Gillett speaks candidly about Liverpool FC

I just finished listening to the interview of Liverpool owner George Gillett by Bob McCown and Stephen Brunt on Prime Time Sports yesterday.

I must say I think I was wrong to ever think Gillett and co-owner Tom Hicks were cut of the same cloth. Over the course of the interview, which was summarized on ESPN Soccernet along with a link to an audio version, Gillett was very forthcoming about the very unpleasant behind-the-scenes business at Liverpool. I'm beginning to see who the real problem is in the Liverpool front offices.

Gillett revealed that his relationship with Hicks has become unworkable and that his life has been threatened by individuals who don't want to see Hicks take a controlling stake in the club. Over the course of the interview, I became convinced that Gillett is truly a man who cares deeply about the fate of Liverpool, just as he cares about the Montreal Canadiens, his National Hockey League club.

This only ads to the sordid tale that has become the biggest off-field story of the Premier League season, but I think Liverpool fans should take heart from at least one owner's words and that all is not yet lost for the future of the club.

I encourage any Liverpool fan to read the article and download the clip, it is definitely worth your time.

Millwall FC may play in Ottawa

Football fans, American and the rest of us, had reason to be hopeful in Ottawa today.

As I reported today on the National Post website, one member of the group conditionally slated to run Ottawa's third (yes third, the two previous incarnations went bust) Canadian Football League team is also a significant shareholder of Millwall FC.

Bill Shenkman suggested during the press conference that Millwall, a League 1 side, could be brought over to train in the summer, possibly bringing other clubs in for friendlies.

He didn't go into much detail, but the possibility remains high. With the mayor, some members of council and the CFL behind the bid, a refurbished Frank Clair Stadium may see some real football much sooner than we'd anticipated after last summer's FIFA U-20.

"Gargantuan" Sunday: The Return

For whatever reason, the Premier League has decided two of the biggest rivalries in England should play their games on the same Sunday, almost at equidistant points during the season. This weekend, the "Grand Slam" returns, with Manchester United hosting Liverpool and Chelsea versus Arsenal.

Last time around, back in December, spectators were treated to one of the worst displays of football not involving Derby when Man United beat Liverpool 1-0. In a slightly better contest, Arsenal brought down Chelsea 1-0.

Why these games need to be crammed into one day is beyond me, but I'm certainly hoping the quality will be better this time around. I have a feeling it will be, but you never know when someone like Sir Alex will throw ten men behind the ball with hopes of grabbing all three points on the break, as he did at Anfield, turning a match into a dry, agonizing battle of attrition.

But I digress. Fergie will likely plan a more positive game, as he is wont to do at home. Chelsea is less likely to sit back, also at home and with the scent of blood in the water: Arsenal is vulnerable and a legitimate shot at the title beckons.

The one thing the Grand Slam has going for it now, that it didn't in December, is the end is near. We can clearly see the implications of possible results. If United wins and Chelsea-Arsenal ends in a draw (Arsenal have taken a shine to draws, posting four in a row), the Red Devils may have the title sewn up.

They would lead by five points with seven games remaining. Not insurmountable, but Man United seems to have a knack of winning in April and May. If Man United and Liverpool draw and Arsenal wins, it would seem to be a two horse race, with the Gunners and Devils fighting it out over the last two months.

The more interesting scenarios involve Chelsea winning and United dropping points. Chelsea would be level with Arsenal, only 2-3 points back of the leaders. Alternatively, and most intriguingly (and most unlikely, it should be said) is for red-hot Liverpool to pull off Rafa Benitez first defeat of Man United in the league and for the other game to finish in a draw.
The resulting table would look like this:

Manchester 70 pts
Arsenal 68 pts
Chelsea 66 pts
Liverpool 62 pts

With three games or less separating each team and head-to-head matches left to play, the final seven games would be something to behold.

Got all that? Enjoy your Easter Sunday!

Champions League Quarterfinal Draw

Here's the draw for the UEFA Champions League Quarterfinal:

Arsenal v. Liverpool
Roma v. Manchester United
Schalke v. Barcelona
Fenerbahce v. Chelsea

The first legs will be played April 1/2 and the second legs will go April 8/9.

I got my wish, and there will be no Premier League domination of the continent this season. The last thing football needs is giant English teams with even more money at the expense of the rest of Europe.

Bolton must now win at Wigan after UEFA gamble lost

Gary Megson huffed, he puffed, but nothing he did March 13 could make his understrength team topple Sporting Lisbon in the UEFA Cup, losing 1 - 0 on the night and 2 - 1 on aggregate.

The Bolton Wanderers manager elected to leave Kevin Nolan, Jussi Jaaskelainen, Kevin Davies, Matt Taylor, El-Hadji Diouf, Andy O'Brien, Ricardo Gardner, Ivan Campo and Gavin McCann at home in anticipation of the relegation battle against Wigan Athletic on Sunday.

