Things continue to get underway with Lyon opening L1 with a win. Ribery has now also announced his desire to move to a top club.

http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news;_ylt=A ... &type=lgns

So Carrick moved to ManU for £18.6million . . .. mugged!!!

Lyon are a real force in French football, another title for them easy.

There is an irony here somewhere:

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story ... 66&cc=5739

Carrick out for several weeks with ankle ligament damage.

Hmmm looks like Man Utd got dodgy goods.

His first game back from injury should be against . . . . Tottenham!

So, Chelsea got beaten by MLS allstars the otherday in a friendly.

Things dont seem to be going that great for Chelsea right now, what with Crespo leaving to Inter an all. That leaves them with 2 strikers I think, Shevchenko and Drogba. That would leave them having to resort to playing a 4-3-3, (or unlikely 4-4-2). The problem here I think is Ballack and Lampard (obviously, gerrard?) cannot play together, the two players are far too similar to be in the same set-up, but I really cannot see Mourinho dropping Lampard for the far superior Ballack though. In turn theres another problem in Essien being left on the bench, its doubtful that Makalele will be dropped. SWP CANT go another season like the one past. He must leave if he is serious in wanting a future int he England team. On the flip side I can see Liverpool making a very good challenge for the premiership this season. Whereas Mourinho has gone about to buy big names and strengthen where it is unnecessary, Benitez has gone and bought the players needed for Liverpool to improve.

Here's an excellent illustration of the sort of bizarre coverage we get on this side of the pond.

This story on the top of the SI Soccer page:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/s ... index.html

Quotes Goal.com and has Ibrahimovic headed for AC Milan.

This story was posted right beneath it on the SI Soccer page
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/s ... index.html
And says Ibrahimovic is not headed to AC Milan.

Just to repeat, one link right under the other.

Also of note in the first story: Villareal prepared to sell Senna to ManU for the right price.

Arsenal 3 Dinamo Zagreb 0 the Gunners cruise into the group stages (second leg a formality)

Oops. Kinda contradictory ain't it.

What's worst...Arsenal wasn't that impressive at all. Well, atleast until goals. :-)

Aresnal have a major problem at the back. I hope they do nothing to rectify it.

Keep dreaming Bodrul Althou I really wish they would just off load Cole now and get a replacement before the window closes.

Cygan at CB

With Cole there are some developments, Chelsea have made a bid for him. Lets hope he leaves.

By the way, dont you feel a bit betrayed by Cambell? I thought he said he was going to further his career abroad? Portsmouth isnt overseas is it, and Arsenal are in the need for a CB.

not much could be done. i thought he had personal problems but it seems not. Can't change wankers i'm afraid

Some news recaps:

Another NFL owner buys into the EPL:
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story ... 35&cc=5739
Honestly, I'd be more concerned about this one than Glazier and ManU. At least Glazier has shown an ability to pick decent people to run his teams. That really can't be said of Lerner - the new Browns have been a mess since day one. The current Savage/Crennel combination may work out, but there have been some odd blips every now then that make one wonder. OTOH, he is also of the strain that trys to pick sports people to run the sports side of the team, and the Browns aren't afraid to spend money (though their selection of targets has been, well, questionable).

Hargreaves continues to push for a move to the EPL
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story ... 15&cc=5739
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/s ... index.html

Real gives up on Cesc/Fabregas/Robben
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/s ... index.html
I'm sure they will try again...

No, I think they will be just fine now that Lerner has taken over. They already have the ideal manager, so I dont know about behind the scenes - apparently Lerner doesnt really take so much off a hands on approach to the club, preferring to let the correct people do their jobs. Villa fans are pretty chuffed about the takeover, and the rumoured £50million transfer kitty Lerner is offering.

Villa will be a serious outfit next season with O'Neill at the helm. With this and (groan) Spurs building up The big 4 are definetly going to feel the heat.

Well, if Neville is all y'all say, they'll be fine. My only concern is that Lerner got suckered twice with the Browns in terms of team management, but as I said, money was never the issue.

It's the World Cup all over again:

Germany 2 Sweden 0

And yes, this is after 8 minutes

Bugger. With half the Irish side serious doubts for the Germany game on the 2nd I'm not very optimistic at this point.

Holland 4 Ireland 0

We are fucked for Stuttgart.

Not even 20th minute and Manchester Utd leads 4-0 vs Fulham. Quite an inspired game. :-D

5-1 now in the 73rd minute.

And lower down: Is Sunderland trying to set another record for futility? I see they lost their fourth in four tries.