The next manager of England is…

A cat enters the Anfield, and out of a sudden it becomes the people’s favorite. The Anfield cat is gaining power everyday and many are calling for it to be the next manager of England. However, Harry Redknapp thinks there is another cat that is better at the job.

Panic Shopping – The Transfer Market Will Go Crazy

By the time I am done writing this post, there will only be 22 more hours left for football agents and clubs to go panic shopping. Yet, don’t worry, I am staying in Dubai, and that gives them 2 or 4 hours more if they are to abide by the CET or GMT zones.

So, here we are, on August 31, where no football league is promising good matches, but numerous rumors are the appetizers. The world of football stands still for a week of international games as per the FIFA calendar and for the Euro 2012 qualifiers.

Nevermind the friend-lies, and let’s focus on what to expect by the end of the day. Rumor has it that:

1. Romelu Lukaku who just landed at the Bridge might make a surprise swoop to Britannia Stadium. Stoke City are looking for a season long loan deal. Yet, with Drogba’s horrific injury, I say he stays.
   

   When the "Elephant" is down, Torres might smile, or even score.

2. Sneijder is still pondering a late move to Manchester United. If we are to talk football, it will be great for him and the English champions because Moratti has gone insane, yet again. I pity Inter though. There is no Mourinhoesque path anymore: Back to the medieval ages. Don’t worry Italian fans, he will not leave, as Manchester United cannot pay his salary.
3. Carlos Tevez is still distracted, but Mancini is hopeful, or yet distracted too. The Argentinean changed 3 clubs over the last six seasons. The new club might be Inter. But look at this: Tevez joins Real Madrid and Higuain leaves for Liverpool. Interesting?
4. Mr. X, need to say more? Well, the brilliant transfer market history of Galliani and co. tells us that there is still hope. Whether it will be Kaka or Balotelli, or even a loan deal for Ibrahim Afellay, you should really stay tuned with AC Milan.
5. Luciano Moggi says he is not impressed with Juventus new signings. I trust Mr. Moggi, and rather I miss his presence in Serie A. Expect a couple of fringe players joining the Old Lady.
6. Modric didn’t want to play against Manchester City. Harry Redknapp was persistent and included him and lost by 5 goals and Modric was the flop of the match. Let’s face it: who can shun the money?
   

   He didn't leave for money, but that was the only squad number available

7. FC Barcelona already grabbed two titles in two weeks. They are strong enough for now. They even welcomed Cesc back. But who can assist Guardiola all throughout a long season when his backline is exposed? He just crushed Villarreal with a surprise formation including one genuine defender only: Abidal. Any calls against Chygrynskiy going back to Camp Nou?

You know most of the above, but I couldn’t help myself writing about it. I can even imagine some of the following:

Ganso to Chelsea – Neymar to Milan – Higuain to Inter – Parker, Moutinho, and Cahill to Arsenal – Gago to Roma – and Borriello to PSG.

Who do you think will be the most surprising “Panic Shopping” when the window is closed?

When you only score 10 goals in one season, and when you are 32 years old, Moratti will pick you up. Life is good.

LNFR – Quick and Random

1- Cristina is injured. They say it is for three weeks. I say, it is that time of the month.

2- Mohamed Bin Hammam, the AFC President, announced he will challenge Sepp Blatter this year for the FIFA Presidency. It seems that the revolutions all over the world have finally inspired someone to call for a change after more than 12 years of unrivaled dictatorship

3- Sunderland has revealed the new 11/12 home kit. Does it come with a new manager?

Awaiting a manager

4- Claude Makelele was quoted saying: “We used to get drunk together and joke about, but then he forgot about everyone” (Talking about Mourinho forgetting about some players to claim the spotlight). Hint: Actions are forgotten when sober!

5- I just discovered that Michael Owen has a verified twitter account with zero goals; tweets that is. (Check @themichaelowen)

6- John Terry was reinstated as England captain. All that Rio Ferdinand said was: Constipation.

Damn it! They discovered who the real captain is!

7- Chelsea agreed a deal to sign Lucas Piazon from Sao Paulo when he turns 18. He will join them in January 2012. Hint: The Premier League starts in August Mr. Abramovich.

8- Bale signed a contract extension. It is either a new Giggs story or a show me the money in the summer drama.