His reserves, led by Gary Cahill who put in a heroic performance at the Estadio Jose Alvalade, could not muster the goal they needed to knock of the Portuguese side after drawing the first leg in Bolton.

The dilemma that Megson faces is that he wagered if he rested his top men for Sunday, they could potentially move on in Europe and get three points valuable points in the league.

Based on how his team performed last night, the gamble almost paid off. Only a late goal in the 85th minute sealed Bolton's fate. Watching the Trotters battle against a somewhat mediocre Sporting side, one couldn't help but wonder what could have been had Megson kept, say, Nolan, Davies and Diouf in the team.

Bolton only needed a goal, now they need to defeat Wigan on the road. Mired in 17th place, Bolton has only one win in their travels this season, so the odds get even longer for Mr. Megson.

Bolton have been the most underachieving side in the Premier League this season (Newcastle had yet to achieve anything, so they don't really count). The departure of Sam Allardyce has damaged both Bolton's fortunes and those of Big Sam himself.

Allardyce had managed to keep a penny-wise club in the top eight, four seasons in a row. Now Bolton are fighting for their top-flight lives.

The story of Bolton this season has been a woeful one, but Wanderers fans can only hope Megson gets his bet right on Sunday.

Champions League quarterfinal draw needs an all-English tie

The draw for the quarterfinals of this season's Champions League takes place in Nyon, Switzerland tomorrow with four Premier League sides having qualified in the previous round.

This presents a possibility, albeit somewhat remote, that four English clubs could qualify for the semi-finals. Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United each have a shot at avoiding one another, but this would prove to be a disaster for the competition and UEFA in general.

The best case scenario would see at least one match-up involving the top four teams in England. A rematch of Chelsea-Liverpool or a London derby would make for a fascinating storyline in the next round.

The sentiment among the players is that they would like to meet another English side later in the competition, but can anyone truly imagine an all-English competition? What sort of mockery would be made of the European club championship if it were contested by English sides alone?

Naturally this assumes the four Premier League teams win in the quarterfinal round, but this is not an impossibility by any stretch of the imagination.

The strongest side on paper appears to be Barcelona, but they have been inconsistent in La Liga this season, allowing an equally inconsistent Real Madrid side to waltz along in first place for most of the year.

Roma has been impressive, beating the aforementioned Madrid side in the round of 16. They've managed to keep pace with Inter in Italy, but who can forget the quarterfinal debacle last year that saw them bow out to Man United, conceding seven goals at home?

As for Fenerbahce and Schalke, certainly anything can happen over two legs, but for either of these teams to defeat any of the other six would make for a David and Goliath epic.

The Premier League has come a long way in the past 15 years or so. The 1990s were a relatively barren time for English clubs in Europe. Now they are regular contenders for continental silverware. For the powerhouse sides of England to so utterly dominate the continent, so that the four clubs that qualify are the only ones left in April, will distort the competition in ways that may permanently impact European competitions.

UEFA likes to tinker with their toys, I can only imagine how they'd respond were England to bully everyone else off their playground.

The world does not need any more Premier League

One of the big stories swirling around the Barclay's Premier League this month has little to do with what's taking place on the pitch and a whole lot to do with marketing one of the hottest properties in world sport.

In early February, the Premier League began floating the idea of playing a 39th league match outside of Britain. The various scenarios concentrated on games to be played in China, Australia and the U.S.

From a Premier League operating standpoint, this makes good sense. Go over to the States, fill a 70,000 - 80,000 seat American football stadium, charge ridiculous prices for seats and negotiate a fat TV contract for the rights to broadcast the one-off match with a U.S. network.

The Premier League clubs seem cool to the idea, especially since most of the bigger clubs complain about too many matches. FIFA has outright condemned the move.

I think it is right to be skeptical of the proposal. While it would likely be a great moneymaker, it would continue to distance the game from fans who already feel alienated from the teams they support.

In North America, the MLS has been moving in the right direction for the past five or so years, slowly changing their league format to something more familiar to cultured football fans. It has come a long way, but still pales in comparison to the European game.

The MLS needs to continue to grow on its own terms, and doesn't need the added pressure of competition from Europe. The MLS will become a great league by continuing to spread its brand of football throughout the U.S. and Canada, not by trying to keep up with the Premier League.

An incursion by the Premier League or any other foreign league into developing football markets will have a detrimental effect on the progress the game is making in those countries. Fans can always get their fix via television, but live football should remain a domestic experience, free from the glow of brighter foreign lights.

