So the past years, I've seen the England "back the bid" websites up 2,3 years prior before the voting ever even started. So all those in the making and the efforts put into it for England to host had only a mere 2 votes to show for? That is outrageous. That Posh and Becks had all the rights to be furious. But all around the speculations on cheating and bribing, I guess the real loser on this is Spain and Portugal. Having worked out some sort of peace treaty with the Qatari's, they hoped working as a team would get each other through, Spain/Portugal representatives voting for Qatar and Qatari representatives voting for Spain/Portugal. A "you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours" situation. Too bad Spain/Portugal voted for Qatar it seems and Qatar did not return as Russia won the bid. Disgraceful this whole process was.

But going away from that, news from the past week. Manchester United save themselves from another scare against newly promoted Blackpool, down 2-0 after 75 minutes and firing all out to win behind a Berbatov double and another added by Chicharito to win 3-2. I don't know how, but they are being compared to the 2004 Arsenal "invincibles"???? I don't see how you can compare the United squad to the Gunners. Maybe by record, but Arsenal then steamrolled past opponents. Thierry Henry blew past everyone and led the league the scoring I believe. Possibl the best Arsenal squad ever...and arguably the best squad the Premier League had seen. The whole season undefeated. United are on pace to achieve such a feat, but with the close calls they come by. Its only a matter of time before Berbatov can no longer save United. Rooney will have to step up now and carry the load as he once did for United to reach perfection.

FA Cup, fourth round, Arsenal slip past Huddersfield Town 2-1 behind a late penalty from Cesc Fabregas. News on the match. We will be even shorter centre defenders for a match though as Sebastien Squillaci received a red card. And FA Player of the Year possibly, Samir Nasri suffers a heartbreaking hamstring that could leave him out for three weeks which means he could mean the tie with Barcelona in CL, somewhere we need him desparately. If that's the case, then our chances on claiming the most prestigious European trophy of them all seems too far to reach, Arsene Wenger's arms will look to be too short, or the trophy will be too heavy for the Frenchman to hoist. So transfers for a cenre back. Arsene Wenger stated Arsenal can cope with what we have in the meantime. A deal for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will look to wait until the summer along with other possible candidates in the centre half. So I don't see any deals being made unless he pulls a last minute deal as he did for Arshavin a few years ago.

BREAKING NEWS!!! Liverpool has been reported to have accepted the offer from Chelsea for the rights for Spanish striker Fernando Torres. The deal was agreed for 49million pounds and Chelsea has been given the right to talk with Chelsea to finalise personal terms and passing a medical will see him wearing blue as early as this weekend. Lampard said Chelsea acquiring a player the caliber of Torres will help any club so he looks to be the one to get Chelsea back in contention for the title. But was this the right move? Ancelotti's formation does not suit Torres as Drogba is the lone striker up front supported by Anelka and Malouda. Adding him into the squad would see Ancelotti changing formation as he would more than likely like to ease Torres into the club rather than put him in an uncomfortable position and be criticised for bad form. We shall see how soon Torres will play in Blue. Pips, what now for Chelsea? Perhaps they really are abandoning the financial play rules.

The preposterous and farcical decision on awarding the 2022 World Cup to Qatar ignoring comprehensively FIFA technical committee report that clearly details why Qatar is totally unsuitable exposes FIFA?s insipid seedy behaviour.
Qatar a nation with a population of some 1.8m, spread over some 12,000km squared, covering a living space the size of York, Doha the only major populated city, with an airport the size of a putting green coupled with a human rights record that criminalises sexual preference, with zero tolerance to alcohol.

To chose Qatar over USA, Japan, South K and Australia is a affront to logical common sense, the serious flaws clearly reported by FIFA?s independent technical team, that were asked to formally audit, and present a detailed inspected report for all the bidding countries, highlighted the searing 40/50c heat through June/July the hottest months of the year, the close proximity of the Stadia,10 out of 12 stadiums are within a 25-kilometre area, causing a huge logistical nightmare, the construction of the stadia alone is conservatively estimated at over $6 billion, 2/3rds the entire operating budget for the 2012 London Olympics, the promised air conditioning technology that at present does not even exist, making the additional cost factor is at best a wild guess!!

