There Is Only One Sinnacle

In a case which seemed like ages to complete the English FA handed Luis Suarez and eight game ban for his alleged use of a racism term against Manchester United’s Patrice Evra.

This case is a tough one to form an opinion one. What I do think however is that Luis Suarez makes it very easy by his actions to have a governing body like the English FA decide to make an example out of him. First off he isn’t the England captain, second Suarez’s one finger salute against Fulham and pulling a Mike Tyson with Ajax last year biting another player doesn’t help with his character issues. The English FA couldn’t be seen as soft against Racism and Luis Suarez is a perfect player for them to make a statement.

Liverpool fans won’t be happy losing far and away their best player but hopefully this is a signal for every other player to think twice before saying something racist in the heat of the moment.

You know me, every time a Portuguese team loses it effects me so now I am recovered from Porto not making it to the Champions League knockout stages. Moving on everyone who reads this state knows I love throwing dirt on Arsene Wenger but the man has had no luck with it comes to the Champions League. A.C Milan book ended with Barcelona during the last four years.

Of course my eye is on Benfica vs Zenit a match up which both teams will think they can win. It is what it is but if Benfica could of held on to Angel Di Maria, Ramieres, Fabio Coentrao this Benfica team could of been considered a top four team but hopefully this current Benfica squad can advance to the final eight of the Champions League.

Lyon (Fra) v APOEL (Cyp)

Napoli (Ita) v Chelsea (Eng)

AC Milan (Ita) v Arsenal (Eng)

Basel (Swi) v Bayern Munich (Ger)

Bayer Leverkusen (Ger) v Barcelona (Spa)

CSKA Moscow (Rus) v Real Madrid (Spa)

Zenit St Petersburg (Rus) v Benfica (Por)

Marseille (Fra) v Inter Milan (Ita)

It’s easy to harp about Barcelona and Real Madrid being better then everyone else. One of the many reasons why is because they are confident with being arrogant. Simply put Manchester United got what they deserved, crashing out of the Champions League. Manchester United didn’t beat Benfica or FC Basel in any of their four games.

Speaking on FC Basel, what a great performance. It’s amazing how FC Basel basically slapped Manchester United in the mouth with the early goal. Usually that wakes up a sleeping giant but Manchester United just couldn’t raise there game to match FC Basel.

I’m not going to go on about Manchester United thinking something is really wrong. Let’s not sound the alarm bells here. The last time Manchester United crashed out in the group stage of the Champions League (also with Benfica in their group) two years later they won the Champions League. Right now Manchester United have players who are on the team based on potential rather they players who deserve to wear the shirt week in and week out cause of talent on that day.

With Manchester City also crashing out is the EPL still the best league in Europe? As someone I follow on twitter wisely said so much for Ashley Young, Gareth Barry, James Milner leaving Aston Villa for Champions League football.

What a mix of emotions right now if you are a Ajax and Lyon fan after Lyon turned around a 7 goal difference to advance at the expensive of Ajax.

You are damn right I’m betting against Ajax this weekend

Real Madrid is just scary good right now. With Barcelona and Real Madrid playing like this I’m giddy for this Saturday.

I realized most of you came for the site for the EPL Gossip (hell, it was all I posted about for a period of time.) As I got bored of posting the same thing day after day I figured doing a best of look back is the best way to meet in the middle so let’s make this a Sunday tradition shall we?

Monday

Blackburn Rovers will hand manager Steve Kean a January transfer kitty of £10m as the Ewood Park club try and buy their way out of relegation trouble. Full story: Daily Mirror

They could give Kean 100 million and it wouldn’t matter. Any decent player of some quality isn’t going to Blackburn to play for a know nothing coach like Steve Kean. Beating a promoted club at home yesterday doesn’t change the facts. Well aside from Everton screwed up letting Yakubu go.

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas has denied John Terry got himself deliberately booked against Wolves, meaning he misses the Carling Cup clash with Liverpool rather than a crucial Premier League game. Full story: the Sun

Why are these things even an issue? For example is Xabi Alonso got his yellow card last week to miss the Sporting Gijon match instead of the Barcelona match it’s just smart.

Tuesday

Sporting Lisbon striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel says he is happy to remain in Portugal despite rumoured interest from Manchester United and Chelsea. Full story: Manchester Evening News

Good player but he isn’t ready yet. Ricky van Wolfswinkel should stay in Portugal and enjoy his football for another year before moving on.

Arsenal scouts are watching Cologne and Germany striker Lukas Podolski, who could be available for £20m as he is out of contract in 2013. Full story: Daily Mirror

I’d take the chance and cut the cheque for Podolski who scores goals for fun with Germany but has never repeated that form at club level.

Morocco international striker Marouane Chamakh could soon be leaving Arsenal as Paris St Germain are understood to be readying a £10m transfer bid. Full story: Metro

I still like Chamakh who is a bad fit for Arsenal and when you are a free transfer clubs aren’t going to go out of their way to give a player a second chance.