Tottenham Hotspur: Carling Cup Champions

Particularly after praising manager Juande Ramos transfer exploits, it felt really nice watching Tottenham secure their first trophy since 1999, defeating Chelsea yesterday in the Carling Cup final 2 - 1 in extra time.

Of course I may not have cared, had Liverpool not followed their win over Inter mid-week with a 3 - 2 win over Middlesbrough, but I digress. The Carling Cup is truly the lowest rung of competition for English clubs, but the final generally provides a great way to spend a Sunday.

Tottenham controlled most of the opening 15 minutes, Chelsea ran the middle 60 minutes or so, and Tottenham had more gas in the tank for the latter part of the game.

Juande Ramos has really got Spurs on track, especially at the back. That was the best game I'd seen Paul Robinson play, err, ever? Jonathan Woodgate has finally found a home at Spurs, I feel spelling the end to an undying reliance on the fragile Ledley King at the heart of defense.

Alan Hutton looked a little out of sorts, not seeming quite comfortable with the pace of Premier League football yet. Didier Zokora played the best match I've seen out of him as well.

As for Chelsea, their attack seemed lacking. Nicholas Anelka was nowhere to be found and Michael Essien had an uncharacteristically mediocre game. I feel Michael Ballack, who has been infinitely better since coming back into the side in late December, was brought on too late to make an impact on the game. Drogba was, as usual, the most potent Chelsea force, but even he had little impact on the Spurs defense.

Frank Lampard, who whined his way onto the team sheet, may need to watch what he wishes for in the future. He looked very pedestrian yesterday and his days at Chelsea may few if he keeps chirping without putting up the goods.

Hats off to Tottenham on a game well played, and to hoping Ramos and company will make competition in the already potent Premier League even better this year and in the future.

Defoe & Baros: What's up Harry?

I will admit at the outset that I feel it's never poor policy to upgrade forwards in the Premier League. When coming up against teams like Arsenal and Manchester United, who can put up three or four goals on any given match day, the need for teams to have proven, 10+ goal scorers in their squad is paramount.

That being said, what's up, Mr. Redknapp? With players like Benjani, John Utaka and Kanu, Portsmouth seemed pretty solid up front, scoring a respectable 35 goals through 25 games (before Saturday).

Gone now is Benjani, off to Manchester City (where he scored on his debut away to Man United). In are sulking former Tottenham man Jermaine Defoe and Milan Baros, who has previously played for Liverpool and Aston Villa in the Premier League.

Both Defoe and Baros are decent players, but neither were deemed valuable enough for their former employers to keep around. To be certain, they will score for Pompey, but I don't think they will solve the problem of getting the team into Europe.

Redknapp's main problem at Fratton Park is the lack of a consistent attacking inspiration from midfield. Muntari has been the scorer of some fantastic goals this season, but he is more in the mold of his terrier-like teammate Papa Bouba-Diop. They can win balls and control the center of the park, but won't necessarily make the incisive pass to unlock a defense. Niko Kranjcar is influential in fits and starts, but not a consistent provider.

In order for Portsmouth to squeeze their way into the UEFA Cup picture, their manager needs to look for creator to run his attack. No small task, but money spent on more forwards (don't forget a pricey David Nugent on the bench) won't help the fortunes of the Premier League's south coast squires in their quest for continental glory.

Juande Ramos: Tottenham Hotspur's Transfer Wizard

Unlike his predecessor Martin Jol, Juande Ramos appears to have got the script on how to run a transfer window.

Back in the summer, Jol spent a combined 24.5-million pounds on two players he didn't need: Darren Bent and Younes Kaboul. Bent rarely plays and hardly rates his fee and Kaboul has been a consistent feature in blooper highlights, failing to adapt to the Premier League.

Ramos has spent plenty, but took the time to address Spurs' needs rather than splashing the cash on the flavour of the month (Mr. Bent, as it were). Back in the summer, Tottenham needed a center back. At the end of December, they still needed a center back.

So Ramos gets Jonathan Woodgate for 6.5-million pounds. A couple of full backs would be nice too, so enter Alan Hutton, the highly rated Scotland right-back (9-millionpounds) and Gilberto, a Brazillian international from Hertha Berlin (fee undisclosed). Throw in Chris Gunter, a promising left-back and Ramos has successfully transformed his defense for about the same price as Jol's summer spending spree on two players now surplus.

Watching Spurs play Everton yesterday with Woodgate and Gunter both in the team, it was clear the improvement Ramos made. Woodgate was solid, lending the leadership at the back Spurs miss with Ledley King injured. Gunter started his first Premier League game, and performed well enough for a 19-year-old.

But perhaps the most telling statistic from the game was the announcer pointing out that the clean sheet was Spurs' first in 63 games.

Progress, anyone?

