What have we learnt...

1. I do have a crystal ball =X
2. Daniel Agger would make a good winger or midfielder.
3. Our opponents should be careful the next time they score against us first.
4. Once again, we have won the hard way, but we have what it takes to be serious title contender.

Amr Zaki is proving to be the "thinking out of the box" player that Wenger prefers. With a nice affordable price tag.

He is on loan to Wigan and it is because of his performance that pundits suspect that Wigan are better than they look. Steve Bruce is all praise for the EPL's top scorer.

The Confederation of African Football named its shortlist of five for 2008 African Footballer of the Year yesterday, and Didier Drogba's name was on there. Problem is: Didier Drogba wants nothing to do with the award. Seems odd to not want to be named the best player in your confederation, but Drogba has his reasons: After [.

Amr Zaki is the breakaway leader in the early stages of the FF season for Top Striker. And at only £6.2m he represents good value indeed; he is playing every minute, has 3 goals and 1 assist to his name, and perhaps more importantly is proving to be a bonus point magnet. He has earned a bonus point every week for the first three weeks, and enviable achievement that is unmatched by any other player.

Must... leave... pitch... but... too...hard Wigan striker Amr Zaki took defeat against Aston Villa pretty hard on Sunday. He wandered around the pitch aimlessly as his team-mates returned to the dressing room to be prodded by Steve Bruce's chubby index finger. The Egyptian then lost the ability to walk and was halfway towards a William Gallas-style sit-in [.

Roy Keane is done at Sunderland. A strange tenure, that was. Perhaps the most memorable moment for me came in March when Keane proudly declared that his players would treat the referees with respect on the back of the initiative launched by the Football Association. Ironic. Hypocritical. Whatever it was, it was funny.

It's December. You know what that means. If you're lucky enough to still hold a job in this economy, than you are also lucky enough to sit down with your manager for the dreaded "Year End Performance Review." 
We've only been "on the job" here at Never Captain Nicky Butt for about one fiscal quarter (4Q 2008) but we're excited at the prospects of a growing fantasy footie community and are looking towards 2009 with excitement.

And believe it or not, it's a surprise to many. That's odd considering it is the defending champions - Egypt - vs. Cameroon, a common participant in the African Cup of Nations final. Think about the strength and consistency of both Ivory Coast and Ghana this tournament. Ghana had the host nation effect working for it, [.

Not that they're the same player. They're not even from the same confederation. But here's what Yasser Al-Qahtani has in common with Amr Zaki: both have crazy good international goalscoring records. Zaki's is an impressive 29 goals in 44 games for Egypt, while Al-Qahtani's strike rate with Saudi Arabia is currently a ridiculous 46 goals [.

Thats it. Egypt. As Mohamed Aboutreika gracefully slid the ball past Idriss Carlos Kameni and bowed his head down onto Accra's turf in measured jubilation, the fervent multitude of people gripped by the 2008 African Cup of Nations were presented their answer to the ultimate question, the one that had nagged away at them for weeks.

Something to read while you learn that honesty is always the best policy... Some brief love for Ji-Sung Park (Man Utd Offside) Raul really likes playing for Madrid (The Spoiler) Amr Zaki - unsurprisingly good (Kornheiser's Cartel) Balls through the ages (Football Filter Blog)* The future of Dutch football (Netherlands WCB) Man City - poorer than advertised (The Run of Play) Ten [.

The number of days that Wigan striker Amr Zaki will be a Wigan Athletic player are numbered. Even when the Egyptian ends his loan spell and becomes a Wigan player, it's only a matter of time before a massive club signs one of the brightest, most talented players the Premier League has seen in years.

I've always had a soft spot for Henri Camara. The Wigan forward plays with a smile on his face, and ever since Senegal's glorious World Cup run in 2002, I've been a massive Papa Bouba Diop and Camara supporter. They just looked like they were having fun. I like to have fun, so I like them.
The Senegalese striker is valued at only 4.

A few player thoughts as the fantasy premier league pundits continue to offer our satisfaction guaranteed or your money back fantasy premier league tips and suggestions...

While the US has not yet agreed on a $700B bailout plan, we warned you (and begged you) to select Cristiano Ronaldo as the $14M bailout plan in your side.

While Hull stole the early season headlines, Steve Bruce and his Wigan side have slowly been marching up the table. Egyptian striker Amr Zaki has led the way, and Bruce's side currently sit all the way in 7th place. With no real consistency amongst the table this year, Wigan have a genuine chance of finishing in the top half of the table in 2009.

