US Champions League Rights Announced Soon?

Last week it was leaked and confirmed that Fox had stolen away the US Champions League broadcast rights from ESPN. Fox has been rather tightlipped about the whole deal offering only a terse official 'no comment.' Our best guess, however, is that this deal will be announced Tuesday or Wednesday based on a little internet research revealing that a UEFA Executive Committee has a meeting scheduled for March 24 and 25. This meeting could be used to insert all the dots and crosses necessary to finalize the deal.

Of course, our pure speculation could be wildly inaccurate and our sources wrong. That would suck.

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EPL January Tranfser Window Oddsmaker

January 1st means only one thing around here: the start of the January transfer window! It’s like Christmas, Hanukkah and your birthday all wrapped up in one!

Looking ahead to the end of January, the British press's rumor pages will have managed to link every single player with a move to every single team. But the press isn't really to blame. They’re just catering to fans who are desperate for any sign that their team will be improved for the second half of the season.

In our own amateurish way, after the jump is a little run down of what yours truly thinks might actually happen in the English Premier League (suck it, Barclay’s!). Please don’t accuse me of pretending to have any special insight. I'm just making stuff up like the professional journos do.

Blackburn’s Roque Santa Cruz to Manchester City

Santa Cruz is unhappy, hasn’t been scoring goals this season, and the Big Fat Walrus could use some added cash to help Blackburn avoid relegation. Man City has There Will Be Blood-style oil-laden billions of cash to spend, even if Mark Hughes is warning that they actually won't be spending money like the proverbial drunken sailors (nice try convincing anyone one of that). As the BBC noted, Citeh have now set their sights slightly lower than Kaka, Torres and Buffon. Santa Cruz seems about right, especially with Jo stuttering badly. This one might seem fait accompli, but the gods of the transfer market are fickle, so we are going no higher than 75%.

Everton’s Mikel Arteta to Arsenal

A mighty cheer went up from the Gooner masses when the always-reliable Guardian reported that Arsenal are interested in signing Arteta. As the Arseblog explains far better than I could, Arteta fits the bill for what Arsenal need most desperately at the moment: an experienced midfielder with a great workrate who can stabilize the team while Fabregas is recuperating and can also play beside him down the road. That said, the question is whether Everton would sell, which really means whether Arteta will demand the move. The upside is an increased wage and Champion’s League play, and yes he can play this season (Rules 17.17 and 17.18). Moyes should be able to cover up for Arteta’s absence with some spackle and a couple 2-million-pound replacements, and could then use the extra cash on a badly needed striker. However, Arteta might choose loyalty to Everton above all else, and might figure that with Everton he’ll at least get UEFA Cup competition and the continued loving adoration of the supporters. This one gets a very non-committal 50%.

Emile Heskey Leaving Wigan

Poor Wigan, who in American terms are the quintessential small market team. They have a fantastic track record of bringing in talent, even if that talent is often in the form of much-traveled castoffs. And they have absolutely no ability to keep the players who develop into solid contributors. In many ways, it’s a tribute to Wigan’s management that they’ve remained viable in the Premiership for as long as they have when their stadium routinely draws no more than 18,000 attendees and most players available on the transfer market have no interest in joining the Latics. So now you have 50-year-old Emile Heskey, who has occasionally played himself back into international contention, who much like the Costello to a team's Abbott can be paired up to do a lot of the physical work up front, and who is out of a contract this summer and sure to leave for nothing. So, the chances of his departure in January are 100%. As for where, I'd reckon 30% to Aston Villa, who are in need of strengthening if they're serious about contending for Champion's League, 35% to Liverpool, who are in need of strengthening if they're serious about winning the Premiership, and 20% Spurs, especially if they don't land Defoe (see below). And yeah, I've left myself 15% for Heskey going somewhere else. It's called "hedging!"

Pompey's Jermaine Defoe returning to Spurs

This one has been talked about so much, it has to happen, right? Right?? Well, maybe. Defoe would return to Spurs after a pretty disappointing spell with Portsmouth, and would return to 'Arry's tutelage, who arguably did a decent job of getting Defoe to play up to his potential. The biggest hindrance appears to be Pompey's insistence on a large cash windfall, which according to the Independent would include wiping out the 7 million quid still owed plus a wheelbarrow full of cash. So, I rate this one at 35%. It just seems too cute and too perfect, and hence one of those deals that are destined to fall through.

West Ham Fire Sale

West Ham is royally fuxxored (I know, but we're trying to keep it clean around here). Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson has lost quadrillions thanks to the collapse of Iceland's economy, and they and they still have l'affair de Tevez floating around. And so, West Ham appear to be a selling club, despite Gianfranco Zola's best efforts to the contrary. The question is just how many first team players will find the exit door... Bellamy, Parker, Upson, Behrami and Green have all tipped. I'd say there is a 40% chance of at least three starters leaving, and 66% of at least two starters leaving. Any more than that and West Ham risk losing whatever modicum of respectability and stability they might have, as well as losing Zola. I wouldn't be surprised if Bellamy ends up staying through the end of the season, with Upson and Parker the likeliest pair to leave.

And I'm surely leaving out lots more, such as Keano going back to Spurs... so please have your say in the ol' comments

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Yahoo Fantasy Soccer Advice

Your weekly does of rampant fantasy football speculation. Remember, I know nothing. Just try to get as much information as possible before making your selections.

