Any games on today?
Yes. First, mea culpa for a few bleary eyed errors in this section in recent days. But today’s is spot on: NOW you can enjoy the Man City vs Blackburn FA Cup tie at 3:10 PM EST. Plus some assorted Coppa and Copa fixtures from Italy and Spain respectively.
What’s the big story?
It depends on what you think is the biggest piece of transfer news, really. Though this little story on Fulham “tapping up” West Ham wunderishkind Ravel Morrison is a little dramatic, with the latter club heading to the Premier League with a formal complaint:
West Ham will use comments from Fulham head coach Rene Meuelensteen that he knows Morrison wants to move to Craven Cottage as the basis of their complaint.
A bid, thought to be around £6 million, has been rejected by West Ham for the unsettled England under-21 international.
The comment in question? When asked about a Morrison pursuit, Fulham head coach Rene Meulensteen replied, “I have known him a long time. Yes. He does want to come here.” Now, IANAL, but it seems to me this kind of thing happens five times before breakfast even outside the transfer window…but I guess you have to make a complaint for it to be noticed?
Any other news?
Everton using something called “money” to keep England international left back Leighton Baines from inadvertently wandering over to Old Trafford this month.
Arsenal defy the reified idea the club doesn’t spend money by flashing £37 million at an injured player in Schalke’s admittedly awesome Julian Draxler.
Remember Bryan Ruiz? Fulham don’t: they’ve sent him off on loan to PSV for the rest of the season.
Carlton Cole hasn’t run through his nine lives at West Ham (or the Premier League for that matter) just yet.
Southampton chairman Nicola Cortese to leave the club?
Allam threatens to walk away from Hull if the FA refuses to allow a name change to “Tigers.” What a world, eh?
Any fun stuff?
More Zlatan! Talking about his goal for Sweden against England, which won the Puskas award:
Any good reads?
Anthony Lopopolo writes on Clarence Seedorf and his challenge at Milan:
This is a man who always wanted one more: one more game, one more repetition, one more European Cup than Frank Rijkaard. Seedorf loved Rijkaard, the philosopher from a generation of total football, the most responsible midfielder Ajax ever produced, and once his coach. “If I was happy with three trophies,” Seedorf told The Guardian, “then suddenly I had to have four. If I was happy with four then I had to have five.” He is a maverick, a communicator and disciplinarian, a singer, poet and thinker. “I would’t like to put myself in a box,” he told the New York Times. “I think you get the full package once you get Clarence Seedorf.”