Last time these 2 teams met at Anfield, it ended in a 1-1 draw. Fernando Torres drew first blood 4 minutes into second half, but Titus Bramble spoiled our party with his 80th minute equalizer.

This time round, there is no El Nino up front. Wigan, on the other hand, has the bulldozer from Egypt, who is on loan, and yet already joint top scorer in the league (with Nando and Defoe), and who is already likened to Alan Shearer (go figure)

And let's not forget, we are without God.

Predictably brilliant to watch that is. Seems like every weekend Werder Bremen serve up a multi-goal caserole for all to enjoy in the Bundelsiga, while Liverpool put together a last minute comeback cake in the Premier League. Slightly odd cooking metaphors aside, they both did it again today: Werder Bremen and Borussia Dortmund duked out a 3-3 [.

Something to read while you wait for your church to inflate... Nice collection of off the line clearances (Soccer Training Info) Women's Olympic Soccer 2008: day one (From a Left Wing) Financial trouble at Man City? (Man City Offside) Another piece of the Comcast Olympic soccer puzzle (Sports NW) David Beckham's got the horn* (The Offside Rules) Amr Zaki profile (Egypt [.

Givanildo aka Hulk: Hulk Smash

My thesis is that the lack of inches on the Arsenal defense bemoaned by Wenger and Toure is a convenient excuse for the generally brain dead defending that sunk us so badly against Hull. In short we are freaked. Seriously, I hope this nonsense is not being internalized by the club players because it does not bode well.

Let's preview Gameweek 11 - analyzing (1) the best "Real life" premier league fixture, (2) the most fantasy friendly EPL matchup, and (3) Fantasy Premier League "studs" and "duds."
I.  Liverpool @ Tottenham: Can 'Arry Redknapp's man management style really turn Tottenham's season around? In the U.

I feel like I'm back in high school, fixating my eyes on the fittest birds in my physics class. Arsenal's youngsters are at it again, this time slaying Zaki and his Wigan squad. 
The Gunners' oldest player on the pitch was 23-year old goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski. An interesting fact (perhaps you could submit that fact for your chance to win a free Arsenal jersey).

Let's jump right into our weekly preview. Here's the legend - I. Best "real" matchup II. Best fantasy friendly matchup III.  Studs & Duds and IV. A weekly best eleven
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I. Manchester United @ Manchester City: The silver medal this week goes to Chelsea and Arsenal battling it out at Stamford Bridge, but the Manchester derby will never be the same after the royal family of Abu Dhabi decided to throw their hat (turban?

Here are the top 25 performers in the English Premier League this season, according to the Actim Index:

1 Gabriel Agbonlahor - Aston Villa - 136
2 Frank Lampard - Chelsea - 135
3 John Carew - Aston Villa - 126
4 Neves Denilson - Arsenal - 124
5 Jermain Defoe - Portsmouth - 119
6 Shaun Wright-Phillips - Man City - 112
7 Deco - Chelsea - 109
8 Lucas Neill - West Ham - 108
9 Ashley Young - Aston Villa - 106
10 Dirk Kuyt - Liverpool - 105
11 Kevin Davies - Bolton - 102
12 Matthew Etherington - West Ham - 101
13 Amr Zaki - Wigan - 99
14 Gareth Barry - Aston Villa - 98
15 Emmanuel Adebayor - Arsenal - 95
16 Peter Crouch - Portsmouth - 95
17 Scott Parker - West Ham - 93
18 Jose Reina - Liverpool - 92
19 Nigel Reo-Coker - Aston Villa - 92
20 Jose Bosingwa - Chelsea - 90
21 Petr Cech - Chelsea - 90
22 Valon Behrami - West Ham - 89
23 Ayegbeni Yakubu - Everton - 89
24 Martin Laursen - Aston Villa - 87
25 Alvaro Arbeloa - Liverpool - 86

According to the Premier League website, "Actim Stats are a collection of team, player and match statistics.

Something to read while you make 70,000 people laugh... Remember Footballitis? (The Beautiful Game) Hallo 3. Bundesliga (Pitch Invasion) Hleb has a big mouth (Soccer Weblog) What a week at White Hart Lane (Spurs Offside) Video evidence of Wigan new boy Amr Zaki (101 GG) Trading in soccer talent (NY Times) Kaka going nowhere (Kaka Offside)

So that's what the top of the table feels like. On to the games...
Arsenal 3-1 Bolton -- Man the Gunners played some beautiful soccer on Saturday. 21 shots, 17 corners, 70% of possession. Turns out they were Jekyll this weekend and are now on top of the EPL standings. Kevin Cyril Davies (14') had the goal for Bolton, before three straight by Emmanuel Eboue (offside, 26'), Nicklas Bendtner (27') and Denilson (87').