So when taking into consideration the independently identified deficiencies, what is left is a huge question mark ......why Qatar?

Was it a political decision?
Well the AFC (Asian Football Confederation) President Bin Hammam played a decisive role, the executive committee applying huge pressure to acquire 11 votes in the first round!......Korea had just 4 and Australia a miserly 1 vote, without the transparency of the IOC voting system, the doggy horse trading has smeared the process.

For the interests of balance one has to admire Qatar?s presentation, highlighting as effectively as Russia, and Australia the benefits of hosting a competition in new challenging territories.....Interestingly Sepp Blatter used this justification alone to bring ?on message? and effectively ?skewing and influencing? the decision making process to focus on more opening closer relationships between Islam and western cultures.

However going completely against their technical committees report and discounting outright USA, Japan, South K and Australia bids proves that political deals count significantly in FIFA?s decision making process.
This evidence alone has done considerable damage to FIFA?s reputation.

There can be no other reason why Qatar won the bid aside from these geo-political shenanigans, all making future bids irrelevant, irrespective of their suitability or strength, if you don?t process political backing you have little chance of success.

England?s 2018 strong technical bid report, highlighting a strong football heritage, independently accessed as the strongest presentation, was rewarded with just two votes and a first round exit.

A humiliation for our Prime Minster, and future King and Queen (Posh and Becks)...... Prince William wasn?t happy either .....


Over to you ..Mr K.......

2022 FIFA World Cup? Bid Evaluation Report: Qatar
From 14 May 2010....includes 2018...too

The official Explanation of the fact-finding process. .......

http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/tournament/competition/01/33/74/56/b9qate.pdf

...and........

Trouble continues for FIFA for 2018 and 2022 bidding process
http://blogs.bettor.com/Trouble-continues-for-FIFA-for-2018-and-2022-bidding-process-a37350

Kayoko, so not to sound like some screaming Banshee, before I let rip...please read ....

When Qatari representatives were seen hand shaking and hugging FIFA officials even before Qatar was called to host the 2022 World Cup, there was already suspicion rolling around about the scam of the Qatari's paying the voters. A biased way of getting themselves into the spotlight after being the "outcast" country to even attempt to host. I caught everyone by shock. Austrailia was surely shocked as they thought they would have the green light to host, but fell in the first wave of votes. Korea and Japan, who hosted the 2002 tournament together were soon to drop out as well, something I was not happy to hear. So it left the US who held the 1994 tournament. From a normal spectator's view, the US had it in the bag, there was no way Qatar could even possibly beat out America. But no, Qatar cheated and scammed their ways to the podium and said their thanks as if it the votes were done right down the middle. So besides the cheat they all done to win, what made the voters so intrigued to vote for the Qatari's? Well, though the images of the stadium proposed looked amazing, they are just images. The darn country didnt even have stadiums built and hoping to have about 6 of them built and running perfectly by 2022. And when the tournament is finished, they are to be taken apart and "donated" to other countries who are in need of stadiums. So the idea was just to pick the stadium up and send it off to like let's say Switzerland in Vienna. Great news for Vienna, but how the f$%^ do they plan on moving the whole thing without demolishing it. Rebuilding it would probably take the same time it took to build it the first time. And for maintenance to get it operating and functioning properly for use would take even more time. Everything was pointing against Qatar, so what the eff was "giving Qatar a chance supposed to do"? Sure it is 12 years away, but the country's land size cannot expand in 12 years nor can the temperature of 100+degrees in the summer when the World Cup is held cannot be lowered. So Qatar proposed AIR CONDITIONING for crying out loud to counter that natural disaster! Do they even have enough funding to air condition the whole country for a span of 3 weeks or so? It would have to be constantly running to keep the temperature of the entire country low by nature and from the body heat from the excessive amount of people populating that area. How will housing work? Will they build state-of-the-art hotels as well? I've never heard of anyone who went on a tour to Qatar before. With so little land and a population of less than one million people, you can get an idea of how small the land mass of the country really is. Tourists and supporters of the competing countries would have to stay in hotels in other countries and fly into Qatar just to watch matches and getting the flights checked in and everything would cause a major uproar. The heat, being busy constantly, claustrophobic like space....This could very well be the start of World War III. I'm sure the heat was a major problem to deal with even for Sepp Blatter to realise despite his hard ass head. So what next? Qatar wishes to hold the first ever Winter World Cup to counter the heat measures. That as a whole would eliminate the heat and everyone can go about the tournament without getting a stroke. There is a problem. There is a reason the World Cup tournament is held in the summer. Because of the fact that normally, people go on vacation and such in the summer, they are able to make it out to the country hosting and they have a good two months to enjoy it. If they hold it in the Winter, you will see support fall drastically. No one wants to go see a World Cup match during Christmas. Everyone is at work that time of year and business is busy, very busy that time of year. There is no time in everyone's schedule to fit in the WORLD CUP!!!!!

