With the January transfer window about to slam shut every team across the major leagues of Europe now know that come May, come what may, their squad just has to be good enough.
A talking point is again taking place in Milan where David Beckham seems on the verge of extending his loan period from LA Galaxy. The two spin offs from this mean that he can, if registered in time, play for AC in their UEFA Cup games, and very possibly extend his International England career in the process.
With most of the world's eyes glued to a thrilling Super Bowl last night some of the Euro leagues roused themselves from their mid winter hibernation to recommence the action. Welcome back Germany and the Bundesliga.
England
Back in Manchester, City have been dipping into the money by signing Wayne Bridge from Chelsea, the much travelled Craig Bellamy from West Ham United, Nigel De Jong from Hamburg, and long serving Newcastle United goalkeeper Shay Given. City have also let big summer signing Jo leave on loan for Everton.
Unfortunately Rome wasn't built in a day, or a season even, and despite having pots of money City lost at Stoke, the place that actually makes the said pot. Their 0-1 defeat came against 10-man Stoke who had long throw expert Rory Delap dismissed after 38 minutes. This didn't stop the home side's new signing James Beattie scoring in injury time of the first half to give Stoke the lead.
Despite City virtually camping in the Stoke penalty box for the second half, they were unable to get the equaliser and they lost 0-1.
Meanwhile at the top Liverpool and Chelsea clashed at Anfield. The game was somewhat marred by the controversial, no-let's-not-mix-our-words unjust, sending off of Chelsea's Frank Lampard in the 60th minute with the game balanced at 0-0. Replays show that he clearly got the ball in the challenge against Alonso.
Referee Mike Riley saw it otherwise and sent him off. Riley really got it wrong. Liverpool could sense that they had Chelsea against the ropes and two very late goals from Fernando Torres secured all three points in a 2-0 win.
Manchester United won again, scraping past Everton 1-0 at Old Trafford thanks to a Ronaldo penalty. The Gunners misfired again at home drawing 0-0 at home to London rivals West Ham United, who extended their recent impressive form whilst rising to eighth in the table.
Article comments
1 - Dr Dreadful
"When I tried to re-enact it, without the necessary surge of adrenalin..."
So not content with having made cerebellum ceviche out of the contents of your cranium, you then attempted to create a soup out of the debris?
...And they wonder why anybody supports Fulham!
;-)