Huge News For 2013!

The Soccerholic365 blog site will permanently be moving to Unfitreferee.com.

Daily content has been increased. trending news and video--plus, original features and analysis.

Everything begins on January 1st, 2013.

Here's the link, and see for yourself....

http://unfitreferee.com/

In the Hunt For Zaha

Despite how badly Crystal Palace manager Ian Holloway wants to keep Wilfried Zaha at Selhurst Park, the likely-hood of losing his star player in January has become all the more real. Four-clubs are already being linked to a reported eight figure swoop--a day before the window has been opened.

Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham are allegedly on the brink of a bidding war for Palace's 20 year-old winger. The asking price would be in the region of £15-20 million, with Eagles chairman Steve Parish insisting upon the highest fee. Both, Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger are huge admirers of the talented English international—albeit a six-minute substitute appearance against Sweden in a friendly.

Holloway has said the right things, insisting on Zaha stay with the club at least until the end of the current campaign, and concentrate on his football.  It's proper advice, especially with Palace currently residing in fourth place in the Championship table, and in the fight for promotion.

United has been suspected of having a £8 million projected bid turned down—it could very well be only a rumour.

We all know how this time of the season goes, with more fake stories than real ones. But, if he does make the jump into the Premier League, is it a bit premature? Zaha believes the time is right, having played over 100 games in the Championship, and very badly wanting to prove his quality at the top level. 

"To be honest, if I had the chance in January and Palace agreed, it's something I'd want to go for," admitted Zaha.

Reports claim that £10 million is the cut-off point, and Palace wants to wrap up any potential sale within the first week.

Let the auction begin.

Sepp Says The Darndest Things

It's hard to envision a time when FIFA president Sepp Blatter would talk and the football world actually gave a damn. The usual response being a quick shake of the head--similar to what you would give to a naive old-timer that is out of touch with modern society.

Whether it be his rant on adding sex appeal to women's football through skimpier outfits, or a good old handshake being the remedy for discriminatory behaviour on the field. When Mr. Blatter chooses to comment on matters pertaining to the beautiful game, it's safe to say, his judgement is not ideal.

Corruption in FIFA? That's an absurd notion. Future World Cup hosts Russia and Qatar are both shining examples of a squeaky clean image. Discrimination and Human rights violations are apparently of minimal importance. Not to mention his initial stance to goal-line technology.

But, that's another issue all together.Uncle Sepp was at it again over the weekend--having a dig at Major League Soccer.

 "There is no very strong professional league (in the U.S.)," Blatter said. "They have just the MLS but they have no professional leagues which are recognized by the American society."

Ouch!

And here I thought that a consistent rise in attendance proved otherwise--increasing from approximately 15,500 in 2006 to almost 19,000 last season. Add into account an additional seven new franchises in the same time period, including expansion into Canada.

The final statistic that disproves Blatter's ridiculous claim--13 franchises from a possible 19 have erected soccer specific stadiums. More proof of continuous growth and development of the sport in North America.

Adopting a league schedule that mirrors Europe is the only argument of Blatter's that has some merit. Although, it's a concept that is difficult to implement by MLS commissioner Don Garber--considering some of the venues have to put into consideration the demands of the NFL and MLB schedules.

"They have to play and adapt themselves to the international calendar," Blatter has previously stated. "If they do that, they can have success.

Judging by the numbers, and the exposure gained through David Beckham's arrival onto the scene, which has been followed by a good number of European football's biggest names--the MLS is laying down a solid foundation into the American professional sport's market.

Proving once again that Blatter suffers from a strong case of foot-in-mouth disease.

Boys Among Men

It took under a half hour for Liverpool to earn a convincing 3-0 victory at Loftus Road on Sunday.

Within 16 minutes, Luis Suarez had scored a brace through two splendid individual efforts, and Daniel Agger sealed it with 63 minutes left to play off a decisive header from a short corner kick.

Another painful loss was the inevitable outcome despite over an hour left in the match--the fans knew  it, and judging by their performance after conceding the opener, embarrassingly, the QPR players knew it as well.I would love to have been inside the Rangers dressing room at the break--a gutless performance that lacked any passion or urgency, definitely earned the players a famous Harry Redknapp obscenity fuelled tongue lashing.

Liverpool were without Brendan Rodgers on the sideline barking out orders, due to illness, but, the team responded with a convincing 90 minutes of dominating football. The passing game was superb, and more importantly, the Reds were clinical in front of goal, finishing early chances to put the match out of reach.

Without taking away from Liverpool's positive display, the dismal performance by Rangers on their home ground needs to be mentioned. They offered up zero resistance to their opponents relentless charge--practically ball watching and allowing Liverpool to take 4-5 touches on every possession. It was utterly disgraceful at this level, playing as if they are already relegated.

Heads will roll, especially with Redknapp as manager. Unfortunately, errors from the previous regime has left the team bloated with personnel, with virtually no room for new blood to be purchased during the winter window. Redknapp must find a way to sell at least a half dozen players, most being on fat contracts that are undeserving of their qualities and output this season--making them practically impossible to offload in January.

What makes things worse is the majority of players on massive contracts have no relegation clause written into their deals. Should they drop down to the Championship--which is looking more likely game by game--The long term sustainability of the club comes into question.Owner Tony Fernandes spent heavily to keep his clubs Premier League status, backing his manager almost to a fault, having no experience in running a football club--it's a tough lesson learned.

The best example of this irresponsible behaviour is by looking at Jose Bosingwa's ridiculous wage packet--earning more money than every player currently under contract at Redknapp's former club Tottenham. And the list sadly goes on and on.

Redknapp has pulled off miracles in the past, but,  looks set-up and destined to fail at Loftus Road

Mistaken Identity

Oops!

Turns out referee Mick Russell booked the wrong man. Sheffield Wednesday's Jeremy Helan was adjudged to have made two bookable offences in the match against Huddersfield Town on Saturday--at least that's what Terriers manager Simon Grayson had thought when the incident occurred 25 minutes into the first half.

However, a red card never followed. 

The official later admitted to have written the number of Helan's teammate Michail Antonio for the initial foul early in the match. Even some of the players were fooled, thinking Antonio was booked for a dive, not Helan for a challenge.

Either way, A mistake was made, and Russell accepted responsibility. Unfortunately, the admission of guilt doesn't change the result, which ended 0-0. But, having an extra man for 65 minutes could have made a difference.

Even at the professional level, nobody's perfect, though it was a bush league error and Russell deserves some sort of punishment. Huddersfield must take it on the chin and move on.