SEPP BLATTER needs to be replaced. And when the 'tard of the corruption is gone, call for a revote and keep Qatar out of the ballad for good. No disrespect to the Arab population who are proud of the fact that that area of the world will now be able to hold something as big as the World Cup, but the country is just too small to host an event on a scale of these proportions. If they wanted to host, then at least include at least two more countries to host together as Korea and Japan did. Greed took over everything...and the tournament better not be cancelled due to any difficulties. I'm going to the 2022 tournament with Pips for sure. If they are excited to being able to host it and have big plans for such an occasion, then I want to see it for myself. Anything short of me not having my jaw open in disbelief for its classy design and the organisation of the whole thing for the duration of the tournament is a complete failure and a waste of time.

Let it out, Pips. There is till alot of argument left on this topic.

Oh my, this sexism saga is refusing to die, with Andy Gray now sacked from his ?1.7m role as anchor football pundit and his second in command Richard Keys future still in the balance, a third video has surfaced which appears to have been the last straw for Sky?s programme controllers.
At college this morning to the whole ?Andy Gray, sexism in football? debacle has seen some furious confrontational arguments, resulting in a group of 3rd year students, members of the ?Man Collective? being caught in a pincer movement on the main staircase between the Hong Kong Theatre and the Shaw Library after the UEL Women?s Group TOL (talk out loud) mounted a simultaneous rapid counter manoeuvre when the ?Man Collective? tried in vain to escape chambers as the ?debate? spun out of control, Handbags and a number of backpacks were wielded and swung two handed style like medieval mace and chains, brushes and applicators from the Boots no 7 range were cleverly utilized to scrawl graffiti over visible skin and clothing....

One important point is that both Andy Gray and Richard Keys made these remarks privately and off air.

To be fair to the Russian FA ...........Dmitry Medvedev has promised football racism crack down ... Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has vowed to punish far-right football fans who staged a vicious race riot at the weekend........

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/8199329/Dmitry-Medvedev-promises-football-racism-crack-down.html

THE ODD COUPLE: FOOTBALL AND GLOBAL CIVIL SOCIETY...........David Goldblatt....A great read....

"Football matches do not change social structures; no victory, however comprehensive, can shift the real balance of power or change the actual distribution of wealth and status. But they offer glory"

http://www.lse.ac.uk/Depts/global/PDFs/GCS%20Part%203_Infras_GCS%20Part%203_Infras(3).pdf

Cut and paste ....

Japan 2-2 South Korea....After Extra Time on Japan 3 0-South Korea on penalties .....Nuff said poor Kayoko ......

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/match/55989/japan-vs-south-korea/report

......after me Mr K, tears on my pillow Johnny Nash..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9g4oqjQ3P1E

Lastly ....... Arsenals ?On the ball? from 1970 ......My Uncle swears this is a England World Cup song ............

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeCRV3unIuA

I can't wrap my head around the racism issue. I thought this matter was taken care of already after Spanish fans ripped Samuel Eto'o during his Barcelona days. A big worldwide movement with dark skinned players like Thierry Henry strongly behind it. To still say multiple dark skinned players cannot be on the same club is outrageous!! I don't think skin color should determine where you play. As long as the player holds the natural, raw talent of the league, they belong. And the Nigeria thing, African players are naturally going to be big in body size. That is one thing people cannot change whatsoever. So bigger bodies will mean physicality, thus you see the Africans that prosper are defenders or holding players. Strikers you see every now and then, but their natural strength is perfect for defensive capabilities. And I don't agree with the saying that the French national team is like an outcast to the rest of Europe. Maybe the black players are more athletic and fit than the white players. I don't understand. If they possess a wealth of talent, why should skin color even matter? The manager of the French team isnt black. He is simply choosing the best player for each position. Since when did "the beautiful game" become a "white man's sport"? This sport can unite a whole country...hell and even is supported by EVERY country in the world. There is not a single country in the world that would not want to participate in the World Cup. So why should racism be a part of this sport?