As a footnote, Jermaine Defoe looks on his way to Portsmouth, further clearing the wasted bodies left by Jol on the Whiteheart Lane bench.

Worth A Look: Madrid Derby, Kevin Keegan Part III and FA Cup revisited

This weekend is particularly sparse when it comes to marquee footballing match ups. England this weekend features three matches between the top three and teams in the bottom quarter of the table. Lambs to the slaughter, says I. That being said, a trio of matches stand to draw deserved attention from the more discerning, perhaps neutrally inclined footballing fan. And Toon fanatics.

Saturday January 19

Newcastle vs. Bolton, 12:15 p.m. ET

With the circus back in town, everyone in the Northeast of England will be forgetting that this was actually supposed to be Big Sam vs. Little Sam, part II. And now for something completely different.

Yes, King Kev is back in charge; we haven't seen times like these since the heady days of '96 when the Keegan led Newcastle managed to cough the league title up to Manchester United. Newcastle will be a different team, one filled with a new spirit, a new belief and if the mid-week FA Cup tie is any indication, the people of Newcastle will be looking for some place beyond the sky.

Bolton will be looking to mitigate the overwhelming emotion this fixture will elucidate amongst the crowd at St. James Park. The job got a little harder with the departure of Nicolas Anelka, but the team is playing better under Gary Megson. They'll make Newcastle earn their points, but I get the feeling that fate is against the Trotters this weekend.

Sunday January 20

Manchester City v. West Ham United, 11:00 a.m. ET

Deja vu, anyone? Four days after clashing in the FA Cup at the City of Manchester Stadium, these two clubs meet up again in the Premier League. City won the first encounter 1 - 0 and with their stellar 9 - 2 - 0 home record this season, West Ham will be in tough again.

The one thing I'll say about the Hammers this season is that they are anything but predictable. They've never looked horrible, and in fact looked to be quite a fashionable side at times. Despite a rash of injuries to many key squad members, Alan Curbishley's men have managed to maintain a respectable 10th, only 7 points back of City with a game in hand. Their road record has been surprising as well, winning 5 of 10 on their travels this season.

A quick rematch is sure to keep the passion high, so look for a quality fixture here.

Athletico Madrid v. Real Madrid, 1:00 p.m. ET

More than a few TVs in North America will be tuned to the other football around this time to catch some over hyped playoff clash, but the best bet for your Sunday afternoon viewing pleasure is surely taking place at the Vincente Calderon.

Athletico have only managed to beat their cross-town rivals once in ten meetings, but the Torres-less side of Madrid is turning up the heat this season, sitting third on 37 points. The emergence of Sergio Aguero and the continuation of stellar play, post-Man United, by Diego Forlan have helped contribute to an improved team approach at Athletico following the departure of their talismanic captain.

Real have been perhaps the only consistent side in Spain this season, building upon their championship form of last season. The Vincente Calderon Stadium is a tough place to play on the best of Sundays, it will be a true test of Real's ambition against their local rival.

Send in the Clowns, Liverpool style

As Sami Hyypia put it after a lacklustre draw at Middlesbrough Saturday: "We seem to be becoming like Newcastle. Every time we pick up a paper, there seems to be something new."

Liverpool is becoming, quite quickly, a higher profile, higher stakes version of Newcastle. The ownership hasn't a clue how to operate a football club (for more on the Newcastle situation, read Martin Samuel in the Times). The two men at the club who should know better, David Moores and Rick Parry, appear to have turned into very capable yes men, failing to back the manager and failing to stop Hicks and Gillett from approaching Jurgen Klinnsmann last November as "an insurance policy".

Liverpool's owners are only exacerbating the situation on the field, adding fuel to the fire rather than doing anything constructive to help the team. If they don't want to spend any more money on players, so be it. But don't sack your manager because he asks for funds to improve the team.

That being said, perhaps the American owners don't have the pockets nor the stomach for this game. Football is not hockey, it is not baseball, nor is it like any other sport in North America. A team cannot simply buy its way to a title for less than the value of the club. Roman Abramovich plunked down half a billion pounds to win two league championships. That's how you win the league in a hurry.

Hicks and Gillett took out a loan to purchase Liverpool, pay off its debt and had some left over to buy a few players. A steady investment of this type over a few years might get the Reds closer to a title, but to think that a third of the way through the season this paltry amount should be paying immediate dividends is ludicrous.

Rafa Benitez has his failings and can improve as a manager, but he has delivered a European Championship, an FA Cup and a European Super Cup during his first three seasons in charge. Liverpool is underachieving at the moment, but rash decisions will get nowhere.

As teams like Manchester United and Arsenal have learned, to their credit, when you find a good manager, stick with him. Alex Ferguson won nothing in his first few years at United. Arsne Wenger had more immediate success, but he has also gone for spells without winning anything.