All Hail King Theo

Emirates Stadium was treated to an 10 goal thriller on Saturday, with Theo Walcott taking centre stage in a 7-3 victory over Newcastle.

Arsene Wenger handed Walcott the responsibility of leading the Gunners front line--his favoured position--and the response was electric, scoring a hat-trick and earning man of the match honours.

It was the perfect ending to 2012--a complete performance by the hosts, showing great determination to make sure all three points were secured, despite a valiant effort by the Magpies.

Arsenal held the lead on three separate occassions, only to see Newcastle battle back each time. Judging by the history between these two clubs--remember the four goal comeback by the Magpies in February 2011--the mood was tense inside the Emirates.

But, Walcott turned out to be the saviour by scoring his second of the match in the 73rd minute to ease Wenger's anxiety. Another three goals followed before the final whistle, with Walcott collecting the match ball with his third tally--also adding two assists.

As Thierry Henry cheered from the stands, watching his successor produce one of his best performances of the season, the importance of Walcott signing a contract extension were heightened. Wenger successfully transitioned Henry from a wide-man to one of the Premier League's best strikers, and hopes to do the same with Walcott should he convince him to stay in North London.

After Saturday, clubs might test Arsenal's resolve and table a significant bid for Walcott in January. In his last seven league matches, Walcott has scored six goals and five assists--having netted 14 times  total in all competitions with eight deliveries.

Wenger must act fast to avoid losing yet another one of his top players in the summer, but, this time for free and without compensation.

Alone In The Forest

Nottingham Forest shocked their supporters and some of their players with the firing of manager Sean O'Driscoll last Wednesday. The manner in which the sacking took place was tasteless to say the least, following a 4-2 victory at their City Ground that lifted them to within a single point of a playoff place in the table.

The Al Hasawi family lost patience with O'Driscoll after a poor run of form that brought with it two wins from the teams last six matches—the Kuwaiti owners expected to be in the race for automatic promotion at this point of the season.

The decision to sack the manager was largely unpopular among Forest fans, and the owners found a way to make things even worse by appointing Alex McLeish as O'Driscoll's successor.

Considering the rumour mill was throwing out the names of Mark Hughes, Roberto Di Matteo and Forest hero Roy Keane—ending up with McLeish was a shot in the gut.

McLeish had a disastrous run with Aston Villa last season that earned him the axe last May, playing a brand of football that was unappealing and more importantly ineffective. The Scotsman is confident of winning over the fans with victories, but, that remains to be seen.

Currently, McLeish is a lone wolf in the Forest despite his optimism.

The Reds hosted Crystal Palace on Saturday, with McLeish sitting in the directors box and assistant coaches Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Rob Kelly in temporary charge of the first team for the match.

Forest ended up earning a hard-fought 2-2 draw, with Billy Sharp scoring an injury time equalizer. McLeish was able to witness first-hand his new team's determination and never-say-die attitude after coming from behind twice to avoid defeat.

Look Who's The Boss

After signing on in October as player-manager, Edgar Davids has now taken full control of Barnet.
The legendary Dutch midfielder surprisingly decided to get involved with the League Two club in an attempt to help the Bees avoid relegation. Davids lives in North London and was previously involved  in local amateur soccer, his decision to share responsibilities with Mark Robson at Barnet Lane was a way for him to continue his passion for youth development on the bench, and on the field.

He now takes over complete control of first team duties following the departure of Robson. It's the Dutchman's inaugural foray into management. Since Davids arrival, Barnet has moved out of relegation, earning 19 of a possible 39 points--after starting the season with only three draws from their first 11 matches.

The Bees currently sit three points clear of the drop zone, so their is much more work still to be done if they plan to keep their Football League status.

Clearly, Davids has made a difference at Underhill Stadium since joining the club. Only time will tell if Barnet can continue the progress already made since his arrival. His on-field activities will now take a backseat to full-time management--having started 11 times for the Bees thus far.

FA Scared Of Fergie

Everyone abides by the same rules—except if your name is Sir Alex Ferguson.

It's quite remarkable that Fergie escaped punishment from the FA for his on-field tirade of referee Mike Dean and his team of officials. The confrontation happened at the start of the second-half, revolving around Dean overruling his linesman and allowing Newcastle's second goal, which gave them the lead heading into the break.

It wasn't a physical altercation—more like a scolding of a petulant child in an aggressive manor. I’m not insinuating that the war of words affected Dean's judgment or professionalism in the second-half, but, the talking-down by Fergie was not professional.

Alan Pardew voiced his opinion that a charge by the FA was warranted for Fergie's outburst—having been on the receiving end of a couple FA charges for altercations with assistant referee's down the touchline. Granted, the United managers actions weren't of a similar nature and does not deserve similar punishment. But, rules are rules, and his conduct on Boxing Day at Old Trafford warranted some type of slap on the wrist at the very least.

Red Devil fans would be in agreement had the shoe been on the other foot. Any type of aggression towards an official during a match is unacceptable.

Never short of words and always ready for a confrontation, Fergie lashed out at Pardew for his comments against him and blowing the incident out of proportion. Surely, he should be the last person to be accusing someone else of that type of behaviour. Just three days before, Fergie stated with a straight face that Robin van Persie could have died on the pitch following Ashley Williams’ deliberate kick of the ball to the back of his head. Could this have resulted in a mild concussion? Maybe. But death? Absolutely not. 

"I was demonstrative. I am always demonstrative. Everyone knows that. I am an emotional guy. But I was not abusive." Ferguson stated. Talk about playing down your actions. But, everyone is entitled to their opinion—Im just not buying it.

It didn't end there; Fergie took it to the next level with this comment about everyone overreacting to the incident, "The only person they have not spoken to is Barack Obama because he is busy. It is unfortunate but I am the manager of the most famous club in the world. Not Newcastle, a wee club in the north-east."

Luckily, the two sides will not meet again this season unless they are drawn together in the FA Cup. If that does happen, Fergie should hope the fixture is on home ground and not at St. James Park.

Geordie nation will forever remember his words as a slap in the face.

Third Time's A Charm

No one can deny Arsene Wenger is a bit nostalgic. 

Instead of putting his energy towards acquiring a long-term solution, Wenger has decided to focus his attention on the possibility of a second short-term loan for the Gunners all-time goal-scoring leader Thierry Henry.

In seven games last season, Henry scored two match-winners—a decent output for a player on the wrong end of 30, but then he was gone and Arsenal were left with the same problem.

