Sol comes out in Portugal

Sol Campbell was at the centre of the most amazing events in this Champions League tie on a bittersweet night in Porto for the centre-half.

Harry Harris hails Sol Campbell despite the Keystone Kops moments which saw FC Porto take a 2-1 Champions League advantage against Arsenal. What do you think?

Sol Campbell back in the limelight...

Premier League Play-Offs? What next...Cheerleaders?

I came across an interesting concept today that I thought I'd share; the idea that the 4 teams who finish 4th through 7th in the English Premier League play off for the 4th Champions League spot.  It will never happen, but it's an interesting thought nonetheless. 

If today was the end of the season this format would pitch Liverpool, Spurs, Man City and Aston Villa into a mini-competition at the end of the season...

So what are the pros?

• More revenue for the clubs in question and the EPL.
• An opportunity for someone other than Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Man Utd to qualify. (Did you know that these same four clubs have filled the top four positions in five of the past six seasons. Only Everton, in 2005, have broken their stranglehold.)
• TV coverage of more exciting, meaningful games. The Championship Play off final (to win a place in the Premier League) is often one of the most exciting games of the year for the neutral fan.
• Mid table mediocrity could become a thing of the past; if you're in 10th/12th place in April, and still have a shot at 7th, the last 6 weeks of the season take on new meaning.

And the cons?

• Extends the already congested season by another week or two; it would be no good in World Cup or European Championship years.
• Having weaker teams in the Champions League could jeopardise England's entitlement to 4 Champions League places.
• If you support English football and like to see English teams do well in Europe, wouldn't having Villa, Spurs or a team like Birmingham damage the potential for 3 or 4 English teams reaching the Quarters or Semis?
• Last year Fulham finished in 7th, a full 19 points behind Arsenal in 4th. Even if you dislike Arsenal, would it be fair for a season's work to be lost in a one-off game to a team who finished that far back? In fact Fulham were only 19 points above relegation! That's how big the gulf in class was...

This year the battle for 4th is more interesting anyway; with the likes of Villa, Citeh and Spurs giving Liverpool and Arsenal a genuine run for their money. But could Play-Offs, a further Americanisation of the Premier League, bring a new dimension to the EPL?

Personally I'd prefer the introduction of Cheerleaders, a much better American invention!

Glory Glory Man Utd!

Manchester City's plans for world domination might have to wait a little longer...in fact their plan for domination of Manchester will have to wait a little longer after tonight's fabulous Carling Cup second leg defeat at Old Trafford.

A great footballing rivalry inadvertently created a great advert for the mostly ignored Carling Cup, the second cup competition in England after the FA Cup.  Man Utd will now go on to face Aston Villa in the final at Wembley on 28 February, while Man City will see how much they can spend in the next 4 days before the transfer window closes!

Man Utd manager Sir Alex Ferguson on tonight's win...

"It's a derby game and you like to win them. There was a lot of spice and at the end there was a special kind of celebration. We stayed patient and looked a threat when we stepped it up. I thought Wayne Rooney produced a world-class performance tonight, he played better than he did on Saturday when he scored four goals. Phenomenal."  

A lot was made of Carlos Tevez and his return to Old Trafford; again he played like a man with something to prove, but at the end of the day, this recently amended poster says it all...

Get a full wrap up of the match here...