Wednesday

Liverpool are planning a £12m move for Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Jadson. Full story: Caughtoffside

I don’t think Shakhtar picks up the phone for a 12 million dollar offer to Jadson.

Italian giants Inter Milan are prepared to pay a huge asking price to beat Liverpool and Arsenal to the signing of Lille midfielder Eden Hazard. Full story: talkSPORT

Inter are a club who badly needs a shake up and signing Eden Hazard would go along way to do that.

Manager Sir Alex Ferguson says fielding Manchester United’s kids in the Carling Cup can help him find the next David Beckham. Full story: Daily Mirror

That didn’t turn out too well for United who were flat against Crystal Palace.

Thursday

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp is gearing up for a January double swoop for Blackburn midfielder Junior Hoilett and Chelsea’s out-of-favour striker Nicolas Anelka. Full story: Metro

Love how the papers link Tottenham to ever Chelsea cast off but Junior Hoilett would be the one I look at if I’m Harry Redknapp.

Senegal striker Moussa Sow has issued a come-and-get-me plea to Arsenal. The 25-year-old has scored 29 goals in 48 league games for Lille since joining from Rennes 18 months ago. Full story: the Sun

Arsenal are saying we should of got you as a free transfer.

Lucho Gonzalez’s agent has put Premier League clubs on red alert after expressing the Argentine midfielder’s desire to leave Marseille. Full story: the Sun

Everyone knows I love Lucho Gonzalez. I hope he does move on to England.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is lining up a £30m January move for Borussia Dortmund’s 19-year-old Germany international Mario Gotze. Full story: Daily Mirror

For Arsenal’s sake I’d love to see it happen but I don’t think it will until the summer.

Spurs face competition from Barcelona for Sporting Lisbon star Joao Pereira, 27. Full story: talkSPORT

Smart of Joao Pereira agent to put a 7 million dollar release clause in his contract. Dumb of Sporting to agree to it.

Sources on Wearside suggest Mark Hughes is travelling up to the North East for an interview today following the departure of Steve Bruce. Full story: Sunderland Echo

But Blackpool and former Sunderland striker Kevin Phillips has backed Martin O’Neill to succeed Bruce, claiming he would be a great acquisition for the club. Full story: talkSPORT

Has someone asked Martin O’Neill how was it like being out of football for 18 months after quitting Aston Villa only to come back to a club with the same or even less level of talent?

Carlo Ancelotti, sacked by Chelsea at the end of last season, says the club’s “old” players are to blame for their run of bad results, not his successor Andre Villas-Boas. Full story: Daily Mirror

Carlo Ancelotti is class, he didn’t have to do that and it would of been easy to throw dirt on Andre Villas Boas.

LA Galaxy soccer coach Bruce Arena has revealed that President Barack Obama called him in the early hours of the morning on their tour of Indonesia to congratulate him on winning the MLS Cup. Obama spent several years growing up in Indonesian capital Jakarta and has cited it as giving him an appreciation of the beautiful game.
Full story: USA Today

If someone told me that the President of the United States was on the line I would automatically assume they were joking.

Friday

Aston Villa are closing in on a deal for Nice striker Yannick Djalo. The 25-year-old is available on a free transfer after Fifa refused to ratify his transfer from Sporting Lisbon in August, leaving him unable to play for the French side.
Full story: the Guardian

Alex Mcleish is the worst EPL manager since Gary Megson. Aston Villa will be the place where strikers go to die.

Sunday (didn’t like anything on Saturday)

Chelsea may offer England midfielder Frank Lampard to Tottenham as part of a deal to bring Luka Modric to Stamford Bridge. Full story: Sunday Mirror

Oh yes I’m sure an old Frank Lampard is going to be the tipping point in Tottenham selling Modric.

Newcastle United goalkeeper Tim Krul has emerged as a surprise January transfer target for Spurs. The Netherlands international has impressed Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp this season.
Full story: Metro

You really can make the case that Tim Krul has been the best goalie this year in England.

Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas has confirmed that the club have accepted transfer requests from defender Alex and striker Nicolas Anelka. Full story: London’s Evening Standard

Liverpool are considering making a move to re-sign Anelka in January. The Frenchman could be available for as little as £4m. Full story: caughtoffside.com

Not a chance Chelsea sells Anelka to another English club.

I was watching the Chelsea vs Newcastle match yesterday where it hit me that Tim Krul could be Patrick Roy’s twin. Also noticed that Juan Mata and Andre Villas Boas can switch places as well with how they also look alike.

Hey, anytime I can post a video of my favourite Portugal team I’m going to do just that. Most likely will post this again in June leading up to Euro 2012. Very little chance I’ll post a video of Germany defeating Portugal 3-2 back in Euro 2008. What was most impressive about that 3-0 win against Germany in Euro 2000 was that it was mostly the back up’s who tore up Germany that day. Sérgio Conceição ahhh what could of been.