Henry's relationship with his former French manager is almost father-like, as Wenger allows the striker to train with the club during the MLS off-season. Sure, Henry still has something left in the tank, but, a second short loan spell is not smart business on Arsenal's part.

Yes, it will sell tickets and jerseys—making even more money for the responsibly rich club, though, none of those funds are ever invested into the on-field product. Gunners fans have become accustomed to their best players jumping ship, and Wenger never properly filling the holes left in the aftermath.

That's not to say Wenger doesn't deserve some credit for his summer purchases. Santi Carzola was a steal, with Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud also great pick-ups. Given Arsenal's track record, it’s only a matter of time before these players are poached.

Wenger obviously needs help in his striking positions. Gervinho is terribly inconsistent, Giroud is fresh and still learning the ropes of the Premier League and Marouane Chamakh is a lost cause. With Theo Walcott's long-term future still up in the air, transforming him into an all-out striker is not the priority at the moment.

The price for Demba Ba seems like the best option—as a bid of £7.5 million would trigger a sell clause in the Senegalese striker's contract. Surely, this would be the smartest and easiest decision Wenger has to make—yet, he has talked down of a move for Ba and continues to leave the door open for a Henry's temporary arrival on a first team basis.

Sorry Gunners fans, but Henry is not the answer to your woes.

Pardew Issue's Ultimatum

Newcastle striker Demba Ba has been a revalation ever since his move to St James Park in the summer of 2011, producing a superb strike rate and consistency that spearheaded the Magpies top six finish last season.

The Senagalese hitman makes £80 million a week, and Alan Pardew wants nothing more than to secure his future with the club--a task that has been further complicated by a stipulation in Ba's contract that can be activated by any club who bids £7.5 million. It is a problem that Pardew insists will be sorted out quickly.

The constant worry of Ba's departure, considering his conversion rate and the small fee that could trigger his sale has kept Pardew guessing as to his players level of commitment to the club.

As the January transfer window imminently approaches, speculation of Ba's future with Newcastle has taken over the headlines in the North West of England.  Should Pardew keep hold of his striker, the manager made it a point to confirm that the clause in Ba's contract will either be restructured or a sale in the summer will be the unfortunate outcome.

Ba has helped the rumour mill churn by confirming his desire to play for his hometown club PSG, even welcoming a move with a passive aggressive come and get me plea. QPR, Tottenham and even Liverpool are just a few clubs interested in his services and could trigger his sale clause by issuing a bid.

Pardew should expect many sleepless January nights.

Venky's Late Christmas Gift

Ever since taking over control of Blackburn Rovers, the Indian chicken giants Venky's has made a mockery of a once proud and sustainable Premier League club--reducing them to a mid-table Championship side through poor and ill-advised decision making.

The dysfunction continued on Wednesday with the sacking of manager Henning Berg after only 57 days in charge. Ok, results have been poor, with Berg only winning once in 10 matches in the Championship--collecting a mere six points as Blackburn sit 17th in the table. But, the decision to bring in the former Rovers player was risky, and expecting promotion from a manager with limited experience at this level was even worse.


Assistant manager Eric Black, first team coach Iain Brunskill and goalkeeping coach Bobby Mimms have all left Ewood Park as well.

Now Venky's is in search of their fourth manager of the season,  and the prospect of bouncing straight back up to the Premier League looks uncertain.

Venky's should stick with what they know best--chicken, and leave the football to people who know what they're doing.

Into The Blue

What will it take to get David Villa at Stamford Bridge?

A Spanish manager? Check. A Spanish striking partner? Check. A wealthy owner that can bankroll positive results and afford to hand out a lucrative long-term contract? Check.

Chelsea has become the latest club that are reported to be inquiring about the availability of Villa, with Barcelona looking eager to sell to the highest bidder, though, a permanent move away from the Camp Nou is probably unlikely in January—unless Roman Abramovich makes an offer that is impossible to refuse. Any money earned in the Villa sale would be used towards purchasing Neymar from Santos, the prime Barca target,

From the outside, the move looks to be smart business for both parties involved.

Villa would make a ferocious pairing with Fernando Torres, the duo have played well together for the Spanish national team and would need minimal time to get acquainted. The shape of the team would need to change, as Rafa Benitez has continued to play a lone striker formation since his arrival, and Villa would need assurances before agreeing to a move. 

Either one of Eden Hazard, Oscar or Juan Mata might have to take a seat to make room should Villa move to the Bridge. My guess it wouldn't be Mata or Oscar that would shift to the bench, both of their form has stayed consistent in the Benitez rein. Hazard has been hot and cold, which could easily make him the odd man out. Competition for places is precisely what might be needed.

Villa is clearly not happy at Barcelona—having missed the majority of last season through injury, he returned to a team that has moved in a different direction tactically, making his minutes scarce. The striker has only started six matches in La Liga this season, with another six appearances from the bench.  Despite being minimally used by Barcelona thus far, Villa will not be sold just because he's unhappy.

A loan deal makes more sense at this stage of the season, with a permanent deal happening in the summer. Chelsea has the cash to facilitate a sale, and proven not to be shy in making a huge splash during the winter transfer window. With Torres resurrecting his game under Benitez and finding the net on a more consistent basis--a cash and swap deal with Atletico Madrid for Radamel Falcao is unlikely.

That leaves Villa as the main target for Benitez's Blue's. 

United Resilient, City Fall Behind

A continuous theme in the Premier League season continued on Boxing Day.

Manchester United came from behind to claim all three points at Old Trafford on Wednesday, with Chicharito scoring the match-winner in the 90th minute—condemning Alan Pardew's Newcastle to a hard-fought defeat.

With Wayne Rooney, Ashley Young and Danny Welbeck all out through injury and illness, the Red Devils showed why they are deserving of top spot in the table and the team to beat heading into the new year. The Magpies had the lead on three separate occasions, yet, United somehow managed to put out the fire and avoid defeat. Following a slight stumble in Swansea by the Premier League leaders on Sunday that cut their lead from six to four points at the summit, Sir Alex Ferguson made sure a repeat performance was evaded against an opponent that has gone 40 years without victory at the Theatre of Dreams.

Referee Mike Dean was the focal point of much controversy following his allowance of a Jonny Evan's own goal that gave Newcastle their second lead of the match. Papiss Demba Cisse was clearly offside on the initial shot by former Red Devil Danny Simpson which was parried by David De Gea into Evans, but was adjudged to have not been interfering with the United defender before the ball went in. The linesman flagged for offside but was overruled by Dean—who received an earful by Ferguson as he came back onto the field for the start of the second-half. On further review of countless replays, Ferguson had every reason to feel his side were on the wrong end of that call.

