EPL the best league in the world?

For all of you who say the English Premier League is the best league in the world. Here are some stats for you. I went through all games between, Italian, German, English and Spanish teams so far this season. UEFA and CL games starting with qualifying round 3. These are the results all sorted best to worst.

GAMES TOTAL:

1. Italy 15
   
2. Spain 12
   
3. England 11
   
4. Germany 10
   

This really doesnt mean that much other than that the Italian teams have ended up in groups with opponents from the other countries.

POINTS TOTAL

1. Italy 24
2. Germany 19
3. England 7
4. Spain 10

This is somewhat surprising. Clearly the German teams are doing very well, compared to how many/few matches they have played against the above opponents. And now for the deciding stat.

POINTS PER GAME (out of 3 possible)

1. Germany 1.9
2. Italy 1.6
3. Spain 0.83
4. England 0.64

These are the facts. Undeniable. Feel free to do the same calculations based on UEFA.com stats, if you doubt the validity of these stats. Noteworthy is that English and Spanish teams played worse than a draw on average.

NOTE: Arsenal, Barcelona, Hertha Berlin, Aston Villa, Deportivo, and Valencia all played in groups with no opponents from opposing countries. Given that Spain has 3 teams in "no-opponent" groups the stats might look somewhat different. However, Germany being clearly in the lead as far as points per game should come as a surprise to everyone.

Noteworthy is that the English teams have only one (1!) victory in the cups - Chelsea beating Roma. Of course Roma got their revenge and beat Chelsea at home. These are the facts, do with them what you like. Let the fighting begin...

Sheikh Mohammed the next Liverpool owner?

According to The Sun, Reds co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett are now mulling over a re-submitted £500million bid from Dubai International Capital (DIC).

The Americans took control at Anfield in February 2007 and their reign started brightly enough with the promise of a new stadium and the record purchase of Fernando Torres from Atletico Madrid.

However, things soon turned sour.

The stadium plans have stalled and the investment in the transfer market has plateaued. Relations between the co-owners and manager Rafael Benitez are terse at best, while the majority of the club's supporters are determined to see the Yanks booted out. And with the credit crunch severely limiting the opportunity for profit, Hicks and Gillett are supposedly seeking an escape route.


Enter Sheikh Mohammed - Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, seventh richest man in the world and perhaps the answer to Liverpool's prayers.

Read entire article

Jose Mourinho, love him or hate him.

(Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images Sport)

In the big world of big money and football, Mr Mourinho is a character in his own class. He indeed is the Special One. He is a journalists dream, everything he says is headline material and he delivers everything with a class and refinement unmatched by most. He makes Alex Ferguson look like a redneck drunkard.

Quaresma to Inter

Good news indeed. Quaresma seems to be good to go for Inter. His speed and creativity will add to the right flank of
Mourinho's favored 4-3-3.

Possible team:

EPL Md1: Manchester United 1-1 Newcastle United

In my mind this was the surprise of the week. Newcastle looked horrible last season. This season they look like an entirely different team. Keegan has done a fantastic job. Newcastle looked confident, fit and very comfortable on the ball.

Funny thing is this game reminded me of the United - Barca CL bout last year. United defended most of the time on Camp Nou, while Barca had most of the possession. Barca really didn't have any good chances through out the entire game. Todays game was reversed. Newcastle took the role of United, while United took the role of Barca.

United had most of the possession, yet they did not create a whole lot.


GOALS

22min - NEWCASTLE GOAL (0-1): It's another flag-kick for the Magpies as this time Vidic steals from Butt on the right. Guthrie's ball is good and, after a game of head tennis inside the area, it's Taylor who sees his volley deflected behind for another corner. Guthire crosses for OBA MARTINS to out-jump everyone inside a crowded penalty area to head beyond van der Sar to give the Geordies the lead - cue somersault celebration.

25min - MAN UTD GOAL (1-1): The lead lasts just two minutes as DARREN FLETCHER turns home Giggs' low, left-wing centre from eight yards out - United were down to ten men at the time with Steven Taylor receiving treatment after picking up a knock moments earlier.








MAN OF THE MATCH

Gutierrez or Jonas which is the name on the back of his shirt and preferred name, had a great game. He will win the hearts of the Toon fans quickly if he continues to put in performances like the one against the Red Devils. His workrate is very high both in defense and in attack. He regained the ball on a ton of occasions and had some very good offensive runs. Very good signing by Keegan.


Jonas Gutierrez

The FA Respect programme

Plans were unveiled today for Respect, a cross-game programme dedicated to improving standards of behaviour at all levels of football.

The programme will be implemented in professional and grassroots football, and encompasses not only respect towards match officials, but also the conduct of overly-competitive coaches and parents on the sidelines at grassroots youth games.

Top 5 transfer rumours

Barcelona keen on Berbatov even if Eto'o stays. Link
"Coach Pep Guardiola wants to add another forward to his line-up even if Samuel Eto'o stays and sees the creativity that the former Bayer Leverkusen goalscorer would bring as an exciting prospect, according to El Mundo Deportivo."

Ronaldo refuses to talk to Ferguson. Link
"Cristiano Ronaldo is refusing to return to Manchester to talk to Sir Alex Ferguson and United about the ongoing saga with Real Madrid in a new twist to the tale."


OFFICIAL: Van der Vaart to Real Madrid. Link
"I am looking forward to joining the squad, to playing, and to winning many titles. Hala Madrid!”

Tottenham bidding €40m on David Villa. Link
"Tottenham Hotspur are set to test Valencia's resolve by making a record €40m for David Villa, but the Spanish club will still hope to persuade the star striker to stay."



Quaresma to Inter for €27m? Link
"The Nerazzurri have been hunting the midfielder following their failure to sign Frank Lampard from Chelsea. Jose Mourinho is a big fan of the Dragoes star and reports suggest he is keen to bring Quaresma to San Siro."