As always – lots of good stuff from the weekend to discuss….Or for me to discuss I guess.  The blog is apparently deserted these days – not a shock considering the economic climate and people’s financial concerns.

First a kudos to all the American readers out there.  In electing Barack Obama you have restored the faith of the world that the United States’ days as a tyrant are at an end.  It’s going to be a tough four years ahead as you try to recover from the Bush years – but we (the rest of the world whom I now speak for) are hopeful you can make a speedy recovery.  And we will try to help in any way we can.  An historic moment in your history to be sure.

On to the footie….

An alarming trend is developing in Italy with footballers dying from a Motor Neuron Disease (ALS) – the same disease Stephen Hawking suffers from.  Since 1973, 41 former players have died and doctors are baffled as to what is causing it – since no trends appear in other leagues.  Some think the disease might be linked to pesticides used at Italian stadiums.  Others say it could be doping or physical injuries from tackles or heading the ball – but again, no trends have appeared in other leagues from the physicality of the sport leading me to favor the pesticide theory.  But what the hell do I know….Hopefully they get a handle on it.  Italian players have suggested donating 1% of their salaries to finance research which is a GREAT idea.

Joey Barton is getting sued for scarring the teenager he attacked outside a McDo’s a year ago.  Jailbird Barton served 74-days for the attack and now 17-year old Jordan Spencer wants more than the 5k a court has awarded him.  Spencer says he’s been left with a scar on his face.  Hopefully Spence can get to the bucks before Barton goes back into the clink – and you know he will.  Oh he’s being a good boy these days but we’re slowly seeing the re-emergence of the Joey we all know and hate.  He says he wants to be a ‘role model’….I agree with Bobby who last week added a pa- in front of the word ‘role’ when we chatted about it.

This week’s TOPIC question has to do with the relieving of the pressure on one Arsene Wenger.  Was Wenger REALLY feeling any heat though?  There isn’t a manager around that believes in himself or his system more than Wenger.  I’m a Manchester United fan but not for one second did I think United would handle the Gunners last weekend – Wenger is way too sharp.  And when Nasri ripped in that second – I was chapped but what a great goal.  Arsenal unlocked United to perfection and I don’t know if any other manager has more faith in his team (and vice versa) than Wenger.  What do you think?  Hit up TOTW.

Foreshadowing to next week’s Topic – How much longer will Roy Keane last at Sunderland?  Am I the only one that gets the feeling Keane is ready to pull a KK and walk?  Three wins in 12-games, lots of money spent, stalled contract talks and now another fight with slippery Jack Warner over Kenwyne Jones coming up makes me think Keane has just about had it.  He’s also going at the pundits now too and that’s never a good sign.

Foul-mouth Joe was at it again after Newcastle lost to Fulham Sunday.  Kinnear calling Martin Atkinson a ‘Mickey Mouse’ referee.  The FA are reviewing his comments.  I was hoping for more ‘F-bombs’ myself after listening to his rant at the media when he first came in.  If you haven’t heard it by the way – look it up – it was GOLD.

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is boycotting Sky TV after former Liverpool manager Phil Thompson and Arsenal’s Paul Merson criticized Wayne Rooney for kissing his badge at the Everton match.  Thompson said Rooney should have been red carded for the gesture and Merson said he could have been sent off against Hull as well.  Ferguson is already boycotting the BBC for their ‘Father & Son’ documentary in 2004 that alleged he put pressure on youngsters to sign with his agent son Jason.  No word on how long Fergie’s boycott will last.  It sure makes the Prem less interesting when Fergie won’t speak.

That’s it for now – see ya next week!

Two of the summer's most drawn out Transfer sagas appear to be nearing completion - God willing.

Liverpool have been told to show their cards with Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill telling Reds they have until the end of the transfer window to get a deal done with Barry.  And if anyone says that O'Neill is not one of the nicer guys in the game, they'll get an earful.  What other manager would sit down, set a deadline in agreement with his star player for a move, watch that deadline pass and then after meeting with the player again days later, tell him they will let him go if Liverpool meet the valuation by the end of August.  That's a classy guy.

Now if Liverpool have ANY class at all (and they're serious about Barry) they'll get this deal done ASAP and allow Villa the time to use the money to try to find a suitable replacement.  I tend to agree with what O'Neill has said in the past though - if Liverpool REALLY wanted Barry (and they had the cash) they'd have done the deal by now.  I guess we'll see where they're at in the coming week.

And if reports in Saturday's Telegraph are true, Cristiano Ronaldo is going to demand a move away from Manchester United as early as Tuesday.  The online report saying Ronaldo is due back that day and will meet with manager Sir Alex Ferguson and ask the club to sell him.

Other reports surfaced early Saturday where RM boss Bernd Schuster said the club were still working on a deal for the Portuguese winger.  United have apparently softened their view towards a sale and if Madrid cough up the 136m US being asked, the deal will get done.

It could finally be the move that sparks a bit of a domino effect.  The sale of Ronaldo would allow Real Madrid to send Robinho to Chelsea for 60m US - the deal already agreed to.  United would then use their cash to try and grab Dimitar Berbatov from Tottenham.  Those two teams also involved in an open dialogue with both trying to find a middle price between the 48m US United are offering and the 60m US Tottenham are asking.

It'd just be nice to have BOTH sagas come to an end so we could truly get on with things!

Agreed?