Patrice Evra tied the match on the hour mark, before the game's pantomime villain Cisse put the visitors ahead for the final time through a great cross from another former United player Gabriel Obertan. It lasted less than three minutes, as Robin van Persie tied the match for the host's—cuing up a thrilling end to a chaotic match. 

A debatable decision on Fabricio Coloccini handling the ball went against the hosts. De Gea terribly misreading a Sammy Ameobi shot that luckily for the keeper hit the post. The match resembled a basketball game—it was back and forth, before Chicharito scored the decider.

To make matters worse for Newcastle, Vurnon Anita was stretchered off following a horrendous tackle by Antonio Valencia that went unpunished which led to a tremendous amount of abuse from the Magpies bench—assistant John Carver leading the way--towards the linesman and fourth official.

The victory was amplified for the red side of Manchester following the news of their city rivals slip-up at the Stadium of Light.

The Wearside jinx continued to haunt Roberto Mancini, losing 1-0 for the third successive time against Sunderland on their ground. It was made even worse by Adam Johnson scoring the match-winner. The England winger was sold for £10 million this past summer by City after falling out of favour with Mancini—never really being high on the Italian manager’s depth chart during his stay.

Despite having a sub-par season to date, Johnson got the last laugh against his former teammates, scoring a ridiculous dipping strike that caught Joe Hart off-guard in the 53rd minute. Mancini was furious at the referee for not signalling for a free-kick in the lead up to Johnson's eventual goal, with Pablo Zabaleta feeling hard-done by the official.

Martin O'Neill should be extremely pleased by his team's performance on this day, as the Black Cats produced one of their best outings of the season. Johnson was the hero, but, Simon Mignolet deserves equal plaudits for earning the clean sheet and keeping Sunderland in the game. The visitors had 67 percent of the possession, firing 23 total shots at Mignolet—doubling the Black Cats final tally.

The loss by City, coupled by United's comeback victory has stretched the gap to seven points between the two rivals as the close of 2012 approaches. 

Reds Making Moves

Reports have surfaced recently that will please every Liverpool supporter worldwide—and it has to do with their beloved captain.

Brendan Rodgers is ready to offer Steven Gerrard a contract extension that will make sure he ends his football career as a Red--not that there was any doubt. Gerrard's current deal expires in 18 months—expiring at the end of the 2013-14 season—and the news of a new deal is obviously a big hit around Anfield.

Sure, Gerrard might have lost a step and not contributed as much in the goal department for Liverpool in recent years, but, his experience on the field and in the dressing room is extremely important to the club—especially with a new crop of talent now taking their initial steps into the first team, Gerrard's presence and guidance in nurturing their development is seen as a high priority by Rodgers.

Liverpool have also acted quickly in the transfer market--despite the window not opening for another week—Rodgers has potentially added to his depleted forward line by agreeing personal terms with Chelsea's Daniel Sturridge and a transfer fee of around £12 million.

Obviously, nothing can be officially confirmed until the transfer window opens, but the deal is expected. Sturridge has already undergone a medical and is poised to become Rodgers' first signing of 2013. 

Hopefully for Liverpool, the English striker can rediscover his form, having been used mainly as a spectator on the bench since the arrival of Fernando Torres two years ago. His playing time has dwindled significantly with the additions of Victor Moses, Eden Hazard and Oscar as well, with Chelsea's preference of playing with a lone striker.

Cheap Shot!

The consequences from the blatant cheap shot by Swansea City's Ashley Williams on Robin van Persie are not yet confirmed, but its hard to argue his action of kicking the ball to the back of the United's strikers head was not malicious.

You be the judge.

On a side note, van Persie's aggressive behaviour towards the referee after the incident could also bring a fine and maybe even a suspension.

Michu Leveller, Eight At The Brigde

The table-toppers dropped crucial points in Wales on Sunday, as Manchester United played out a 1-1 draw at Swansea. Patrice Evra opened the scoring for the Red Devils through a header off a corner kick, but, it was Michu again that salvaged points for the Swans.

It was a highly entertaining match; however, it did have a dark moment.

Ashley Williams and Robin van Persie had a bust up involving the Swans defender deliberately kicking the ball at the back of the Dutchman's head after being tripped up at the edge of the box. Van Persie was livid and rushed Williams, before running aggressively towards the referee in disbelief that a card wasn’t produced. Calmer heads prevailed but no red card was shown.

United's lead at the top of the table now sits at four points over their city rivals.

Poor old Paul Lambert; fresh off an inspiring performance last week at Anfield that brought with it an enormous amount of confidence within the squad—suffered a major set-back with a humiliating 8-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge. One step forward, five steps back for the Villains.

For Chelsea, it was exactly what was needed, having not won a match at home in the league since October—a five match winless run.

Seven different players got on the score-sheet, with Ramires producing a double. The quality of goals was quite breathtaking as well, with Fernando Torres, David Luiz and Frank Lampard producing exquisite strikes.

Its never easy being a goalkeeper and Brad Guzan had a long night at the Bridge. The American was hung out to dry by his teammates as Chelsea cut through Lambert's three-man back line like a hot knife through butter. But, Guzan did deny a late penalty by debutant Lucas Piazon to gain back some dignity on a night he hopes to soon forget--call it a morale victory.

The win puts Rafa's Blues alone in third, 11 points behind leaders Manchester United.

Game Over!

Barcelona dedicated their 3-1 victory over Real Valladolid on Saturday to Tito Vilanova. The team received some good news about their ailing manager before the day’s events, with Vilanova having undergone successful throat surgery and was home recuperating.

The players wore shirts honouring Vilanova during the warm up, and proceeded to stay perfect on their away travels with the victory—nine straight wins. 

Lionel Messi finished 2012 with 91 goals—scoring Barca's second of the match to finish six ahead of Gerd Muller's previous record and 16 better than third place Pele for the most goals in one calendar year. Point blank, Messi deserves to be called the greatest footballer ever. The fact that FIFA has to make up records for the little Argentine to break is a testament to his dominating stature and overall quality.

Xavi opened the scoring, with Christian Tello adding a late strike for insurance—minutes after Javi Guerra pulled one back for Valladolid. 

Barcelona opened up a nine point lead at the top over Atletico Madrid, and a monstrous 16 point lead over the defending champions Real Madrid following their loss in Malaga.