Arsenal are in the finals!!! One of many trophies to come this campaign. After conceding a goal to Ipswich Town in the first leg, Gunners knew what they had to do exactly and came out with their job in hand. Arsene Wenger went with his rotation to keep the squad fresh and still had a dangerous first team selected. For an hour Ipswich looked poised to hold the one goal advantage, but once Bendtner scored the opener, it was smooth sailing. Nothing was going to stop us from grabbing another and we did with Laurent Koscielny. And fended off a Ipswich comeback to then finalise the deal with a third from Cesc Fabregas. So we play the winnner of the West Ham/ Birmingham City winner. I dont really care which side makes it. We demolished Birmingham a few weeks ago and West Ham are bottom of the league table. Of course when clubs get this far, they play their hearts out to salvage a dismal league campaign, so it will be tough, but the form this side has been in. It is no question Arsene Wenger will pick a good on form side to play for the win.

And more on that sexism scandal, I can't believe Andy Gray would say such things. I admired him as a great man of the game, about at the same level as Tommy Smith, but now, it seems he doesn't admire women for their knowledge, just their looks. What separates men from women and doing their jobs? What's so surprising for a girl to do the job of calling offside? She wouldn't be on the touch lines if she was not thoroughly qualified for that role. And what if she is a party girl? How does that affect her image when officiating? She isn't going to dance on the corner flag pole. Or walk down the touch line like its her own personal runway. She gets paid to call offside just like every other linesman who do the same week in, week out. Simple as that. Just go on about as if nothing happened. Nothing has changed.

More later Pips, mind has gone blank.

The decision to award the FIFA World Cup to Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022 has been dismissed as a sham, the IOC announced in December Issa Hayatou FiFa?s vice-president is to face a full investigation as a IOC member.

In a statement The IOC confirmed: "The IOC has taken note of the allegations made by BBC Panorama and have received further evidence from the documentary makers that has been passed to the appropriate authorities?.

FiFa?s responded with a statement that the documentary makers had just raked up old news... "The matters concerning the case "ISL/ISMM" which is referred to date back many years ago and were investigated by the relevant authorities in Switzerland, in its verdict of 26 June 2008, the Criminal Court of Zug had not convicted any Fifa officials. It is therefore important to stress again the fact that no Fifa officials were accused of any criminal offence in these proceedings, furthermore, it is important to recall that the decision was made on matters which took place prior to the year 2000 and has been no court conviction against Fifa. The investigation and the case are definitely closed."

The IOC found this statement intolerable, as the evidence held on court file/record found more than 9 Fifa members have a case to answer, however the Swiss authorities are powerless to enforce Fifa member?s resident overseas to answer the charges.

The FA and the England bid team leaders have railed against Panorama branding the programme makers a national embarrassment, the screening of the programme timed to maximum effect.

Clive Edwards executive editor of BBC current affairs went onto the defense "Panorama's job is to investigate corruption and wrongdoing in public life so we put the information out there as soon as we could," on the BBC Radio 4,"Some people have said that it would have been better to do it after the vote but it is surely nonsense to suggest that you know a process could be flawed and you don't say anything until after it has happened. I am not prepared to sit on information we have. I believe that it is in everyone's interest that there should be a fair process (bid process) and that corruption should be exposed."

The English FA has subsequently received ?written material?, at its core a depressingly familiar tale, corruption is systemic within the structure of FIFA and Russia was able to home in on that in order to win the rights to host the World Cup in 2018.

Swiss investigators gave evidence that pointed to 6 members that accounts for 25% of the 22 members of the committee in charge of the world?s biggest sports decision allegedly involved in taking bribes. And at least, four other former committee members speaking openly about the culture of corruption around this decision, this is a mess.

