs Maccabi Haifa

Record 21-19-5 -1.99

AC Milan confirm they are in talks to sign Liverpool’s Alberto Aquilani, as QPR target a loan deal for his Anfield team-mate Joe Cole. Full story: Daily Mirror

Liverpool needs to clear the deck and if that means selling Aquilani for 6 million then so be it. As for Joe Cole he has a 1% chance of making it to Euro 2012. The only way he can do so is by going to Q.P.R and playing week in and week out.

West Ham’s Kevin Nolan has encouraged the club to sign his former Newcastle team-mate Joey Barton if they sell Scott Parker before the summer transfer window closes. Full story: Daily Mirror

I don’t even think Joey Barton wants to leave and if he does I’m sure there are options in the EPL he can go to.

Bolton aim to sign three players this week – Liverpool striker David Ngog for £4m-plus and Manchester City winger Shaun Wright-Phillips for £2m, while also taking City’s defender Dedryck Boyata on loan.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Not the biggest Ngog fan but Wright-Phillips and Boyata would prove useful if Bolton can nab them.

But Reds boss Kenny Dalglish is more likely to succeed with an £8m move for Birmingham defender Scott Dann. Full story: Daily Star

For a player like Scott Dann you must be nervous with each passing day that goes by and your still at Birmingham.

Arsenal are ready to break the bank to bring Bayern Munich’s Bastian Schweinsteiger to Emirates Stadium. Full story: Fanatix

Good luck with that. I don’t believe Arsenal would really make a run at Schweinsteiger however.

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas is planning to bolster his defence by signing Porto’s Rolando and Ajax’s Gregory van der Wiel before the transfer window shuts. Full story: Fanatix

It’s not who Chelsea bring in and it’s Chelsea ships out is what I want to see before I can consider them true contenders for Europe.

Arsenal are trying to offload Sebastian Squillaci – but they cannot find a taker for the French defender. Full story: talkSPORT

Shocking, I know

Tottenham failed with bids for Ashley Young, Phil Jones and Stewart Downing during the current transfer window. Full story: Metro

Is this suppose to make Spurs fans feel better?

Inter Milan are weighing up a move for Liverpool’s Dirk Kuyt, according to sources in Italy.
Full story: talkSPORT

Striker Kuyt will reject Inter’s interest in favour of staying at Anfield.
Full story: Daily Mail

I can’t begin to image the culture shock Dirk Kuyt would have playing in the laid back pace of Serie A compared to the EPL.

Manchester City have been set a deadline of Wednesday morning to complete a deal for Samir Nasri else risk the player being cup tied for the Champions League, with Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger looking to include Nasri in the starting XI in their qualifying second leg. Full story: Footybunker.com

Bye Bye Nasri. It still shocks me how Wenger would come out and say he plans to keep both Cesc and Nasri. It’s almost be insulting if I was an Arsenal fan and Wenger let this drag on into the season.

Lille striker Moussa Sow is keen on a move to Arsenal and Real Madrid.
Full story: Inside Futbol

Sow stock has done a world of good since signing as a free transfer I believe last year.

Rangers were incensed to learn an appeal against Steven Whittaker’s three-match ban was rejected by Uefa because of his sending off for Scotland nearly a year ago. Full story: Daily Record

Yuo really have a question a player who gets sent off within the first 30 minutes in a game where Rangers needed to win in order to advance.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has made bids of £15m and more than £20m respectively for Rennes midfielder Yann M’Vila and Lille forward Eden Hazard. The Frenchman may also return to Everton with a fresh approach for defender Phil Jagielka. Full story: Daily Mirror

It’s no fun knocking you Wenger please sign Hazard and M’Vila. Pull a Liverpool and over pay if you have too but do it.

The Gunners are reportedly offering striker Nicklas Bendtner to Werder Bremen in a swap deal for experienced centre back Per Mertesacker. Full story: Caught Offside

Swap deals rarely happen but if I’m Werder Bremen I’d conisder it.

Tottenham could renew their efforts to sign Atletico Madrid frontman Diego Forlan as the Uruguayan has grown unsettled at the Vicente Calderon. Full story: Fanatix

Forlan should save some time and pack his bags to join Inter as Eto’o replacement.

Out-of-favour Liverpool midfielder Alberto Aquilani has claimed he is close to joining AC Milan.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Aquilani would be a nice little pick up for the Italian Champions.

Chelsea will make a move for Fiorentina attacker Stevan Jovetic as soon as their deal to sign Juan Mata from Valencia has been finalised. Full story: Fanatix

The problem with Chelsea isn’t the players they are bringing in. Both Mata and Jovetic are players I like. It’s the fact no one has moved out which worries me. It’s early but Chelsea still look the same to me.

Ferguson is reportedly monitoring Japanese international Shinji Kagawa, the 22-year-old midfielder currently with Borussia Dortmund. Full story: Caught Offside

Good for Dortmund who thus far have been able to keep all their top players.

Arsenal are set to open talks with Lazio striker Mauro Zarate and hope to have the Argentine in the squad in time for the weekend’s match against Manchester United. Full story: Footy Bunker

Arsenal have one flake in Zarate who you never know what your going to get game by game. They don’t need another player in the same mold.

Liverpool are tempted by a possible swap deal that would send midfielder Raul Meireles to Chelsea in exchange for striker Daniel Sturridge. Full story: Caught Offside

Sturridge was will a long career but if your looking to win now you need Meireles in your starting 11 when fit.