Roque Santa Cruz scored a brace in a four minute span to give the host's a 3-1 second-half lead—the first coming six minutes after a lucky deflection off a Karim Benzema shot cancelled out Isco's opener. Benzema scored eight minutes from time to pull Madrid within a goal, but it wasn't enough.

Another interesting note was the omission of Iker Casillas from the starting line-up, with Jose Mourinho selecting Antonio Adan instead—it was a gamble that blew up in the "Special One's" face. Mourinho had already stated that the league title was now out of their reach while talking to the media last week, though; continuing to drop points and falling further behind the runaway leaders is driving Los Blancos supporters to their limit, with many calling for Mourinho’s head.

The rumour mill is working on overdrive with reports that Mourinho might not last the season, and a sacking is imminent should results not change in a hurry. It seems like the natural step, considering Mourinho is probably not going to be behind the Madrid bench next season, and with the league lost already, why not pull the trigger and move in a different direction.

Late Heroics Headline EPL Saturday

Gareth Barry gave Manchester City fans an early Christmas gift at the Etihad Stadium today to keep, scoring an injury time match-winner in the 93rd minute to give the hosts a 1-0 victory over Brian McDermott's Reading. The visitors were terribly unlucky not to earn even a single point on Saturday—having pushed Roberto Mancini's billionaire squad to the limit. The result allows City not to lose any more ground in the title race.

Over on Tyneside, Shola Ameobi was the hero for Geordie nation through a stunning 81st minute solo effort against QPR. The victory lifted the spirits of everyone associated with Newcastle following a run of poor form—winners of one match in their last eight.

The Canaries saw their 10 match unbeaten run end at the Hawthorns, as Romelu Lukaku scored eight minutes from normal time to break the deadlock. Robert Snodgrass gave Norwich City an early lead from a sublime free kick, before Zoltan Gera equalised before the break.  The home victory ceased a four-match winless run for West Brom.

Martin O'Neill was all smiles at St. Mary's, watching Steven Fletcher be the hero once again for the Black Cats and score the game’s only goal in a morale boosting victory over Southampton. O'Neil can breathe easy and enjoy his Christmas dinner after earning all three points, as Sunderland came into the contest with a slight one-point lead over their hosts, but now sit four points clear of the relegation zone.

Upton Park was up in arms over referee Anthony Taylor's decision to send off Carlton Cole for a challenge on Leighton Baines, it proved to be a pivotal moment in the match. Cole had given the Hammers a first-half lead, but, Victor Anichebe equalised three minutes before West Ham's goal scorer was sent off. Six minutes later, Steven Pienear netted the winner in the 73rd minute to hand the Toffee's a 2-1 victory and into a four-way tie on points for third spot. The referee tried to make amends by sending off Darron Gibson for a similar challenge late on, but by then the game was over.

The physicality of Stoke City was too much for Tottenham, with Andre Villas-Boas' side wasting a chance to move into sole possession of third spot by playing out a goalless draw at White Hart Lane. Even Gareth Bale's return to the squad wasn't enough to earn Spurs the victory—having been out a few weeks with a hamstring injury. Tony Pulis' defensive tactics kept the hosts at bay, frustrating both Emmanuel Adebayor and Jermain Defoe for 90 minutes. The hard earned point extended the Potters unbeaten run to eight matches.

The late fixture on Saturday came from Anfield, which saw Liverpool crush Fulham 4-0 and surprisingly only one came off the boot of Luis Suarez— in stoppage time. Stewart Downing finally scored his first league goal for the club off a thunderous left-footed strike—it was arguably his best match in red, hustling on both ends of the field and deserving of man of the match honours. Martin Skrtel gave Liverpool an early lead, before Steven Gerrard scored in his second successive match through a brilliant set-up by Downing. Brendan Rodgers men produced their best performance of the season on home ground, suffocating the Cottagers from the first minute with exquisite distribution and pace.

In the weekend's early match, Arsenal were able to secure a 1-0 away victory over Wigan  through a spot kick effort by Mikel Arteta that left Latics manager Roberto Martinez fuming—Jean Beausejour was deemed to have tripped up Theo Walcott on the hour mark that lead to eventual winner. The Gunners moved into third place on goal difference, and secured their first three-match winning streak in the league since last March. The feel good feelings have returned to North London for the time being.

Old Lady Set Italian Record

Fresh off the news of losing Giorgio Chiellini for up to three months with a calf tear—Antonio Conte's Juve continued their winning ways on Friday through two-stoppage time goals in a 3-1 victory over homeless Cagliari in Parma.

A brace by Alessandro Matri and a goal by Mirko Vucinic ended any hopes of an enormous upset by the Sardinians—after the would-be hosts took an early lead. The Bianconeri now sit atop of the table, 10 points clear of trailing Inter Milan and 11 points ahead of third place Lazio—albeit with a game in hand—going into the Christmas break.

However, the victory was more than a simple three points earned, with Juve setting a new domestic league record by collecting 94 points in the calendar year—a tremendous achievement for any club, in any league. 

The unbeaten run may have ended at 49 matches in November, but, their impeccable rate of consistency continues to make Juventus the runaway favourites for a second Scudetto and quite possibly outside favourites for a spot in the Champions League final in May. 

The return of the Old Lady to their glory days might be hated on by the majority of Italians, but a long run in Europe will only help the country's UEFA co-efficient rankings and return the extra Champions League place lost to Germany in recent years. 

UEFA Leaves Anchovies Belly Up

UEFA came down hard on Malaga on Friday, fining the Spanish outfit €300,000 and banning them from every European competition for one year. It was a devastating blow for a side that has performed tremendously in the Champions League and is on pace to finish in the top four in La Liga this season.

The punishment was handed down by UEFA's Club Financial Control Body for Malaga having outstanding debts to the taxman, players and other clubs. The committee has also warned of further penalties should the Anchovies fail to change their business practices and produce proof that they have zero overdue payments.

Regardless of their league position in the next four seasons, the ban restricts Malaga from competing in any UEFA competition for a single cycle, but, an additional year could be added if the evidence requested is not presented by March.

Malaga did receive some good news, as they will still be allowed to compete in this season's Champions League and their match in the last 16 against FC Porto will go ahead as scheduled. Also, the prize money earned for making it out of the group stage will be released by UEFA after it was frozen temporarily by European football's governing body as a precaution. 

Despite being owned by a Qatari billionaire, the funds were desperately needed by the cash-strapped club.

Jonjo: The Second Coming Of Gerrard

Arguably the most popular and sought after ticket in the Liverpool football calendar. The unconventional derby match against hated rivals Manchester United has always provided plenty of fireworks. This season's fixture at Anfield continued that trend.

