Second Place

Can I just take this opportunity to say "Damn Clint Dempsey!"? His brace totally ruined Chelsea's New Year celebrations. In the West London derby at Craven Cottage yesterday, Fulham took a shock 9th minute lead through Dempsey, but cue Frank the savior whose brace restored our lead. However, a lapse in concentration allowed Dempsey to equalise in the dying minutes, and all we saw were 2 wasted points sliding down Fulham Road.

Liverpool have pulled 3 points clear off the top as they thrashed Newcastle 5-1. Actually, if not for the absolutely outstanding Shay Given, it could easily have been 8-0 or something like that by the end of the first half. Not surprisingly, Given rushed away after the game, clearly annoyed at his great work gone to waste and reports have surfaced that he's finally ready to quit Tyneside. Yesterday was his 459th game for Newcastle, and supporters will only bid a fond farewell to Given if he does leave in the January transfer window. He's been more than loyal to the Magpies, and a player of his calibre should indeed be playing for a top European club. With a whole host of clubs including Arsenal said to be interested and Newcastle quite obviously embroiled in this season's 12-club relegation dogfight, I won't be surprised to see Given bid adieu come January or July next year.

Enter another young goalie apparently on the radar of a plethora of clubs come January. Tottenham and reportedly Arsenal are ready to bid £3 and £5 million pounds respectively for Man Utd's 3rd choice goalie Ben Foster. With Edwin vdS signing on for another season and having to compete with Kusczcak (sp?) for the no. 1 jersey on the rare occasions vdS is rested, playing time for Ben has been tough to come. He's aiming to break into the England team for WC 2010 and without regular playing time, he can never hope to dislodge David James as the England's no.1. He's only played twice this whole campaign: against Celtic in the UCL and Rovers in the Carling Cup quarters. I've seen him play twice: against Derby last year and against Spurs for Watford the previous year. He's got load of fans clamouring for him to take over the no.1 next season and I've seen enough to say: Move On. He's 25, rotting on the sidelines and if he doesn't watch out, he's going to stagnate. Going to Spurs, Villa or whatever club is interested would do him a world of good. A goalie of his ability should be playing regular first team football. SAF obviously is reluctant to let him go, but he's the one making Foster wait! It's a pity vdS signed the new contract because he's been really shaky in goal this season, and next season would be just right for Ben and Tomasz to compete for the no.1 jersey. However, Ben has gotten impatient and I don't blame him. Apparently he's going to hand in a transfer request eventhough United are offering him a new contract. If he goes to Spurs or Arsenal, he can get regular playing time because both Almunia and Gomes are mediocre keepers, Foster should easily usurp them. Gomes's comedy capers have decreased but Harry still wants to bring in Foster to provide cover and competition for liability Gomes. So if Foster's smart, he'll leave in January permanently or on loan. No one said you have to be United's no.1 to be England's no.1.

BPL Results:-

Chelsea 2 Fulham 2
Liverpool 5 Newcastle 1
Arsenal 1 Pompey 0
Everton 3 Sunderland 0
WBA 2 Spurs 0

Oh and Benoit Assou-Ekotto got suspended in the first half so looks like Bale will be playing in the New Year! Provided he doesn't leave in that ridiculous swap deal for Downing.