Rich Mens Missions and Tenuous Positions

Manchester City have are now widely regarded as the richest football club in the World. And going by the astronomical amounts of money they are spending, and willing to spend, on players it would be very difficult to suggest otherwise. The only frustrating thing for City this Summer has been the fact that Real Madrid have once again gone hand out to a Spanish bank and secured a ‘loan’ (and I use the term loosely) that has funded the transfer of players who otherwise would be at the top of the City hit list. But, this will be of little concern to City fans who are currently experiencing the kind of joy they never thought would be possible and the club have stuck up gigantic billboards in the city to stir up the Citizens and wind up Manchester United fans at the same time. Sounds ideal, and for the fans it is, because they don’t care who signs the checks or even manages the team, as long as the can see success in the not too distant future. The only man who should be concerned about this revolution is the manager – Mark Hughes.

A Baptism Of Fire – For The Boys From The ‘Shire

The fixture list for the 2009/10 Premier League season has been published and newcomers Burnley are looking at a pretty rough opening month.

Their first fixture away at Stoke on August 15 is acceptable enough but then the clarets will play host to Manchester United and Everton and if that was not tough enough trips to Anfield and Stamford Bridge follow.

Four teams out of last years top five await the Championship playoff winners at the start of the season.

But, could this be an advantage? Maybe playing the top teams at the start of the campaign could work in your favour. They may have a bit of early season rust, new players who need to bed into the team and they’re not exactly playing for much in the first month – Much better to play them then than a month after Christmas.

So how do we see Burnley’s chances of survival next season?

This one is for you Dave – Just as you remember it!

So Manchester United are to lodge a £40m bid for Liverpool striker Fernando Torres.

Really?

You don’t say.

Honestly?

I don’t believe it.

Is it true?

I don’t think so!

This story which appeared in the Daily Mail over the weekend is why so many people lose faith in good sports journalism. OK, fine, if you plaster this story all over your back page the chances are you will

What Next?

So, Christiano Ronaldo is off on his toes to Real Madrid. How long did anybody really think he would stay at United for after last summers shenanigans?

There is no doubting he is a wonderful talent. But, if his dream move to Real did not materialise this summer he would surely have been a disruptive influence at Carrington. We have all seen that petulance is as much a Ronaldo attribute as his trademark free-kicks.

So where does this leave United (apart from with the thick end of £100m in their sky rocket)?