Only 39 minutes had ticked off the clock, the match remained scoreless, though, the atmosphere was electric and the exuberance filtered down to the pitch—a sending off seemed imminent.

Lunging into a 50/50 challenge for a loose ball with two-feet, legs apart in a scissor-like fashion, Jonjo Shelvey was forced to watch his team's eventual 2-1 defeat from the stands. However, the 20 year-old did not accept his punishment quietly, upon exiting the field, Shelvey directed his frustrations towards United's Sir Alex Ferguson, giving the legendary manager an earful before disappearing into the tunnel.

Having a go at the cobra-like Scotsman upped his street credit in and around Anfield, endearing himself even further to Kopites on Merseyside. Shelvey's reaction even surprised Ferguson, leaving the normally talkative manager speechless in his technical area.

He may be a loose cannon and extremely volatile at times—occasionally allowing his fiery emotions to negatively impact his actions on the pitch. These are some of the negative attributes that are reminiscent of the clubs current captain during the early days of his Liverpool career. It's no secret that Shelvey is a huge admirer of Steven Gerrard, crafting his game to emulate his childhood idol. Despite his aggressive nature, Shelvey possesses the characteristics to be a huge success for Liverpool

After putting pen to paper to complete his move to Anfield, Shelvey confirmed the obvious, "I've mirrored my game on Steven Gerrard - I love him to bits, everything about him, from the way he walks to the way he plays. I want to have played with him and against him by the time I've finished my career. That's my dream.'' The natural successor to the clubs legendary captain might have been found, with the added bonus of being able to learn from the man himself on a daily basis, cultivating his natural abilities under Gerrard's tutelage. The script almost rights itself.

Liverpool paid Charlton under $3 million for Shelvey in May 2010--a minimal sum of money for a club of the Reds stature. Putting the transfer into perspective, the Addicks were playing in League One at the time, and despite Shelvey's standout performances that season, the jump in class still made it a risky purchase.  Shelvey had already become Charlton's youngest debutant and goal-scorer at 16, and word of mouth was travelling fast about the Romford-born midfielder.

Presently, the gamble has paid off for Liverpool.

Similar to his predecessors, Brendan Rodgers shares the same belief on Shelvey's quality and potential—which was clearly evident in the six-part documentary Being Liverpool. The North Londoner has become a regular selection this season, compiling 13 starts in all competitions, with four goals scored in the Europa League.

Unfortunately, Shelvey's first appearance for Liverpool was overshadowed by a humiliating defeat at Anfield, crashing out of the 2010/11 Carling Cup to fourth-tier Northampton Town in a shoot-out. Not the most ideal debut, but at least Shelvey converted his spot-kick. One month later, Kenny Dalglish handed the midfielder his first start for the Reds at the Stadio San Paolo in Naples—housing one of the most hostile and intimidating atmosphere's in Italy. The match ended scoreless, but Shelvey lasted the full 90 minutes, proving his ability to handle the pressure of a European night.

Despite making 21 overall appearances that season, with the better majority coming off the bench, Dalglish decided that a loan move to Blackpool at the start of the 2011/12 campaign would benefit both parties, seeing as Shelvey would earn valuable experience and more minutes at the seaside club. To say the decision was a success would be terribly understated. Shelvey lasted only 10 matches with the Tangerines, scoring six--half of those coming at Elland Road against Leeds--before being recalled to Liverpool before the new year because of an injury crisis.

Upon returning to Anfield, Shelvey was thrusted into the Reds depleted lineup--partly due to injuries, the rest earned on merit—Liverpool's confident youngster made his first Premier League start against Aston Villa and within three weeks scored his first goal for the club in the FA Cup against Oldham Athletic. The season ended horribly for the club, underachieving tremendously to finish eighth in the table, but Shelvey did manage to bag his first ever Premier League goal before years-end at Anfield versus Chelsea.

What followed that goal has now become a common occurrence whenever Shelvey scores--using both hands to mimic glasses in homage to his brother. The midfielder is the only member of the family not to wear a pair himself. The comical googly-eyed celebration is now well-known by Liverpool fans.

Comparisons to Gerrard are easy observations, as both play at a high intensity and leave everything on the pitch, surrendering their bodies without a second thought for the club. The levels of aggression are off the charts, and sometimes are emotionally driven. Gerrard was notoriously reckless at the beginning of his career, earning plenty of red cards and a reputation as a dirty player. Eventually, through match experience and maturity, Gerrard channelled his overly assertive nature and became the finished product he is today and a model professional.

Liverpool is banking on Shelvey following the same path. In spite of his relative inexperience, his intelligence in offensive positions is a tell-tale sign of a great player in the making. Add to the mix a keen eye for goal, with the confidence to unleash a shot from distance or accurately hit the target from a tight angle—Shelvey looks more and more like the real deal. At times, he can be at fault for being too adventurous, whether it is in distribution or galloping to far forward, but, those rough edges will be polished through match experience.

With Gerrard as a mentor and taking Shelvey under his wing—the youngster is living out his dream by learning the ropes from one of the best in the business. It's a win-win scenario for Liverpool. Performances on the pitch have quickly made Shelvey a Kop favourite, earning rave reviews through his sheer desire and hustle, both being virtues that are held in high regard and appreciated by fans in the region.

England manager Roy Hodgson recently awarded Shelvey his first call-up to the national team—a good sign that his development into a first team regular at Liverpool is not going unnoticed. It was a monumental achievement for the 20 year-old, running onto the Wembley pitch in a World Cup qualifier against San Marino, albeit a substitute appearance, Shelvey has made the breakthrough amongst the elite.

Liverpool made sure to lock up their prized midfielder with a new long-term contract last summer, making sure Shelvey will be a part of the club for the foreseeable future.

Despite his cocky demeanor, Shelvey ended up apologizing to Ferguson for his outburst after being sent off in the derby--much to the dismay of the clubs supporters.

Futsal Falcao Stunner

Brazi's futsal legend--the great Falcao proves why he deserves his legendary status with an absolute stunning goal in an exhibition match in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

The 35-year-old scored this audacious free-kick goal during 'Futsal Fest'.

Behold Falcao The Great!

Ronaldo All About Respect

Cristiano Ronaldo is relishing his return to Manchester, three years after being sold to Real Madrid for a record transfer fee of £80 million.

Old Trafford will host the second leg of United's clash with Ronaldo's Madrid in the last 16 of the Champions League, and Red Devil's supporters have been assured by the man himself of a respectful return.

