In a number of provinces in Canada we can bet legally on sports courtesy of the government. The down side is the Russian Mob would probably give better odds than we can get on what is known as Pro Line. Included on Pro Line is the Premiership. Over the couple of years I have got into the habit of dropping by the local store on the way home from doing the Friday Fox Soccer Report.

My weekly wager is very small but it does add something extra to the weekend's soccer action. I try to avoid the early Saturday game because if you get that one wrong then your are screwed. Luckily this weekend was one of the few occasions when the govermment gets to return some of that money to me. I picked six games and all came good. The picks (all to win) were Bolton, Charlton, Manchester City, Chelsea, West Ham and Tottenham.  

Here are some articles that caught my eye over the weekend.

Stewart Fisher with a piece on Paul Dalglish of The Houston Dynamo.  Apparently Paul’s father was quite a good player. Unfortunately Mr. Fisher can’t get the name of the Dynamo’s coach correct!

Gabriele Marcotti takes a look at how Roma have changed under the very underrated Luciano Spalletti. Totti has never been rated by the English media. I wonder if that will still be the case in a few weeks time.

Patrick Barclay takes a look at a player born just miles from Old Trafford who is out to stop Manchester United.

Steve Tongue points out that seven of the eight remaining Champions league teams are skippered by home-town players.

A little piece on Northern Ireland hero David Healey.

Finally a piece from Hugh McIlvanney on the behaviour of some England fans in Barcelona last Wednesday. It includes this stiletto - “All their efforts to masquerade as passionate patriots driven to condemnatory fury by the inadequacies of McClaren and his men could not begin to conceal the revolting truth that most of the snarling, bellowing viciousness came from look-at-me exhibitionists so absorbed in masturbation of their emotions that their favourite insult had an autobiographical ring.”

A big week coming up with the Champions League and UEFA Cup taking centre stage.

David Lacey comments on some of the moves during the transfer window in England.

Stuart James with a feature on Derby County manager Billy Davies  who has taken them to the top of Championship.

A look at the situation in Italy after Friday’s rioting and the death of a policeman. The article draws comparisons to England’s crisis of twenty years ago. Ironically the current situation may mean that Italy will not win the right to host the 2012 European Championships. The influx of government funding and improved stadia that would flow from a successful bid seems to be one of the things that is desperately needed.

Patrick Barclay – another Dundee supporter – discusses the move by the likes of Brazil to play international games at neutral venues in England.

Jason Burt looks at the pursuit of Javier Mascherano by Rafa Benitez.

Stewart Fisher suggests that a push from the Celtic countries may lead to the Home International Championships being resurrected – even if it is in a modified version.

Another great article from David James – this one on why we need to love our referees. Nigel Martyn’s habit of shaking hands with the referee after the game is one that should be passed on to all young players.   

If you are to read one article this week then try this one by David Runciman.