What a differnece a Week makes !!

Who said Rafa doesnt know what he is doing ?

Scoring 8 Goals in two games is impressive but when its against Real Madrid at home and Man Utd Away that's unheard of !!!!

Has The title race got interesting? Is Man Utd now going to go a poor run of form ? The Answer is unlikely, Chelsea & Liverpool will finish strong but its still looks like title number 18 for The Red half of Manchester. One thing ill put money on though is no-one will want to draw this liverpool side in the Champions League on Friday, and with Chelsea becoming a force once more, The quintuplet is looking less and less likely

Entire Cheltenham FC squad up for sale

This story broke today, just a week before the start of the Cheltenham Festival.

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Primarily, I'm sorry for Mad Dog Allen, who's having a topsy turvey managerial career, but many felt taking the Cheltenham job, where Mad Dog's dad Dennis was once boss, could see him turn the corner.

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But I can't help but wonder if the Chairman is looking to get a few extra quid in for next week's boozey, birdy, betty (that's abysmal) week of racing.

Atletico 4 Barca 3

And what do we get to enjoy on a Sunday afternoon...?

Spurs and Man United failing to score in 120 minutes of football.

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Are we 100% sure we're the 'best league in the world'?

Has Benitez built a team to win the wrong league?

This entire post is a stretch. I thought it best to say so up front. But here goes anyway...

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Time after time, various experts, pundits and ex-pro's trot out the 'Rafa prioritises Europe over the Premier league' line. But after our recent victory over Real Madrid, and our defeat of Barca (also away from Anfield), I started to wonder if, actually, Benitez has created a league winning side after all. But for the wrong league.

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With a defensive stability seldom seen in Spain, coupled with a work ethic unmatched in Europe, I would argue that Benitez has built a team that would challenge for La Liga every season without fail. You'd think an intelligent man would build a team for the league he's playing in, rather than the one he knows best. Someone needs to tap him on the shoulder and remind him we've got Sunderland midweek, not Getafe. Still, on current form, Soldado would have a field day for the Spanish and we'd lose to them too.

Thankfully, this is fake.

The filthy, horrible national Man Utd fanzine (ie. The Sun 'newspaper') ran a story a couple of weeks back suggesting that this is the next England home shirt. Other than the 3 Lions crest, there is no blue on the shirt at all, there are hints of grey on it, and the 1966 gold star has been moved to the shoulder.

In all, it's not a good shirt.

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Thankfully, Umbro have now come out and said that this is not genuine, and that the first look at the new shirt will be against Slovakia at Wembley at the end of March. The details on the pictures looks pretty professional to me. I think Umbro leaked the pics to guage the reaction.

Welcome back?

After engineering a move to Manchester City, Craig Bellamy returns to a former club for the second week in a row. He scored at Anfield last sunday, amidst a smattering of boos, which I'm sure must be due to the infamous 9-iron debacle prior to Liverpool's victory at the Nou Camp.

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Despite the fact that he hasn't bashed George Parris in the head with a sand-wedge, at least not to my knowledge, the Hammers faithful wont have forgotten how quick he was to jump ship when the Arabs, and their cash, came calling. He's nailed-on to be booked, at least, I reckon.

Wenger - down the road?

Victor Chandler have opened a market for the next permanent manager at Arsenal. Arsene saw his 'young team' booed off the pitch yesterday after the fourth 0-0 home draw in a row against opposition they should be beating.

Wenger has now admitted their chase for fourth is a difficult one. I'd say that's an understatement, and that they are fully embroiled in a battle for 5th with a bang in-form Everton. If they miss out on even the Uefa Cup, Wenger's surely got to go.

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Boro Primorac is the early favourite to replace him. Apparently, he's the first team coach at the Emirates. I've never heard of the bloke, but I'd never heard of Arsene Wenger before he got this job, so Boro could well be in the big seat if Wenger is shown the door.

Juninho Pernambucano eat your heart out

That's how you take a free kick. And the celebration tops it off nicely.

3 New Nike Ads

Made for the Japanese market.

This wont be happening today...

Despite United starting with youngsters like Gibson and Wellbeck, and old red nose saying that Wednesday's trip to St James's Park is a bigger priority for his side, they can't really field a 'weak' side, and the fact that Ladbrokes have them at 8/11 supports this.

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Spurs are without Keane, Cudicini, Palacios and Chimbonda, who are all cup-tied, and after fielding a weakened side in the Uefa Cup in the week, it's clear that Premier League survival is their priority above picking up a second-rate trophy sponsored by a third-rate lager.

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I'm going for 2-0 United (6/1).