To give some idea of how ?bent? FIFA executive Vitaly Mutko is,Mutko launched into an angry hissy fit against the British Media, saying; "No matter what we say we are portrayed by them as a hotbed of corruption. It is not true." Only for the Russian authorities then to launch a criminal investigation into alleged fraud at Mutko's ministry, Mutko's submitted a personal expenses claim for 97 breakfasts consumed during a 20 day trip to Canada. Total cost for 20 days breakfasts? $4,500, on top of this each night he claimed $1,499. In total, Mutko is said to have spent twelve times his official limit, presumably the bidding/voting system has an upstanding, independent arbiter?

This was contracted to KPMG who acted as an independent arbiter supposedly to guarantee the validity and indeed integrity of the vote, but the Swiss investigation team questioned some $23 million FIFA paid last year to KPMG for sundry and unspecified operating expenses.

But the case of WBA striker Peter Odemwingie that highlights just how vile, embedded, institutionalized racism is, Odemwingie made the mistake of leaving Russia for England recently, and presented with a massive banana banner in his last match, Russian football agent Vladimir Abramov ?explained? why, "Peter is a professional, but that's in contrast to other Nigerians, they are very insolent, headstrong, and black nationalism is evident in them, when there are more than three Nigerians, watch out: they aren't afraid of anyone."....some other quotes from the interview:

"An influx of Nigerians in a city means "drugs, and ultimately Aids".

"The French national team, in which black players play, has no relationship whatsoever to Europe".

"Teams shouldn't have more than one dark-skinned footballer. When there's more than one they are aggressive."

"Look, I am very respectful towards blacks: among them are very good people with whom I have made friends. But Russia isn't ready for them, that's the way it is."

5 nations made bids to host the 2018 World Cup, countries that spent an average $25 million putting their bids together and presenting them to FIFA. In Russia?s case some $35 million, England audited accounts show some $25 million spent on salaries for the 73 bid staff, the process of building 9050 hours from the bid itself cost $3m, inspection, preparations and substantial travel and accommodation costs for Fifa officials accounted for the rest....
Fifa cannot and will not account for as to why the bidding process was ignored in favour of counties that had not hosted the competition before, none of which was mentioned in the biding process.
I have not even got on to the Qatar 2022 bid....that for tomorrow......

Oh Kayoko.......It is hard to scream blue murder at Andy Gray and Richard Keys and accuse them of sexism, because it is hard to take what they say seriously......

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1350265/Andy-Gray-Richard-Keys-sexism-storm-Sian-Massey-party-girl.html

Really Pips?

Well Chelsea seemed to have regained their lost form after dismantling Bolton 4-0 !! The attacking front of the Blues were on it as Drogba, Anelka, and Malouda each collected a goal and Ramires added another. Ancelotti said the key for Chelsea to win was to play good football. Playing bad and not being creative leads to bad results and the bad form for the past months were perfect examples. A good talk he must have given them because they seem to have be playing well and be intent on challenging for the title once more with the latter half of the season still remaining, it is still up for grabs amongst three clubs. Chelsea look to be the fourth.

Tuesday, AFC Asian Cup 2011. South Korea vs. Japan...Japan coach, Alberto Zaccheroni calls it the Asian Brazil vs. Argentina, or similar to the Milan derby. History sparked these two countries to have great matches filled with pride and it looks to be no different at kickoff. It will be a good one. Koo Ja-Cheol leads the Asian tournament with 4 goals for the Red Tigers and Japan as a whole unit leads the tournament with 11 goals. The battle for midfield will be the highlight as many players who play in Europe will be on display. Korea will more than likely deploy, Captain Park Ji-Sung who plays for Manchester United, Lee Chung-Yong, winger for Bolton, and Ki Sung-Yong who dons the stripes for the Hoops at Celtic. But Japan has the stars to counter with Bundesliga doubles Captain Makoto Hasebe of Vfl Wolfsburg, on fire Borussia Dortmund midfielder Shinji Kagawa, and mastermind Keisuke Honda of CSKA Moscow. It will be a barnburner for sure. I will keep you posted on this result, Pips.