9- Balotelli needs a hairdresser, a smile dresser, an attitude dresser, but someone to dress him up? Seriously? (referred by @bilalhouri)

Quick News Round Up and The Trophy Tour

Champions League, the draw for the quarter-finals, has taken all the glamour this week. The English teams were unlucky as two of them will exterminate each other while the Spurs will have to face an improved Real Madrid. The question is: Will these English teams focus on the prestigious European title and save the efforts away from the Premier League?

Moving on, Real Madrid and Barcelona are already set to meet twice in April. With the result of the draw of the Champions League, the world might see a third El Clasico in a 10 day span. If that happens, then forget about the excitement of any other league in Europe. The world will witness a mini tournament between two of the biggest teams in the World.

In the meantime, this weekend will conclude some decisive matches all across Europe before a week of friendly international fixtures.

Mario Balotteli was sent off again. As the wind of change is blowing at the City of Manchester, we might see him travelling to the other side of Milan. It is will be a miracle to see AC Milan playing the 2011/2012 season with Zlatan and Mario upfront in every game.

Eric Abidal underwent a surgery, after being diagnosed as having a liver tumor. Barcelona will miss the services of one of their best players of this season. With Maxwell and Puyol still sidelined, Guardiola might need to use Milito more often or Busquets has to “Volunteer” again for the role of a central defender.

Manchester United is suffering from an injury spell. Ferguson will be missing Vidic and Ferdinand for more days to come. The three point lead on the top of the table is in danger and Bolton Wanderers will be the first real threat this week after Marseille failed to live up to the hopes of “somebody.”

The Italian league has evolved into a Milan rivalry again. Internazionale has shaped up well and is just 5 points behind AC Milan. This week might decide nothing, but the week after, with an Ibrahimovic-less Milan Derby, the picture will be clearer.

The Barclays Premier League Trophy is on tour in the United Arab Emirates. The trophy is in Abu Dhabi from March 18 – 20, from 16:00 to midnight, in the Corniche Area. From April 1 till April 4, it will be in Dubai in the JBR – The Walk, area, at the same times. Later on it will move to Qatar and Saudi Arabia (full dates and story here). If I am a Chelsea fan that would be the closest I can reach it this season.

First Days in Abu Dhabi

Diego, Champions, and more

The first half of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 has seen the following qualify: Shakhtar Donetsk – Tottenham Hotspur – FC Schalke 04 – and FC Barcelona. The waiting list includes some big guns like last year’s winners Internazionale Milano and the Reds of Manchester. Looking at the odds of each team in the quarter finals, it is still early to judge and guess but we might see some mouthwatering encounters.

Everyone seems happy to have reached this stage, but the only man worried about what’s next is Harry Redknapp who wants anyone but Barcelona. I am dreaming already about such an encounter. Call me an airhead or a fool or a novice, but I see a lucrative moment in the Champions League history if Spurs play Barcelona. It will be the game to watch. A Bale – Alves encounter? Modrić – Xavi runs? A Messi show at White Hart Lane? Trust me, it will be EPIC!

 

The only Barcelona Harry would want to meet (copyrights: Khalid AlMarri - @khalmarri)

1. Luc Castaignos is Inter’s most recent acquisition. He will move to the Nerazzurri by the end of the 2010-2011 season. A Thierry Henry resemblance they say, let’s hope it is not the Henry of Juventus 1999.
2. Enzo Francescoli believes that Messi is better than Maradona. Well, everyone with such a statement is looking for a football comeback; nothing more.
3. Wenger is looking for a loan replacement for Wojciech Szczesny after the latter has been injured blocking Dani Alves’ freekick. Now we know why Almunia let three goals in.
4. Cedric Enjorlas has been banned for six months by the French Football Federation for submitting a bid to lure Messi into his FC Borne, a second division club that plays in the Haute-Loire league. I wonder if such a ban would be sanctioned against Moratti.
5. Harry Redknapp is rumored to be frustrated with his strikers and is looking to sell them all for an overhaul in the frontlines. Let’s see the math: Pavlyuchenko, Defoe, and Crouch have scored together 9 league goals in 28 matches. Van der Vaart alone scored 10. Does Real Madrid have anymore?
6. Bojan is the hottest target on top of Wenger and Redknapp’s list. If it were for Wenger, he loves them young, if it were for the Spurs then two words: Remember Giovani dos Santos.
7. Rumors are floating about Diego Maradona learning the Ukrainian language in preparation to take over as the First Team Coach. The man who managed to make Martin Palermo score in a World Cup can certainly remind people who Andriy Shevchenko is.
   

   Don't you miss those better moments from South Africa?