Ask a Newcastle fan what the consequences of a revolving door policy for their managers has earned them.

If I were Benitez, I'd be considering my future at the club as long as Hicks and Gillett are running the show. Perhaps the news that Dubai International Capital is once again interested in purchasing the club should be welcomed as good news by all who are involved with the club, staff, players and fans alike.

Worth A Look

Here's four games that I'm sure Big Sam, now with time on his hands, will want to check out around Europe this weekend:

Saturday

Everton v. Manchester City, 10:00 a.m. ET

Resting in fourth place after the Christmas test, this is a chance for City to show they can win on the road. They've only managed this feat once in the past five games away from the City of Manchester stadium and they come up against a tough Everton squad. This will be a good litmus test for City and should give Sven-Goran Eriksson a good idea where he should spent his shady Thai cash this month.

For Everton, they were unfortunate to not come away from Chelsea in midweek with a draw in the Carling Cup and they'll be out for blood. I've seen a fair bit of Everton in the past month, and they look every bit the part of a team destined to return to the UEFA Cup again next season. Throughout the squad they have quality; with some luck they'll go a ways in Europe this season, providing more funds for Moyes to invest in the off-season. Watch for young Victor Anichebe to feature more now that Yakubu has left for the African Nations Cup.

Chelsea v. Tottenham, 10:00 a.m. ET

Of all the teams who should have been looking ahead to the African Nations Cup, Chelsea should have seen this January coming. No less than their two top strikers in Didier Drogba and Solomon Kalou along with all-World midfielder Michael Essien are now off for about six weeks at the competition.

Fortunately, the money pit that is Chelsea rolls on. Enter Nicholas Anelka for 15-million pounds to stave off a goal drought at Stamford Bridge. Anelka is about as proven a Premier League commodity as they come, so it's unlikely to be money wasted. And not a moment too late, for enter Tottenham.

The Spurs have played league leaders Arsenal very well twice in the past month as Juande Ramos is living up to the hype, lifting his team to 12th place in the table. Tottenham are less porous at the back while keeping the net bulging at the other end of the pitch. Dimitar Berbatov in particular has woken up from an early season malaise to show up on the score sheet with startling consistency. This will be a contest to test Chelsea's mettle and Spur's confidence in this new year of 2008.

Sunday

AC Milan v. Napoli, 2:30 p.m. ET

If only to see the debut of the young Brazilian Pato. Milan, as I have noted previously, are woeful. Pato should provide them with a shot in the arm, particularly if he is able to work well with his compatriot Kaka (who wouldn't, really?).

After starting well, Napoli have cooled off in the past couple months. They still sit five places ahead of Milan and can take comfort in Milan's poor home form this season.

Athletico Madrid v. Valencia, 3:00 p.m. ET

Valencia manager Ronald Koeman has ended fun time, dropping many of the under performing, overpaid whiners who have accomplished little or nothing so far this season. Santiago Canizares, David Albelda and Miguel Angel Angulo have been sat, while the Dutchman has brought in the young Argentine Ever Banega from Boca Juniors to start anew at the Mestalla.

Having seen Banega in the summer at the FIFA U-20 Championship, I have to say that he was at least as important to the Argentine side that won the tournament as was Sergio Aguero, who will line up for Athletico on Sunday. The transfer has yet to be completed, so there won't be a debut, but after a win against Betis in the Copa del Rey in midweek, it should be interesting to see how Koeman's new-look squad does in the volatile atmosphere that is the Vicente Calderon Stadium in Madrid.

Ligue 1

I've really tried to get into watching the French first division this year. Setanta broadcasts a couple games every Sunday, but when I sit down to watch, I often move on an look for some better way to spend my afternoon. So if anyone is wondering why I don't often mention Ligue 1, it's because it kinda sucks. Sorry France, but you've got a long way to go to hold my interest. Try getting some players I've heard of before, like England, Germany, Spain and Italy do. Even the Dutch league has more familiar faces, for me at least.

Allardyce Sacked!

According to ESPNsoccernet, Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce has been sacked. As of this writing, they had no other details up on their site. The Guardian is reporting that both the club and manager are parting ways by mutual consent, but that's a tired old phrase. Sam was sacked.

I can hardly say this is surprising. Newcastle struggled through the Christmas season (I was writing a post about the holidays when I came upon the story) and played to a mediocre draw against Stoke in the FA Cup on the weekend. Mike Ashley, the Newcastle owner, failed to make any significant statements in support of Allardyce which had led many pundits to assume the end was nigh.

Considering the amount of money invested in the squad by the former Bolton manager, most fans have been justified in their anger. Joey Barton, who has played little this season and has had continual off-field problems cost just under 6-million pounds, for example. Alan Smith, who has played but failed to make a significant contribution, cost a similar sum.