FIFA has been criticised in recent times for their "bad" decisions, notably the decision to elect Qatar to host the 2022 World Cup. Well, an Asian football exec has come out and stated that Sepp Blatter, the president of governing body of FIFA to be replaced. He quote,

?Thirty-five years in one organization is quite long time. No matter how clean you are, honest or how correct you are, still people will attack you. You are going to be defenseless. That is why I believe change is the best thing for the organization.?

Sepp Blatter is the one who was refused to make goal line cameras to help referees in games, strongly requested after the England/ Germany round of 16 match in the World Cup after Frank Lampard's chip shot was inside the line, but waved off as the linesman did not see the ball cross the line, though replays show it was a clear 2,3 feet past it. Goalkeeper Oliver Neuer of course did not help the cause either.

And BIG news from England. Meet Sian Massey. An ordinary linesman, paid to call fouls in the area of where they are standing, make offside calls, and make calls on who touched the ball last when it goes out of play. Typical job of any person given that role. So what's so different....well Sian Massey is a woman. WOMAN !! I must admit, I have never seen a female linesman..but any job is for any person and nothing says football must be regulated by men entirely. So why the news then? Legendary commentator Andy Gray, who I deeply admire as he holds great knowledge of the beautiful uncharacteristically had a sexist talk with fellow commentator Richard Keys on whether Sian Massey was fit to be a linesman after debatable calls on offside in the Liverpool/ Wolves match. A big call was surrounded on Fernando Torres' opening goal as the through ball to Meireles looked for him to be offside, but the call was not made. Didn't matter because he was onside. And so was Kuyt who assisted Torres' second. It drives people crazy when they see women doing "a men's job". I don't understand why it has to be segregated. If a man made those calls, Andy Gray would not have cared, even if he didit would not have sparked such an issue as this. Your thoughts on this Pips?

Cristiano Ronaldo is powerless to stop the mother, a 20-year-old British Student, from access or contact to the child she gave birth too.

Yes Mr K, the Real Madrid striker, 25, is allegedly to have paid the Mother ?10million to give up her rights to the boy, it is astonishing that Ronaldo thought he could purchase the child.
Judge Eurico Reisa an advocate for more than 29 years an expert on Portuguese family law, stated clearly a ruling makes such agreements worthless, Judge Reisa confirmed, this kind of contract has no basis in law and a court wouldn?t recognize it. The mother has the same rights to raise her child as any other woman, irrespective of ?fear or favour?.....

The boy?s mother has chosen to pursue the case through the family courts and is demanding right of access to her child.

EU law states clearly ?Constitution in all states (Portugal) establishes that children should not be separated from their parents, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child says the child has a right to live with either the father or mother, unless those parents have failed in their duty of care or through a court order......
The Mother, whom Ronaldo had a casual one night affair with after meeting at a London Club, regrets her initial decision to give up her baby, and has been regularly contacting Ronaldo demanding access to her child...

It defies belief that Ronaldo who confided to friends, ?the girl was fully aware she was giving up her rights as a mother, if she signed the contract and received all that money, she knew what the deal was.?, and thought that attitude had some basis in law, what was he thinking?, well a fool and his money are soon parted ....

Chelsea current premier league champions and some ten weeks ago five points clear seem now a shadow of the winning side of 2008/9. Currently sitting in fourth place and a scary ten points adrift off Manchester United, requiring a win against Bolton tonight, and with Man U a game in hand, Chelsea look like a team hanging on to a Champions League place by their finger nails, after the acrimonious sacking of Ray Wilkins, Chelsea are up sh*t creek without a paddle, are the media implying they really did not see this coming?.
Ancelotti: ?For Chelsea to win games, we have to play good football, we are not able to win games if we do not play well, we played very well last season and when we didn?t play well, we lost games, just as we have this season, our aim is to improve our football, this is the way to win games. It is our philosophy. We don?t want to stay back and maybe use the long ball or use the counter-attack, we want to play a different football so maybe this is also the reason that if we don?t play well we are vulnerable.?

Of course Mr. K?s dreamy everlasting affection, a divinely indefinable, nay a miraculously limitless ecstasy, encrusted in boundless passion, encompassing an orgasmic love for Arsenal FC, has it draw backs, it must be a serious bark walking around pitching a permanent Arsenal trouser tent.....

Run out of time, saving my Fifa post for tomorrow ......

WOW !! it has been a while since I've posted.