When I was a kid before I realized as a Portuguese kid it’s almost a mortal sin to cheer for a Brazilian since the Italian kids would bust your balls about it endlessly Socrates was my favourite player of World Cup 1986. He had that “look.” Not only did he stood out on the field cause of his look but also his play. Sadly, Socrates was to go down as one of the generations of Brazilian players who played some of the most beautiful football ever see but never could win the big one.

I also love the fact Socrates was a doctor, it’s not everyday you read about someone going to medical school while playing at the highest levels of football. In the end years of hard living caught up to Socrates who was taken off life support and passed away today at age 57.

Yes, yet again I realize I’m getting old with that comment in my tilte but what a show WKRP in Cincinnati was. From as god as my witness I thought turkeys can fly, to Les Nessman “office”, the show where they dealt with the who tragic of those kids dying at a who concert and scenes like the one embedded you just don’t see smart TV written like that, much less on a comedy show.

I tweeted this morning how happy I am about the fact Portugal are even in Euro 2012 so whoever they ended up facing would be gravy. As a 3rd seed I knew the chances were good Portugal would be placed in a tough group and beating drawn with Germany, Holland and Denmark confirms they are in a tough group.

You know what however it’s not really that bad. This is Euro 2012 after all, this is the best of the best. You can’t side step good teams until the Semi Finals like you can in the World Cup. Portugal plays Germany in the first game. If they lose they can two other kicks at the can. If Portugal plays Germany and loses in the knockout stages like in Euro 2008 you are packing your bags. Basically whoever makes it out of the group gets a crack at the weak Group A teams. Not exactly a bad trade off.

Hopefully we keep on owning the Dutch, We gain revenge on Denmark of Euro qualifying, We gain revenge on Germany for knocking us out of Euro 2008 (this one won’t be easy) and hopefully if they advance maybe Portugal can get some revenge on Greece for Euro 2004. Then we lose in heartbreaking fashion in the semi finals.

Below are a list of the groups and a schedule of games.

Group A: Poland, Czech Republic, Greece, Russia
Group B: Netherlands, Denmark, Portugal, Germany
Group C: Spain, Ireland, Croatia, Italy
Group D: Ukraine, France, Sweden, England

Match schedule
All kick-offs CET, Ukrainian time is one hour ahead

Friday 8 June 2012
#1: POL v GRE, 18.00CET, Warsaw
#2: RUS v CZE, 20.45CET, Wroclaw

Saturday 9 June 2012
#3: NED v DEN, 18.00CET, Kharkiv
#4: GER v POR, 20.45CET, Lviv

Sunday 10 June 2012
#5: ESP v ITA, 18.00CET, Gdansk
#6: IRL v CRO, 20.45CET, Poznan

Monday 11 June 2012
#7: FRA v ENG, 18.00CET, Donetsk
#8: UKR v SWE, 20.45CET, Kyiv

Tuesday 12 June 2012
#9: GRE v CZE, 18.00CET, Wroclaw
#10: POL v RUS, 20.45CET, Warsaw

Wednesday 13 June 2012
#11: DEN v POR, 18.00CET, Lviv
#12: NED v GER, 20.45CET, Kharkiv

Thursday 14 June 2012
#13: ITA v CRO, 18.00CET, Poznan
#14: ESP v IRL, 20.45CET, Gdansk

Friday 15 June 2012
#15: SWE v ENG, 20.45CET, Kyiv
#16: UKR v FRA, 18.00CET, Donetsk

Saturday 16 June 2012
#17: CZE v POL, 20.45CET, Wroclaw
#18: GRE v RUS, 20.45CET, Warsaw

Sunday 17 June 2012
#19: POR v NED, 20.45CET, Kharkiv
#20: DEN v GER, 20.45CET, Lviv

Monday 18 June 2012
#21: CRO v ESP, 20.45CET, Gdansk
#22: ITA v IRL, 20.45CET, Poznan

Tuesday 19 June 2012
#23: ENG v UKR, 20.45CET, Donetsk
#24: SWE v FRA, 20.45CET, Kyiv

Wednesday 20 June 2012
No matches

Thursday 21 June 2012
#25: 1A v 2B, 20.45CET, Warsaw

Friday 22 June 2012
#26: 1B v 2A, 20.45CET, Gdansk

Saturday 23 June 2012
#27: 1C v 2D, 20.45CET, Donetsk

Sunday 24 June 2012
#28: 1D v 2C, 20.45CET, Kyiv

Monday 25 June 2012
No matches

Tuesday 26 June 2012
No matches

Wednesday 27 June 2012
#29: W#25 v W#27, 20.45CET, Donetsk

Thursday 28 June 2012
#30: W#26 v W#28, 20.45CET, Warsaw

Friday 29 June 2012
No matches

Saturday 30 June 2012
No matches

Sunday 1 July 2012
#31: W#29 v W#30, 20.45CET, Kyiv

I know you missed my Jose Mourinho propaganda but I couldn’t pass up this cover of the latest Rolling Stone in Spain with the Special One on the cover.