Fuggedabowdit!

Liverpool accomplished what many thought was impossible. I didn't think that and you can check for yourself on my prediction in a post below. I got the scoreline wrong, but we are a much better side than people see week in and week out. If we played in the Premiership like we did today, we would be on par with Arsenal and Manchester United.

Today, we tore those Milanese up like they haven't been torn up in their own league do date this year. Granted, they had that jackass, Materazzi sent off late in the first half, but we owned them until that point as well. We are a top side when we want to be. Fernando Torres was also giving that goofball trouble from the beginning.

Good Job Boys! Very Good Job!

Liverpool FC 2 - 0 Internazionale Milano

Yes, I'll Give it to YA!

I'll give it to ya' in big, black, bold font as well. Liverpool, nay scratch that, Barsley 2 – 1 Liverpool

I said it a long time ago, Rafael Benitez has reached his pinnacle with Liverpool. He has been surplus to requirements since last summer when he grew the dodgey facial hair! That should have been our spot on tactical notice that he was not the same person he once was.I usually would never publicly discuss my feeling on my team's dirty laundry, but most of you know how I have felt about Rafa since his first day. I'll say he's a good man, and somehow brought another Champions League trophy to our cabinet, but he's done NOTHING since. He's a man to 'steady the ship' not a man to 'Capitan the Ship' in Seaman's terms.

Yes, he did woo Fernando Torres, but he'll stay no matter what (he's under a 4 year contract for one). I just hope our next gaffer can handle his business? Rafael cannot split the personal and business aspect of the job. Therefore, time to go. Although, 6 months late.

Champions League

Here are my predictions for this week. Feel free to keep score and tell my how bad my predictions were! (Click on the image to see the full on version...unless you are stupid or clairvoyant, then don't bother.)

FIFA Shakedown

Why doesn't that jackass, Sepp Blatter just resign? Now he's using intimidation and coercion to block future Premiership plans. Disgrace yet again on the part of FIFA.

Reds Merry-Go-Round

It now seems as if under fire American owners have been offered a 'double your money' buyout for the troubled club from Dubai International Capital to a tune of £460M deal.

Ouch!

The forever disappearing Ronaldo (the one who sported the funny doo during World Cup 02) has now ruptured a knee ligament and will be out for a spell. This could be the end of his career I'm afraid.

The Scoop

Very unlike Arsene Wenger, but reports are out that he is interested in a summertime swoop for 36 year old Egypt/Al Ahly shotstopper, Essam El Hadary.

Liverpool have been linked with an £8million move for Nigeria winger Osaze Peter Odemwingie.

Fulham are lining up a bid for our own Sami Hyypia.

Liverpool are also raising interest in Real Madrid midfielder Mahamadou Diarra.

A Flag and a Song

Get a load of this one:

North Korea has balked at South Korea playing its national anthem or raising its flag at a World Cup soccer qualifier in Pyongyang next month, claiming a neutral flag and traditional folk song should be used.

What the Hell is Wrong With This Guy

Why did Andre Bikey slam a medic?

FIFA is Updating

No, not the rules or goal lines just the pitch. FIFA is considering allowing plastic pitches for matches.

"We have envisaged, though it's not yet a final decision, that the 2010 World Cup could be played on artificial turf," said Blatter. "I think it's now time in this region to think about artificial turf. An artificial pitch gives you the same conditions during the whole year."

The Scoop

Yaya Toure has been caught saying that Didier Drogba fancies a move to Barcelona. I think he does too, but I didn't actually play with him over the past week either. As a matter of fact we've never been on the same pitch. Hell, I've never actually seen him play live, so take my opinion for what that's worth!

Apparently Sir Alex Ferguson has reiterated his interest in Olypique Lyonnaise partnership of Karim Benzema and Hatem Ben Arfa.

Avram Grant fancies another midfielder. Does Rafael Van der Vaart may fit the mold?

Coupe d'Afrique des Nations 2008

Finale
Egypt 1 - 0 Cameroon

Runners Up
Ghana 4 - 2 Cote d'Ivoire

I'm Fantastic!

I think this is hilarious...

The Scoop

Kevin Keegan is willing to dig into the deep pockets of Newcastle United to bring a past his prime, Thierry Henry to the club.