"I still speak with Ferguson. I miss him a lot, and I miss Manchester United. I felt very good there; it was like a family, stated Ronaldo. He went on to confirm, "I won't celebrate if I score against United,"

Ronaldo is known to flex his muscles when celebrating a goal-- the Portuguese midfielder's cocky swagger will not be on display on the night..

"I had six great years there and am still friends with my team-mates. It is thanks to Manchester United that I am here playing for Real Madrid. Without them, I wouldn't be the player I am today," Ronaldo expressed to a Spanish newspaper.

Expect a positive reception by United fans when their former number seven takes to the field in March. But, if he scores, the boo birds will rain down in full force.

Meireles Banned

The Turkish FA has handed down an 11-match ban to Fenerbahce's Raul Meireles for spitting at referee Halis Ozkahya during the derby against Galatasaray.

Not only has the official accused the Portuguese international of spitting at him, but also for a lewd homophobic gesture as the player was exiting the pitch after receiving his second bookable offence. Both accusations have been vehemently denied by Meireles.

Unfortunately for the former Liverpool and Chelsea midfielder, the powers that be in Turkey have sided with the official's story and is set to be sidelined indefinitely.

"I'm really annoyed at being accused of spitting at the referee," Meireles said. But the midfielder was more annoyed by the other accusation and is ready to prove his innocence.

"I don't know what the hand gesture for calling somebody gay is in Turkey but what I did was entirely based around the referee being a coward and bowing to the pressure. The referee's accusations are outrageous and defamatory. I will be taking legal action against him to prove my innocence."

The foul looks legit and worthy of a bookable offence, but, judge for yourself if Meireles spit or made a homophobic gesture towards the official.

Living A Dream: Sterling Signs

Rahim Sterling just received the best Christmas gift of his life--signing a five-year contract with Liverpool and committing his long-term future to Anfield.

Imagine being 18 years-old and going from making only a few hundred pounds a week playing Premier League football--which is a reward in itself at that age--to now receiving a five figured pay packet. Sterling is truly living out a dream scenario.

Liverpool moved swiftly to lock up their talented youngster, rewarding him for his achievements and quick rise into the first team picture. Sterling has made 25 appearances in all competitions this season under Brendan Rodgers, and has become one of the first names on the manager’s team sheet.

“There’s a lot more to be done. I haven’t begun yet, as the manager has said. Hopefully I can kick on after the New Year and try to do my best for the team and the football club,” said Sterling after putting pen to paper. Hopefully for Reds supporters, the youngster will not become complacent with his future now secured.

Sterling is a tremendous talent, and the notion of complacency is far-fetched, especially with Steven Gerrard as captain and Luis Suarez's constant chirping on the pitch. 

Juve Dilemma

Bad news for Juventus is great news for the rest of Serie A.

The defending Italian champions sit seven points clear of Inter Milan in the table, but are now set to be without vice-captain and arguably the best centre-back in the game today for an extended period of time, as Giorgio Chiellini suffered a calf muscle tear and will be sidelined for three months.

Chiellini is the team's defensive leader, anchoring Andrea Barzagli and Leonardo Bonucci in a three-man defensive line that has been highly successful for the Bianconeri—conceding only 10 times this season in 17 matches—a league best. Antonio Conte's strategy at the back hinges on Chiellini's presence, which is why Juve might be in trouble during his absence.

Another team that will benefit from Conte's dilemma is Neil Lennon's Celtic. The Hoops will host the first leg of their last 16 Champions League fixture and unless Chiellini is ahead of schedule, the defender will not make the trip to Glasgow, which gives Celtic a much needed advantage before having to fly to Turin for the second leg.

Tevez Teaches Balotelli

T'is the season to help thy neighbour, or in this case teammate.

Check out Carlos Tevez and Mario Balotelli spending some quality time and a ridiculously hilarious bonding session as the Argentine attempts to teach the Italian how to wrap a Christmas gift.

This clip is highly addictive and worth the two minutes it takes to watch it.

Its also worth mentioning that Balotelli is compeltely clueless to the simple process. Let the comedy begin.

Golazo By Kone!

If you have yet to see this stunning bicycle kick by Bologna's Greek striker Panagiotis Kone against Napoli last weekend--do yourself a favour and press play immediately!

This is easily a contender for goal of the year.

Juninho Moves To The Big Apple

The New York Red Bulls moved fast to secure the services of free-kick specialist Juninho Pernambucano on a free transfer from Vasco da Gama. The Brazilian and former Lyon superstar is now 37 years of age, and though his stamina and mobility have taken a knock, his experience and distribution of the ball continues to be quite impressive.

What makes this move a no-brainer for the Red Bulls is that Juninho will not take up a designated player spot—it’s a risk definitely worth taking. Theirry Henry and Tim Cahill will benefit tremendously from his acquisition, watch out for the trio to form a dangerous partnership. The Brazilians quality from set-pieces is top-notch and could easily become the best in the league, now that David Beckham has ended his MLS career.

Juninho has the potential to be the signing of the season and a major coup for New York.

Return to One's Roots

Always in the shadow of the Champions League, Europe's second-rate competition deserves some attention. The Europa League Round of 32 draw provided some great match-ups and a return for some players to where it all began.

Liverpool was pitted against Champions League drop-outs Zenit St. Petersburg in what should be a difficult fixture for Brendan Rodgers inconsistent bunch. A trip to Russia in February is far from ideal, but one player in red will relish the journey, with Martin Skrtel receiving a homecoming of sorts, returning to the Petrovsky Stadium to face his former club.

The same can be said for Petr Cech, as Chelsea will meet Sparta Prague and travel to the Czech capital for the first leg. The Blues keeper spent only one successful season in Prague before moving on, though, it was an important step in his career and the place where it all began.

In what should be the best fixture of the round, Tottenham will host Lyon at White Hart Lane in the first leg, before a return to the Stade de Gerland for Hugo Lloris, barely six months after the keeper was sold by the French outfit to Spurs.

Newcastle by far received the easiest opponent out of the four English sides, drawn against Ukranian side Metalist Kharkiv, with St. James Park hosting the first leg. This could prove to be a tricky fixture for Alan Pardew, depending on what happens during the January transfer window and if the Magpies can find a way to end their run of poor form. But it could have been a lot worse.


Other notable fixtures to keep an eye on are....

Bayer Leverkusen   v   Benfica

Atletico Madrid   v   Rubin Kazan

Borussia Monchengladbach   v   Lazio


The remaining fixtures are....

