Doing some updates and working through some technical troubles, stay tuned for more!!

Manchester City seem to be leading the way in speculation these days. The floundering billionaire-backed team is constantly being linked with top players while the side continues to drop points in the Premier League.

It seems newly appointed manager Mark Hughes' failure to cement the Blues in the top half of the table, let alone the top four, has none-too-pleased his new owners. As the Welshman flies to Dubai in what was supposed to be a meeting about transfer targets, could this be it for Sparky?

Equally outrageous to the various player names associated with City at the moment is the possibility of signing mega-manager Jose Mourinho from Inter Milan. The ex-Chelsea man is rumored to have been offered, or soon to be offered, a £15 million a season to take over at Eastlands. As the Portuguese tactician has just taken over in Milan, it seems doubtful at this point in time, but who knows in the future. At any rate, the Citizens did land Robinho, so anything can happen!




In other transfer news, word on the street is Chelsea are lining up a move for Theirry Henry. Three quick reasons this is probably a fabrication.

1. Barcelona are ridiculously free-scoring right now, and although Henry is not necessarily creating a lot of goals himself, he's not playing half bad either.

2. Chelsea arn't spending. How can they sign him without paying?

3. Henry is an Arsenal legend. Some players have done worse (ie Figo), but with Henry's passion for the Gunners, I can't see him in South London.

This one can be chalked up to the gossip writers, but then again, you never know.

League leaders and favorites are finally starting to take shape around the football world, but that doesn't mean there is not some room for surprises!

In the Premier League, Chelsea have taken the top spot off Liverpool as Robbie Keane finally opened his EPL account with the Reds. The Irishman has finally began chipping away at his £20 million pricetag.

Arsenal have proved doubters wrong while denting Manchester United's title challenge significantly. Seems like Berba and Rooney may not be a match made in heaven, but at least Rafeal looks like a gem!

Manchester City are on a three game skid, while in a game marred by questionable cards and sending off's, Tottenham moved clear of the relegation zone. Mark Hughes will be in hot water when he goes to meet his new owners for the first time, yet with a rumored £100 million plus to spend, who knows what the Welshman can do.

Abroad, Real Madrid got back on the high road with a sintilating performance from Hinguain. The Argentine tore apart Malaga for four goals. Maybe Madrid don't need a striker after all. Around La Liga, Barcelona saw off Valladolid by convincing 6-0 margin. Eto'o's four goals in 45 minutes will go a long way to shut up his critics. So will his league leading 13 goals in La Liga. Valencia have also seen off Getafe. Shaping up to be a good season in Spain.

Italian league leaders AC Milan heading into their tie will be dissappointed to leave Lecce with only a point after fighting ahead with a Ronaldinho strike. The injury time equalizer will set the Rossonari behind last years champs Inter Milan as Julio Cruz put the Inter by Udinese at the San Siro. With so many teams playing well in the Serie A, it should be a tight one again this year. Here is hoping Roma can get their domestic form in order!

Stay tuned to the Fanatic for more gossip this week!

So with a league loss to Almeria compounded with two Champions League group stage loses to Juventus, it is clear that Real Madrid might be in a spot of bother.

Well, some would say, shouldn't they have seen it coming?

A few reasons why yes might be the right answer.

1. Letting Robinho go without a replacement was never a good answer, especially with Robben's constant and laughable injuries.

2. Striker options limited and untested. Beyond Raul and RVN, Real looks weak up front. Combined the duo are about 70 years old as well.

3. Defense is out of sorts. Canna keeps talking about Napoli, Pepe still hasn't settled, Heinze just wants to talk about Fergie and Ronaldo, while Ramos is too busy yapping to the media about the team dressing room. Casillas is the only rock in the side.

Schuster better make some big, well-thought out long term moves in January if he wants a successful run and the results necessary to keep his job.

Lets make this a Ronnonari Winner/Loser this week, shall we? With so many headlines attached to the club is seems only natural.
Big Winner:



Pippo Inzaghi - The aging striker has managed to secure a contract extension with the club, even at his age with the amount of strikers Milan has on their books. Superhuman Pippo just cannot be stopped and continues to be one of the most feared goal poachers in the game. Winning a new contract and being able to finish out his career in Milan may not be a new thing for AC to do for their players, but it will be a relief to Pippo who feared getting the axe in the face of a Milan revolution.

Big Loser:



Alessandro Nesta - This legendary center back looks set to lose out to his own body in a bid to regain enough match fitness to continue his career. With reports rife that the ageing Italian is ready to hang up the boots, it seems extremely long spells on the sidelines have ended the journey for this world-class footballer. After missing Euro 2008 and large chunks of World Cup 2006, extended runs on the sidelines have plagued Nesta. Perhaps a major turn of fortune is on the cards, but for now it seems to be all she wrote making a major dent in the Rossonari back line.

After Inter's owner Massimo Moratti poked fun at Milan's inability to reach the top spot over the last few campaigns, it seems Milan head honcho Adriano Galliani took the bait and bit back at the wild haired millionaire.

In return for the degrading jibe, Galliani declared: "Are we thrilled to be at the top of Serie A? Moratti should take a look at our trophy cabinet and then he would understand our thrills."

Speaking of old trophies, I wonder if Galliani is going to parade David Beckham around in front of Moratti? Surely he'd be classified as an old trophey as well.

In Manchester City's endless circus, it now seems that another super-star name has been linked with the struggling mega-rich club. Now Atletico Madrid's Sergio Aguero seems destined for the City of Manchester Stadium, with Mark Hughes ready to put the player at the top of his wishlist when he travels to Dubai to meet with the new owners.

Along with the likes of Buffon, Casillas, Torres, Gerrard, Essien, Ronaldo, Kaka, etc, etc, Manchester City's list of potential targets just keeps going and going.

Who would have thought that losing to Bolton could bring about so much good news?