Frank Rijkaard is willing to take Didier Drogba of of Chelsea's hands, but is not willing to swap Eto'o for the honor.

Hey Baby, What's Your Name? I'm Wayne.

Wayne Rooney's little scouser brother Graham Rooney is passing himself off as his older brother to pull the ladies. And it's working!

Global Premiership?

Premier League clubs shook English football yesterday with a radical plan to launch the competition on to a world tour and trigger a marathon weekend of 10 live back-to-back matches on television.

This is going to be a massive story in the upcoming weeks.

Coupe d'Afrique des Nations 2008

Cameroon 1 - 0 Ghana
Substitute, Nkong finished off the Tournament Hosts with a lovely strike and the only goal of the match.

Cote d'Ivoire 1 - 4 Egypt

Trophy?

Nottingham Forest football ace Junior Agogo has been offered a wife as a gift after firing Ghana a step nearer glory in the Africa Cup of Nations.

Ouch!

Liverpool/Spain striker extraordinaire, Fernando Torres, limped off the pitch in the Spain vs. France International Friendly with a strained hammy. Rafa isn't happy.
Spain 1 - 0 France

Munich Remembered

Yes I know I'm a Liverpool supporter, but I LOVE football.

Therefore, we here at FootballRoundtable, of which we have more than one supporter of Manchester United, will recognize the Manchester United disaster at Munich on this 50th Anniversary. God Bless.

The Scoop

Looks like the waiting list is filling up for Liverpool/Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso with Barcelona and Real Madrid lurking in the shadows.

Frank Lampard is house hunting in Barcelona. This could be a signal that Jose Mourinho will be taking over Camp Nou in the summertime.

Cristiano Ronaldo isn't moving any time in the near future after buying a $8M home at Alderley Edge!

Liverpool are joining the race to sign Werder Bremen/Brazil midfielder Diego.

UPDATE: Manchester City have signed Benjani for a steal at £3.9M! Sven has pulled another rabbit out of his magic hat.

The Elephant in the Room

Can the F.A. be trusted with children's football?
Will this child not end up in jail? Need I say the question posed is facetious? Probably, if you were that child!

The Gaffer Lays Out the Rules

Fabio Capello has put the England squad on a tight leash.

The Benjani Scoop

Benjani Mwaruwari's transfer limbo will be brought to an end on Tuesday when Manchester City are due to announce they have signed the Zimbabwe striker.

Coupe d'Afrique des Nations 2008

Cameroon 3 - 2 Tunisia
Here is the match winning goal from Stephane Mbia.

Egypt 2 - 1 Angola
I do not have the goals yet, but I found a fine save from Lama saving the day at the end of regulation time! Sweet one it is. Here is another fine save from earlier in the match.

Copa Revancha

Another edition of the 'Super Classico' took place this weekend with Boca losing to River 2 - 3.

I cannot believe Paletta put a goal in!

Coupe d'Afrique des Nations 2008

Ghana 2 - 1 Nigeria



Cote d'Ivoire 5 - 0 Guinea
The Thumping can be seen here.

Top Gun

Manchester United are on the verge of crowning Cristiano Ronaldo the Premiership's highest wage earner at £140,000 per week. Wow, that is a bunch of dosh!

Had A Bad Day

Benjani is having a bad weekend with his transer from Pompey to City.

African Player of the Year

Mali striker Frederic Kanoute won the 2007 African Footballer of the Year award on Friday. He beat out stiff competition from Michael Essien and Didier Drogba for this honor.

I'm Fantastic!

Is one of my favorite managers getting ready to take over at his old stomping grounds at Camp Nou? It's fantastic!

Disaster

This garbage is what happens when you rely on judges and/or courts to regulate business. What ever happened to the free market? Slippery slopes my friends.

"The football transfers and contracts market is about to undergo a seismic shift on a par with the Bosman ruling after the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland yesterday made a landmark ruling on Andy Webster's unilateral breach of contract from Heart of Midlothian in 2006.

The CAS decision, which also took a sideswipe at the handling of Webster's case by football's world governing body, Fifa, effectively enshrines a formula that allows a player to breach his contract after a "protected period" and pay his club only the value of his remaining wages in compensation."