BATE Borisov   v   Fenerbahce

Inter Milan   v   CFR Cluj

Levante   v   Olympiakos

Dynamo Kiev   v   Bordeaux

Stuttgart   v   Genk

Ajax   v   Steuea Bucuresti

FC Basel   v   Dnipro

Anji Makhachkala   v   Hannover

Napoli   v   Viktoria Plzen


Here's a look at the fixture list after the draw for the Round of 16....

Napoli/Viktoria Plzen   v   BATE Borisov/Fenerbahce

Dynamo Kiev/Bordeaux   v   Bayer Leverkusen/Benfica

Newcastle United/Metalist Kharkiv   v   Anzhi Makhachkala/Hannover

Borussia Monchengladbach/Lazio   v   Stuttgart/Genk

Inter Milan/CFR Cluj   v   Tottenham Hotspur/Lyon

Atletico Madrid/Rubin Kazan   v   Levante/Olympiakos

Zenit St Petersburg/Liverpool   v   FC Basel/Dnipro

Sparta Prague /Chelsea   v   Ajax Amsterdam/Steaua Bucuresti

The Fixture List Is In!

The draw for the last 16 of the Champions League could not have went any better for the neutral fan, who can look forward to plenty of excitement come February.

However, for those of you that support one of Arsenal, AC Milan and Manchester United—the luck of the draw was unkind. The Gunners will face German giants and last season's finalists Bayern Munich, with Emirate Stadium hosting the first leg.

The bad news continued for English clubs, as Manchester United drew Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid, pitting two of football's most successful managers against one another right from the start. Sir Alex Ferguson does have the benefit of having the crucial second leg advantage, with Old Trafford hosting the deciding fixture.

AC Milan received the short end of the stick by being pitted Barcelona—the team every club wanted to avoid. Unless a miracle occurs, this is where the road will end for the Rossoneri.

Celtic earned a trip to Turin after surprising everyone in making it this far. Neil Lennon's next test will be the Italian champions Juventus, with Antonio Conte back in the dugout for the Bianconeri following the end of his lengthy touchline ban. Celtic Park will host the first leg.

Carlo Ancelotti will lead PSG to the Mestalla in Valencia for his side’s first leg encounter. Not an easy fixture in the least, but the Italian manager must be grateful to avoid the remaining heavyweights in the competition.

Malaga were also lucky to avoid the big dogs and are well capable of causing yet another upset, but FC Porto stand in their way and the Estadio do Dragao has proven to be a tough environment for even some of Europe’s best clubs through the years.

The remaining two fixtures in the competition might lack the flare of the previous six, but should not be overlooked. Borussia Dortmund are being touted as favourites to make the final, but first must find a way through Shakhtar Donetsk--the team that manhandled the defending Champions in the group stage. That leaves Galatasaray and Schalke, both clubs are well-pleased at the draw and fairly even strength-wise—a spot in the quarterfinals is a miraculous achievement for the Turkish champions after getting off to a bad start in the group stages. Schalke has defied the odds in past competitions, a similar run is unlikely but not out of the realm of possibility.

The countdown to February has begun, and the fixture list provides a tremendous amount of anticipation. Sit back and enjoy the ride.

What's Next For Tito & Barcelona?

Barcelona has confirmed manager Tito Vilanova has suffered a reoccurrence of parotid gland cancer and will undergo surgery Thursday.

Reports have been vague on what this means in the long-term for the club, but Vilanova will stay in hospital for three to four days and will have to undergo chemotherapy and radiation treatment that potentially could force him to relinquish his position on the bench for the foreseeable future.

Speculation is running rampant, but the club stated they will hold a press conference at some point on Wednesday to give an official response to the bad news.

Barcelona are top of the table in Spain, 13 points clear of rivals Real Madrid and have excelled tremendously under Vilanova. But, football must take a backseat, and the managers overall health is the top priority.

Let's all hope for a successful surgery and a speedy recovery for Tito.

New Addition To Berlusconi Harem

At 76, Silvio Berlusconi seems to have a sexual appetite that can rival Tiger Woods.

The former Italian prime minister and media tycoon is known for his taste of fine young women, and currently remains on trial for allegedly paying an underage prostitute for sex. Surprisingly, that didn't stop 27 year-old Francesca Pascale from accepting a marriage proposal, with Berlusconi confirming his engagement on live television in Italy.

Many men around the world envy his lure of the opposite sex; the list is quite impressive--filled with a bevy of gorgeous supermodel's and actresses. Berlusconi has now decided to get re-hitched for a third time, following four years of the single-life. The stylish grandpa has the energy of a teenager and the bravado of a man who knows how to use his immense power. The mixture can be quite beneficial, and at the same time, can get you in trouble.

Berlusconi has been charged for tax-evasion by Italian courts, sentenced to four years behind bars, but is still roaming free and living a glamorous lifestyle. I forgot to mention, despite all these problems, he is planning to run for office once again, and hopes to elevate his popularity in Italy by using the platform of football.

The AC Milan president has admitted that the Rossoneri are in a transitional period, but expects the club to be back at the top of Serie A within three years through development of youth and smart signings.

You might not agree with him, or even like him, but Berlusconi lives an interesting life that always delivers plenty of headlines.

Where's The Love?

Neil Warnock continues to blame Rafa Benitez for Sheffield United's relegation from the Premier League back in 2007. It all stems from Benitez playing a weakened Liverpool on the final day of the season at Craven Cottage. Fulham ended up winning 1-0 to avoid the drop, condemning Warnock's Blades to finish in the bottom three.

The two managers will meet again at Elland Road in the Capital One League Cup quarterfinal on Wednesday, and the dreaded friendly pre-match handshake has received most of the headlines.

Benitez has admitted Warnock's claims of threatening a lawsuit--after the now Leeds manager consistently criticized his Spanish counterpart for what he deems unsporting behaviour. But, Benitez has confirmed he would be professional and shake Warnock's hand in the lead-up to the match, though, the friendly gesture seemingly won't be reciprocated.

Every manager should be allowed to field whatever side he feels will benefit his team, and since Liverpool at the time had already clinched a top four place in the league, and were preparing to face AC Milan in the 2007 Champions League final in Athens—it’s hard to point the finger at Benitez for his decision. Had Warnock managed to beat Wigan at Bramall Lane on the final day of the season, the Blades would have avoided the drop. The blame should be placed squarely on Warnock's shoulders for his team's shortcomings.

The time has come to squash the beef—enough time has passed for the ill-feelings to dissipate. Let's hope the two-managers can set a positive example and end the rather comical feud.