I just find it most amusing with Arsene Wenger criticises FIFA for allowing Chelsea to appeal their transfer ban thereby giving the Blues the opportunity to buy players in the January window. Given that UEFA dropped 'simulation' charges against Eduardo, which received widespread mocking, after Arsenal appealed, it ill behoves Wenger so soon to get on his moral high horse. After all, it was a clear dive to win a penalty, which the 'victim' got up and scored from. If your leg had been broken in two places, you would try to hurdle the goalkeeper, not throw yourself to the ground, risking any damage to the leg.
But Chelsea have problems of their own. Carlo Ancelotti said after the home game against Atletico Madrid that winning 4-0 was "a dangerous score." Oh, how will Chelsea fans contain their expectations considering how grounded they have been in recent years? Chelsea have not won by such a scoreline since Atleti were in town, so what level of threat have these games caused?
The Champions League is coagulating into its staid formula, Rubin Kazan likely to be eased out of qualification for the knockout stages. Still, the club that always sounds to me like urinary tract infection, Unirea Urzeceni, after humilating Rangers 4-1 in Glasgow and securing a draw with the Ibrox outfit in Romania, are in with a healthy shout. Unlike Liverpool. While it is good to see English clubs succeeding, it never fails to please when a giant stumbles.
Shame that Brazil seem as strong as ever ahead of the World Cup in their comprehensive win over England, who were admittedly fielding a second-string, including essentially the entire back-line. Even defender Lucio had a crack, hitting the upright, prompting the gem from Andy Townshend, "Once he's got sight of the post, he's had a go." I think he was aiming for the goal, not the post, but, hey, I haven't the experience Andy Townshend has.
On a final note, had it not been for Tottenham's monstering of Wigan 9-1, I might haven given Match of the Day 2 a miss. If that had been the case, I would not have spotted the cuddly toy sat next to Adrian Chiles for Harry Hill's TV Burp's competition "Where has the furry creature been this week" or whatever its deliberately long-winded name is. Entered that contest, when it's free