Too bad for Sam, one of my favourite footballing personalities. I'm sure there will be a line of clubs waiting to give him another shot, I only hope this was a continuation of the Toon curse and not a reflection of Allardyce's inadequacies.

Goodbye 2007, Hello 2008

The holiday season being what it is, I haven't spent much time in front of a computer screen over the past two weeks, and I hope most people have done the same. Visit with your family, for crying out loud.

2007 is gone, along with all of its miserable baggage. England, the L.A. Galaxy, Leeds United, Tottenham and a host of other miserable footballing entities will be glad to see the end of last year.

On the other hand, I'm sure Alex Ferguson and Manchester United will look back on the past twelve months fondly, much to the chagrin of many.

I've managed to catch a good many games over the past days, during the English silly season. On Friday, I plan to recap the Christmas period in the Premier League and give my thoughts on the implications of four games in the space of 12 days.

On Thursday, I plan a proper recap of 2007. It was a big year, as always, for football and I want to highlight some of the juicer bits.

For any out there who haven't heard the saddening news, 35-year-old Motherwell captain Phil O'Donnell died after collapsing on the pitch Saturday in Scotland. Along with the passing of the young Sevilla player Antonio Puerta, 2007 was a tragic year for footballers and fans.

Watching the Aston Villa v. Tottenham game today, I thought the hosts did well to honour O'Donnell in a touching pre-match tribute. It was the second time in the past few days I'd watched a club do the proper thing by respecting those who have gone before.

At the Sunderland v. Bolton game on Saturday, the Black Cats continued a tradition of observing a moment of silence to honour former players and fans who've passed away during the year. Taking place before their last home match of the year, I thought it was an excellent salute to the people who make football part of the fabric of life around the world.

Happy New Year all and take a moment to remember those who have made the game great over the years, fans and players alike.

Big Games, as per usual

One of the things that attracts me to football over most North American sports is that hardly a week goes by without top rate games being played somewhere in Europe (or the world, for that matter). Many sports on this continent have top calibre games sporadically, but certainly not on the consistent basis they are in football. It could have something to do with 82 or 162 game seasons, but I digress...

Saturday

Arsenal v. Tottenham (7:45 a.m. ET)

Usual derby fare should be on display. Yet a predictable result I don't expect. One team, Arsenal, has looked vulnerable of late and the other, Spurs, have played consistently better since Juande Ramos arrived from Spain.

Arsenal have not lost a North London derby for ages, winning 5 of the last 10 matches between the sides and drawing 5. But based on the football Ramos has Spurs playing right now, I don't see an Arsenal blowout. It will be tightly contested, like the match against Chelsea last weekend, and a 1 - 1 draw or a 1 goal Arsenal win will be the likely result.

Robin Van Persie, who put in a cameo appearance at the end of last Sunday's match, should be available again. He looked menacing in the few minutes he did play against Chelsea, look for more of the same tomorrow.

Bolton Wanderers v. Birmingham City (10 a.m. ET)

No, I'm not crazy. This match will be worth a watch. Since the arrivals of Gary Megson and Alex McLeish, both sides have seen their form improve. Bolton have qualified for the last 32 of the UEFA Cup (they'll face Athletico Madrid in the next round) while Birmingham have picked up points in 2 of McLeish's 3 games in charge and pushed Newcastle effectively in a 2 - 1 loss on the road. Each manager will understand the importance of these bottom-half clashes, so look for a rousing match of English football on display at the Reebok. A 2 - 2 draw, or even more goals could be in store.

Liverpool v. Portsmouth (10 a.m. ET)

After running out the reserves at Stamford Bridge mid-week, Liverpool will be in tough against Portsmouth at home. Pompey are much better on the road (6-1-2) than they are at Fratton Park (2-5-1), while Liverpool's home form is a disappointing 3-4-1 in the league this season.

The pressure is on for Liverpool, as it has been for most of the season. Another loss at home will bring calls for Rafa Benitez head (again), while a draw will be little more consolation. Xabi Alonso should start, allowing Steven Gerrard more opportunity to roam forward. He's played much too deep lately; when Gerrard plays deep, Liverpool play poorly.

Unlike Liverpool's September trip to Portsmouth which ended 0 - 0, Fernando Torres should start in this game. That should be good for at least a goal, one would think.

Peter Crouch will be looking on, wondering why he tried to break both of John Obi Mikel's legs on Wednesday. Not smart, Peter, not smart.

Sunday

Manchester United v. Everton (7 a.m. ET)

The titleholders are playing well right now, but I think no team is playing better than Everton in the Premier League right now. Yakubu can't stop scoring right now, Cahill is back to his best after coming back from injury and Arteta still can't get a cap with Spain despite his outstanding play. If any team outside Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool were to take 3 points from Manchester United this season, I suspect Everton might be up to the task this weekend.

