Manchester City is like a black hole that has opened up in the fabric of the Premier League. Sucking mass, masses of expensive players and media attention, it leaves many fans unsure about how to approach the club's awakening and limitless powers. Some laugh. Some wince. Most shake their heads, confused and afraid, especially those millions of fans of any of the now comparatively-less-rich Big Four, which constitute most of the Premier League fans here in America and elsewhere outside England.

Did you hear about Chelsea's "monster" bid for Pato a few days ago? Well, Milan said, no can do.

Now, it is a "stratospheric" amount for Samuel Eto'o to spirit him away to City. But Barca's president, Joan La Porta knows that "stratospheric" may not be familiar to everyone. So he combines it with "monster".

Stoke have announced that 20-year-old defender Ritchie De Laet has moved to Manchester United and signed a three-year deal. De Laet joined Stoke from Royal Antwerp in August 2007 but never made a first-team appearance. More... Bayern Munich general manager Uli Hoeness has slammed AC Milan for caving in to [.

Sulaiman Al Fahim is the new owner of Pompey riding out concerns raised from his connection with Sheikh Mansour Al Nahyan, owner of Man City and chairman of Hydra Properties, the real estate company which Al Fahim was CEO of till about four days ago as well as questions about where the money comes from to own the club.

The penultimate day of our SPAOTP Advent Calendar features a handy guide to all the football action going on around the world... on Christmas Day.
And action there most certainly is, contrary to what you might be thinking, and the Middle East is where it's all happening.
For a start, Al-Faysali will be trying to extend their lead at the top of the Jordan League over third-placed Al-Weehdat (3 p.