Many news running about. The new season going on and all and new surprises...So lets refresh.

LONDON, England.
Chelsea starts he season on a tear. Drogba, Malouda, and Kalou lead the league in scoring with 5 a piece and Chelsea look unbeatable...But with financial problems due to UEFA's passing of the law of making a profit in order to compete in major European tournaments, they sack assistant Ray Wilkins and things only start to spin out of control. Chelsea go on a slump...very surprising. Cannot seem to win, let alone score. Now with Chelsea desperate to retake ona CL qualifying position, they must spend some money due to the lack of depth on the defensive side of the ball. But not only are they willing to spend on A, as in one defender, they are keen to add unnecessary firepower to their potent, but out of form attacking front. David Luiz the only defender worth mentioning in Carlo Ancelotti's list of needs in the back line. While many are rumored to help the front line, Sergio Aguero, Alexis Sanchez, Alex Pato, Daniel Pjanic to replace Lampard, and many more....spending money for the wrong reasons. They've climbed back into CL contention, but face a tough Bolton side Monday. A win would solidify a clear 4th spot. A loss would only make the race for fourth even tighter, something Chelsea cannot afford due to current form.

Arsenal, after years and years of criticism being called boys playing against men of the premier league finally live up to their much deserving potential and challenge the giants Manchester United and Chelsea, when they were on form. Marouane Chamakh, long admired by Arsene Wenger was finaly bought to produce up front due to the inability of the strikers in Bendtner and van Persie to stay fit. And he had done wonders providing solid goals from the striker spot with 7 in the league this season. But the real story behind Arsenal has certainly been the play of French sensation Samir Nasri, taking the league by storm and tearing up every defender who dares challenge him on the ball. 9 goals in league play leads the club and has even caught to the eye of Barcelona.

MANCHESTER, England.
Every person knew Sir Alex's side would yet again challenge for the title. Some surprising things from United. Rooney has been out of form and even threatened to leave the club in January until he U-turned and signed a long term deal with the side to "fend off" suitable buyers, but Berbatov and summmer bought, Chicharito has picked up the slack for him. Berbatov leads the league with 14 goals, with memorable moments like the hat trick against Liverpool and the spectacular 5 goal match against Blackburn I believe. Nani was primed to become the next star at the flanks after the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo. Nani leads the league in assists with 11.

But the biggest surprise from Manchester is not United, but City. After the Abu Dhabi tycoons bought to club out, the world knew they were on the rise. An unlimited amoount of cash flow, so good players coming into the club was only a matter of time, but the more importantly aspect of the club everyone questioned was when the success would follow. Having a experienced manager in managing a high profile club saw the club finish below par to expectations. One year after the major overhaul, they see themselves in third place and have solified themselves as top contenders. Only Arsenal sit between the Manchester sides and really are the only contenders for the league title as Chelsea who sit in fourth are 7 points behind.

OH! and another bit of news that really kind of bugged me was the situation with Cristiano Ronaldo. 25 years old, not married, plenty of model girlfriends that come and go, but how did he manage to get a baby boy? Well, reports have found out that the baby boy was brought into the world by a 20 year old English girl/ student who spent one night with Ronalo after meeting at a night club in London. Ronaldo supposedly paid the girl 10million pounds and signed a contract to have full custody of the boy and to not reveal her information of herself. Okay, seems alright, but what bugs me is the fact he doesn't allow the biological mother to see her own son. Ronaldo didn't buy the baby from her, just the rights to have him at his place. A baby's life no matter who it belongs to isn't worth 10 million pounds....nor 100 million. Not even how much Ronaldo offers. A life cannot be bought and he thinks he has. A friend of Ronaldo said in a interview that the girl "will never see him(the baby) ever again. A contract is a contract." The girl can just rip up the contract and say who she is to the media everywhere. She has nothing to lose, she has all this money, but doesn't have the freedom it seems. One cannot just forget about a baby, especially the mother herself. She has been said to repeatedly call Ronaldo after matches congratulating him and speaking with him over possibly having the chance to see the baby again. Ronaldo constantly denies her that option. Be a man Ronaldo. What is going happen when the boy grows up and he wants to see his mother? What will he say to him then? The mother is begging Ronaldo for a chance to see the boy...let her...