Regardless, this should be a great match, likely producing more entertainment than the Liverpool/Man United match last Sunday.

Finally...

Barcelona v. Real Madrid (1 p.m. ET)

The pride of Catalonia versus the Evil Empire, some would say. This game should be really, really good, since the top Spanish sides don't seem to go into these games looking to nullify one another. 3 - 2 or 2 - 1 at least would be a reasonable result. For whom, you ask? At home, for a team that needs no better reasons to get up for a game, I think Barcelona will take the points. Madrid is playing very well right now, but Barca will want the first chance at revenge for losing out last season. They're also four points behind Madrid this year and Spanish title races are usually close. This will be good fun...

Is 11th place good enough?

With a squad that includes the World Footballer and European Footballer of the year, a defender who is far and away the best of his generation and a striker who has managed 66 goals in international club competition, it's a little underwhelming that AC Milan lies in 11th place in Serie A.

While they do have three games in hand and could be up to sixth if they gain maximum points, the reigning Champions of Europe and newly crowned World Club Champions have done little right in their domestic league this season. They only have three goals and no wins at the San Siro. They've fared better away from home, but short of winning the Champions League again, it appears as though the current Milan squad won't be in a position to qualify for next season's competition.

That's a shame. Milan's squad deserve more, at least from a sentimental perspective.

Paulo Maldini would be in any well thought out all-time starting XI. He's managed to win 5 Champions League trophies, 2 Intercontinental Cups, 1 World Club Cup, 4 European Super Cups, 7 Serie A Championships and holds the Italian record for international caps. At 39, he would still displace players ten years younger in most club sides. He seems quite content with his achievements and will retire at the end of the season. But I'm certain he would retire with a clear conscience were Milan to qualify for Europe again.

The same sentiment must be shared by Kaka. The winner of both the World and European player of the year has detractors, but his ability to show up for big games is beyond question. Whenever Milan need a performance on the big stage, the Brazillian is there to lead the way. I agree with many of the criticisms aimed at Kaka, since I think his failing is that he doesn't seem to deliver consistently in the league, a fact laid bare by Milan's current position in the table. Even though he has publicly committed himself to the club, Kaka has been doggedly pursued by Real Madrid (the Madrid club president never fails to state this ambition publicly when the occasion arises). One would begin to question his dedication were Milan resigned to the UEFA Cup or worse at the end of the season.

With two goals in the World Club final in Japan, Filippo Inzaghi added to his impressive international club goalscoring record. Like many of his teammates, Inzaghi has struggled this season, failing to score in 9 league appearances. At 34, perhaps the weekly grind of Serie A is catching up with the forward, but with only 4 strikers on the books at Milan, one would expect more from a player of his ability to score when it matters most.

With all this in mind, is it any wonder that Jose Mourinho has been linked with the Milan management job. Current manager Carlo Ancelotti has been under increasing scrutiny and criticism, despite his international achievements. With the January transfer window around the corner, the time to make a move in the management department would be now. It appears Mourinho would look favourably upon the position and would certainly be a good fit for the Rossoneri.

Milan may be getting long in the tooth, but with players like Kaka, Gattuso, Pirlo, Gilardino and Clarence Seedorf, it would not take much for a new manager to turn the ship around. Here's to hoping they do; the Champions League wouldn't be the same without them.

Gargantuan Sunday

After seeing Sky Sports referring to tomorrow's games between Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea as Grand Slam Sunday, I couldn't resist coming up with my own hyperbole for a posting title.

These games are big, to be sure, but really...

Anyways, a quick couple of words about the games, since I've got to go and watch some more of today's action.

Liverpool v. Manchester United

Recent form between these two sides shows either low scoring draws or lows scoring Man United victories. I don't have any reason to believe this will change.

Liverpool will likely field a team similar to the one that trounced Marseilles in mid-week. I've seen reports that Xabi Alonso may return, but I'd imagine only as a substitute if at all. I think this year's Liverpool side will push Man United a bit more, but I'm not sure if it will be enough to get three points.

Alex Ferguson was in the fortunate position to rest his key players against Roma, fielding a reserve squad plus Wayne Rooney. United will be fresher than Liverpool, and this may give an edge. 0 - 0, 1 - 1 or Man United by a goal: this isn't what I would like to see, but I think the top guns from Manchester will play a big role.

Arsenal v. Chelsea

This may prove to be a bit of a grudge match. I can't help but think Chelsea manager Avram Grant took a look at some film of Arsenal's recent matches and wrote some good notes. Chelsea have the players to push the Gunners around just like Newcastle and Middlesbrough have in recent games.