This weekend we were graced with another very entertaining and competitive Premier League weekend. At this rate, we're well on course for one of the most exciting Premier League seasons in recent memory. Here are ten reasons why: No more Derby County. The three promoted teams already have equaled or exceeded the number of points that [.

Hide the women and children, because Milan are on the prowl for centerbacks. With Paolo Maldini in the midst of his swansong (or so we assume), Alessandro Nesta's knees aspiring to bone-on-bone and Philippe Senderos being Philippe Senderos, Adriano Galliani is looking to scoop up any aged or Brazilian centerbacks available.

WIGAN ATHLETIC Notable arrivals: Lee Cattermole (Middlesbrough), Amr Zaki (Loan), Olivier Kapo (Birmingham City), Daniel de Ridder (Birmingham City), Maynor Figueroa. Notable departures: David Cotterill (Sheffield United), Andreas Granqvist (Gronigen), Marcus Bent (Charlton). Possibility: Marlon King (Hull City).

Photo from the Telgraph via the AP.
First batch of match reviews from the past weekend. The final batch will be up tomorrow morning. Note there won't be a second full match review as I was unable to see Sunderland v Manchester City in full.
Everton v Portsmouth: Jermain Defoe's two goals and assist see Portsmouth go away and get an emphatic 3-0 victory at Goodison Park.

Notable arrivals: Lee Cattermole (Middlesbrough), Amr Zaki (Loan), Olivier Kapo (Birmingham City), Daniel de Ridder (Birmingham City), Maynor Figueroa. Notable departures: Antoine Sibierski (Norwich, loan), Carlo Nash (Everton), Rachid Bouaouzan (NEC Nijmegen, loan), Marlon King (Hull City, loan), David Cotterill.

Bruce...the full gamut of human emotion
Premiership -- We got a welcome early opportunity to witness the Steve Bruce Incredulous Face on MotD after Wigan's defeat at West Ham. He claimed that even Hammers' fans would admit that his side had been superior and, for once, his assertion was justified.

Tottenham lose (is that news?) 2-0 to Portsmouth, credit Jermain Defoe with a goal and essentially an assist on Peter Crouch's.
Manchester City lose 2-1 to Wigan. Anyone surprised that they appear to be super schizophrenic? Amr Zaki with another goal. That's tied for an EPL best with 4, I think.

For a town more accustomed to the wing exploits of Martin Offiah, Wigan's been treated to some great football in the last few years. Since promotion to the top flight in 2005 Wigan Athletic have battled through tough matches, pie jokes and countless accusations of clogging to establish themselves as a Premier League club – [.

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Only 3 early games to take in today as Manchester United and Blackburn are set to kick-off any minute.

Notable arrivals: Lee Cattermole (Middlesbrough), Amr Zaki (Loan), Olivier Kapo (Birmingham City), Daniel de Ridder (Birmingham City). Notable departures: Andreas Granqvist (Gronigen), Marcus Bent (Charlton). Possibility: Marlon King (Hull City). Steve Bruce has made another signing, bringing in 20-year-old midfielder.

Liverpool's increasingly impressive unbeaten pre-season run was stretched to seven games against Valerenga in Oslo - but they suffered the worrying loss of skipper Steven Gerrard.
The midfielder limped off in the first half of this comfortable 4-1 victory with what looked like a recurrence of a groin problem that has dogged him in recent weeks.

Bargain of the season? In a week when the whole world is going Bond mad, I'd like to draw attention to my favourite Bond line ever from You Only Live Twice.

WIGAN ATHLETIC Notable arrivals: Olivier Kapo (Birmingham City), Daniel de Ridder (Birmingham City) Notable departures: Marcus Bent (Charlton). Possibility: Marlon King (Hull City). Still brewing: Egyptian star Amr Zaki is supposed to finally sign his loan deal today after passing...

WIGAN ATHLETIC Notable arrivals: Amr Zaki (Loan), Olivier Kapo (Birmingham City), Daniel de Ridder (Birmingham City) Notable departures: Marcus Bent (Charlton). Possibility: Marlon King (Hull City). Latics want midfielder back Boro midfielder closer to move

Notable arrivals: Lee Cattermole (Middlesbrough), Amr Zaki (Loan), Olivier Kapo (Birmingham City), Daniel de Ridder (Birmingham City), Maynor Figueroa. Notable departures: David Cotterill (Sheffield United), Andreas Granqvist (Gronigen), Marcus Bent (Charlton). Possibility: Marlon King (Hull City). Despite Steve Bruce's declaration.