Is it just me or does Dirk Kuyt have this porn star quality about him(it's probably just me)? He has received a lot of flack, been shunted out to the wing, and mocked for his endless energy when running around the pitch after a ball. However tonight, the Liverpool faithful are chanting his name as he put them into the group stage of the Champions League with an extra-time goal. The match was lackluster by all accounts, yet much like their Premiership form they found a way to win. The backline of Liverpool looks very solid, having conceded only one goal in their first four matches. Torres is something special, but they are still having trouble finding him a strike partner. Keane hasn't worked out(because we can pass judgement from only four games), while Kuyt and Crouch also have been deemed unsuccesful. It's no wonder that Benitez has been working so hard to add Villa to his squad, who today signed an extended deal with Valencia. In the other Champions League qualifier, Arsenal beat FC Twente 4-0. Atletico Madrid also beat Schalke 4-0 to clinch their spot.
A day after denying he was going anywhere, it looks like Sean Wright-Phillips is moving to Manchester City. It is reported that he will undergo a medical while his new club play FC Consonant(Scandinavia needs to buy some vowels), and then transfer for a fee of around £9 million. This is quite the bargain considering Chelsea signed him for £21 million. Everton had also been interested(obviously they couldn't sign him). The big shock is why SWP didn't make this move earlier, as he has never been a regular feature in the Chelsea squad and it has hurt his England hopes. A return to the large pitch at City should be just what he needs. Another shock(if both of these moves end up happening) was James Milner's decision to hand in a transfer request. It looked like he had been talked out of a move by coach Kevin Keegan, but seeing how he just forfeited his loyalty bonus he must be intent on one now. It is expected that he'll join Martin O'Neill at Villa, where he had a good loan spell two years ago, but David Moyes and Everton will also be interested. It is definitely a blow for the Geordies, who were hoping that the England U-21 would be a part of their future.One Liners
- Vidic says he doesn't like weather and lifestyle of Manchester, English faithful shocked that he doesn't like pouring rain and batter on everything
- Oddo moves to Lyon from Milan, is he really worse than Senderos?
- Lee leaves Tottenham, if Ramos can just sell himself he'll have nobody left from last year
- Roy Keane wins at Forrest, all Premiership teams survive Wednesday's Carling Cup matches
- Thaksin doesn't want to sell majority stake, wants to find someone to join him while ship slowly sinks