Chelsea will miss Didier Drogba, but if they bring a physical game to the Emirates Stadium, they will be good money to get a point.

However, if Chelsea try to play a nice, attractive game of football, Arsenal will dismantle them at home. It's important to remember that all three of Arsenal's past three Premier League matches, where they've looked vulnerable, were on the road. At home in London, things will be different.

Look for a draw if Chelsea thug it up a little with the leaders, maybe a one goal win. Look for an Arsenal win if Chelsea try to play "attractive" football.

The Rest

For those who have access to Setanta and haven't seen the match yet, make sure to watch for a repeat of the Wigan v. Blackburn game. Really, really entertaining football. Games like this one are why the Premier League is the best league around.

On Capello: only half the job is done

Firstly, I think the FA have done a good day's work in hiring Fabio Capello to be the next England manager.

Capello's CV is impeccable, winning eight* league championships at four different clubs along with the 1994 European Championship while at AC Milan. These ten trophies, it should be noted, are ten more than England's previous boss, Steve McClaren.

He also has a great deal of experience dealing with some of the top talent and biggest egos in the game. Managing twice at Real Madrid for solitary seasons, he won a championship each year. Particularly during his last season (2006-2007), he proved able to step into a job and mould underachieving stars into a unit capable of winning.

This should be just the tonic for England. No more freedom to roam for the likes of Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, no more selections based on reputation alone, no more tolerance of Paul Robinson's gaffes. Capello is the type of manager who plays to win, not to make his players feel wanted or important.

There appears to be some apprehension on the part of the FA, as Capello has indicated he wants to bring his all-Italian backroom staff along. The report on Guardian Unlimited indicated that the FA board had some issues with the staff, particularly Franco Baldini, whose role they believed may clash with that of FA director of football development, Trevor Brooking. We shall see, but I doubt even the FA would turn this into a make-or-break issue.

The only caveat I have about the hiring of Capello is that I don't think he will necessarily be the answer to the youth crisis in England. Capello is a fine man to deal with proven talent to be sure, but is he the man to guide the stars of tomorrow?

He's never spent a great deal of time at a club, with his spells at Milan (1991-96) and Roma (1999-04) being the longest at five seasons. That's not the kind of time a developer spends at a club. I think the longest he'd be at England would be through Euro 2012, considering he is 61.

I feel the FA would do well to pursue someone the calibre of Gerard Houllier, who had tremendous success developing youth in France, to be a youth director in England. Only by developing younger talent will England sustain any momentum that Capello may begin.

If the FA content themselves with paying Capello a reported 6.5 million pounds a year and don't seek a solution to the dry well that is the English talent pool, they may as well have kept McClaren.

* A ninth title, won at Juventus, was stripped after the match fixing scandal. Not his fault, but only eight medals to show for it.

Only two more spots up for grabs

With today's Champions League action over, there remains only two spots left in the knockout round.

Real Madrid, Olympiacos, Porto, Liverpool and Schalke joined the ranks of the qualified, each by winning their final matches. They join Chelsea, AC Milan, Celtic, Barcelona, Manchester United, Roma, Inter Milan, Sevilla and Arsenal, who had already qualified.

Tomorrow, Rangers host Lyon, with the home side only needing a draw to advance, courtesy of a better goal difference.

In Group G, Fenerbahce advance if they beat CSKA Moscow at home. The Turkish side can also advance if PSV lose their match at home against Inter. PSV need to hope Fenerbahce slip up and they can beat the odds against the Italians to move on.

Chelsea, after losing Didier Drogba for several months due to injury, look to have their work cut out for them in the League and in Europe. The Blues only managed a 0 - 0 draw at home against Valencia. Drogba is the key to the Chelsea attack, which looks impotent when he's not in the lineup.

Valencia are a side in disarray, not having won since Nov. 10. Even without Drogba, Chelsea should have picked up three points at home. Avram Grant surely must be counting the days until the transfer window opens and he can raid Roman's piggy bank to cover off Drogba and his other African Nations' Cup-bound players. Arsenal v. Chelsea on Sunday could be even more interesting with the two sides sputtering at the moment.

Liverpool are through, pulling off their third consecutive victory in the Champions League, beating Marseilles 4 - 0. With 16 goals in the past three European games, it's much more painful to remember they lost to Reading on the weekend. The match on Sunday against Man United will be a better litmus test of the Reds quality.

And finally, Ryan Babel of the aforementioned Liverpool, is becoming the Garbage time King of the World. The young Dutchman scored a meaningless (but well-taken nonetheless) goal in the game in France today. By my count, he's now scored five goals in the final thirty minutes when his team has been up by two goals or more. He does well to score them, but it would be nice to see the talented youngster score when it matters.