Last week wasn't so bad. It was quite sweet to be sitting in Kinsale Tavern and watching my pick Benjani Maruwari pick up his second hat-trick of the season. Not so sweet, me not having enough units to pick him up. Oh well. On to the rules:

Rule #1: Go outside spend time with your loved ones.

There is only one weekend matchup the rest being midweek after the FA Cup ties, so you have time to go outside.

Rule #2: Pick players from teams with good matchups.

Only my pick of Arsenal matchups was any good last week. This week I have my money on:

Arsenal (home to Newcastle) - Arsenal looked decent last week without Toure and Eboue, with the obvious exception of the Carling Cup Massacre at the hands of Tottenham.

Chelsea home to Reading - Reading is just not very good and I like Anelka to break his Chelsea duck. He scored decently last week with a goal. Also, look at Chelsea wingers J. Cole and Malouda, and maybe Ballack.

Man City at Derby - Derby sucks less at home, but it still sucks. Look for Petrov and Elano to have big games and a strong showing by Man City's defense. One thing to look out for--Man City sucks on the road and Bianchi looks like he gone. Not much scoring upfront...maybe Vassell?

Man U home to Pompey - Class is class and Man U is the class of the league right now. Plus they are at home. Unfortunately, everybody is expensive so pick wisely. Rooney looks to be back on track and Ronaldo is always on this season. See Rule #4.

Both teams in the Villa - 'Burn matchup - Take the offense in this one, both defenses have look suspect. Bentley is one of the top middies in the EPL and a price to prove it, but he produces every week. Roque Santa Cruz (Santa Claus) has cooled recently but I expect him to pick it back up. Villa strikers is where I think the points will be at Carew, Young and Agbonlahor. Of those, I like Gabby to victimize the suspect 'Burn defense.

Rule #3: Don't pick players that won't play.

Check here for injuries. Check here for suspensions.

Rule #4: Don't ever drop Cristiano Ronaldo prior to the December double matches and you should probably have him in your squad.

Ronaldo seemed to do nothing last week and still managed 16.5 points. The guy has never met a shot he won't take. If you have him at a discount no need to sell him, but don't gut your roster to get him. Spend money on Bentley or Adebayor.

Rule #5: Don't chase points. When choosing, just remember class is forever, form is temporary. Just because somebody scored well last week doesn't mean he will score well this week. I'm looking at you Benjani. Your units are better spent elsewhere and his price will probably come down after the ManU and Chelsea matches.

Rule #6: Look for cheap transfers.

Their prices will be low. Just try to figure out who is class like Petrov, Elano, Torres and Santa Cruz have been this year. Try to avoid the Pizarros, Maloudas, Bianchis, Ballacks, and Shevas of the bunch. Funny, a lot of Chelski there.

This year there hasn't been any big transfers that have come in for cheap to free up units in your squad. So, try and make some money by buying cheap defenders and keepers. Although I feel this is cheating, you can put Mokoena in for 2 units even though he's not playing. Ryan Nelsen, injured, is also cheap but not likely to play. Michael Ball is cheap and new Sunderland players Bardsley and Evans might be worth a punt, although it is Sunderland.

As for keepers, I am thinking Niemi might be worth a punt. Also, Reina isn't likely to get any cheaper, you just have to think LFC will do better this week. I have my doubts.

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Yahoo Fantasy Soccer Advice

Short and sweet this week, but first a recap of my rules:

Rule #1: Go outside spend time with your loved ones.

Obviously, you aren't going to follow rule #1 if you have read this far.

Rule #2: Pick players from teams with good matchups.

Last week my recommendations were LIV, MANU, ARS. Obviously, ManU was the only one that came true. Again, I would recommend them as they have a good matchup against just about anyone in the EPL (Suck it, Barclay's!).

This week look at ManU @ Reading, Arsenal @ Fulham, Newcastle home to Bolton (I think the new manager will enliven the squad), Blackburn home to 'Boro, and Chelsea @ Birm.

Rule #3: Don't pick players that won't play.

Check here for injuries. Check here for suspensions.

Rule #4: Don't ever drop Cristiano Ronaldo prior to the December double matches and you should probably have him in your squad.*

I violated this rule after Ronaldo's poor performance at Everton (3 points) and lost out at having him at a discount and failed to bite the bullet and buy him for the double-game weeks. Stupid, stupid, stupid! I don't care what your opinions on him as a footballer, in fantasy terms this guy is money and should be on your team if you can fit him without decimating your squad.

Ronaldo: smiling you to the top of the table

If he costs 31 points, units, dollars, pounds, etc., like right now, it probably isn't a good idea to grab him. But, if he ever gets down to the 23-24 range grab him if at all possible.

*This rule subject to change depending on my opinion about Ronaldo's form, but right now I stick by it.

One other recommendation: take a look at Portsmouth against Derby this week. Derby has scored only 3 away goals and conceded 27. Pompey has only 11 home goals scored and allowed 8. Something has to give and I think it will be Derby's defense even though half of Portsmouth's squad is at the ANC. Benjani Mwa..... was hot earlier in the season and this may be the match to get him going again. He will likely be the focal point along Krancjar. The prices are good on those two as well.

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