Breaking this weekend was the surprising news that 2010 MLS MVP candidate Edson Buddle was poised to make his long-discussed move overseas. What made it surprising was that the move was not to Birmingham City, which is where he had long been rumored to go, but to FC Ingolstadt, a Bundesliga 2 club that is currently in danger of being relegated to the third German soccer division.

Morning all. Throughout January Soccerlens are going to be bringing you a daily round-up of the morning's various goings-on. Be it juicy morsels of spurious transfer gossip or real, actual bona fide news, rest assured, we'll have it covered.

Here's this morning's batch.

Dzeko deal reaches terminal velocity.

Like a Hammer to the groin West Ham forward Victor Obinna saw red during last night's Carling Leg semi-final first-leg victory over Birmingham City. The Nigerian petulantly flicked his foot up behind him to give Sebastian Larsson a swift kick to the crown jewels. Fortunately for the loanee, his side went on to win the [.

The January 2011 transfer window is about to open. Will Premier League clubs be spending money this time around? In January 2009 Premier League teams spent a record £178 MILLION in that transfer window. Last January spending was much lower with the vast majority of moves on the final day of the January transfer window being loan deals as clubs did not have the capital to invest in new players.

Carling Cup calamity A goalkeeper would usually know he is at fault if he was beaten by a cleanly struck Carlton Cole effort, given his form this season. When a scuffed Cole strike beats you, you know something has gone horribly wrong. Birmingham City keeper Ben Foster picked a horrible time to play a game [.

Botswana vs Sweden International Friendly- January 19, 2011 Cape Town, South Africa- 17.00 South African time KO Sweden did not make it to the 2010 World Cup, but they will be playing a friendly against Botswana in Cape Town. Nice opportunity for Sweden coach Erik Hamren to test out a few things against Botswana.

Manchester United's kept their spot at the top of the league, no matter how many times Gary Neville tried to give it away. Macnehster City's even on points after their win over Blackpool, while Arsenal was convincing at a St. Andrews' Stadium that's often inhospitable to visitors.

On this edition of the EPL Talk podcast, myself, Laurence McKenna and Jesse Chula (filling in for the infirm Kartik Krishnaiyer) and talk about the weekend that was in our favorite football league.

Arsene Wenger has talked a lot about tackling. Invariably the discussion gets hijacked by clueless hacks and pundits who convert that into an Arsenal V Rest of the League debate and take pride in highlighting one or two poor tackles by Arsenal players.

According to a number of morons who have the privilege of influencing public opinion, Arsenal are just as bad as any other team when it comes to tackling.

The English Premier League takes a weekend off as English football shifts its focus to the FA Cup, the third round of which happens this weekend. We start today's show, the second half of a discussion we had on Wednesday, by looking toward this weekend, specifically Liverpool's trip to Manchester United, though that quickly descended into discussion of Liverpool and how important Sunday's result will be to Roy Hodgson's job and the club.

If Arsenal is going to keep the pressure on Manchester United in the English Premier League title race the Gunners will need to win at the same stadium where Manchester United recently stumbled, St. James' Park.

Arsenal take on Birmingham today in one of the more intriguing match-ups of today's New Year's Day Schedule.

LONDON, England Arsenal succeeded where Manchester United failed days earlier to become only the second team to win at St Andrew's in 30 games with a 3-0 victory over Birmingham City on Saturday. Their success saw Arsenal stay within two points of both Premier League leaders Manchester United, top on goal difference, and Manchester [.

LONDON, England Arsenal succeeded where Manchester United failed days earlier to become only the second team to win at St Andrew's in 30 games with a 3-0 victory over Birmingham City on Saturday. Their success saw Arsenal stay within two points of both Premier League leaders Manchester United, top on goal difference, and Manchester [.

I'm sure I'm not alone in hoping that the first game of 2011 is a sign of things to come for this year. A good win, three goals, a clean sheet and the best response against a team who went over the edge a little bit physically.

Apart from one Fabianski save from a first half Seb Larsson free kick I don't remember the Arsenal goalkeeper having to do much at all beyond come for a few crosses and corners which he did solidly.

There's really not much change in the rankings from two weeks ago. The changes that there are derive from movement at the top of the table in the English Premier League. There also has been action in the past two weeks in the Portuguese League Cup and the Spanish Primera Division but the Portuguese League Cup doesn't affect the rankings and the top of the Spanish Primera Division table never changes.

Newcastle United have had a £1.5M bid for Swedish winger Sebastian Larsson accepted by Birmingham City, but his club are still hoping he will sign a new contract with them. Seb Larsson Birmingham still apparently hopeful The former Arsenal midfielder has repeatedly refused to sign a new deal at the club, as he probably [.

The Newcastle Journal is reporting this morning that the Tyneside club are in for Birmingham City winger Seb Larsson, but for just £1M. Robbie Keane Spurs paid Liverpool £12M for him two years ago That's hardly Newcastle's fault There's not much new news in the Journal report, other than Newcastle have been turned off Tottenham players, because of their [.

There is news today that Blackpool have turned down a £2M bid from Birmingham City, for their talented captain, Charlie Adam. Charlie Adam - has easily made step up to Premier League We have no idea if Blackpool would be willing to sell their number one player, but if they do it could be dangerous for the [.

Birmingham City manager, Alex McLeish, has confirmed that Newcastle have been given permission to enter into talks with Sebastian Larsson. The 25 year old Swedish international is a versatile right winger who has also covered both full back positions in the past. If successful, it has also been reported that Birmingham City would be looking [.

The Manchester Evening News is reporting that Newcastle are one of seven clubs interested in signing Manchester United defender Wes Brown in January. Wes Brown - available in January? The clubs are said to be Tottenham Hotspur, Sunderland, Blackburn Rovers, Everton, Birmingham City, West Bromwich and Newcastle United.

Now that the transfer window is open, lots of managers are looking to strengthen their squads. Managers like Everton's David Moyes seem typical; he's looking to sign a striker, having repeatedly bemoaned his team's lack of ability to finish in front of goal, most recently after the away draw at West Ham.

Kenny Dalglish and Damien Comolli will be discussing at length when they feel Liverpool need in order to improve the Anfield squad as the Merseyside club tries to force their way back up the Premier League table. It appears that high up on the list of priority is the signing of a quality winger or two to add more natural width to a side that looks predictable and stifled on the attack.

Cutting through the exotic monikers of Premier League imports so you can judge the player, not the name After a lay-off of Owen Hargreaves proportions, the Premier League Name Translator is back. First up is a South American footballer of French heritage (via Haiti). On the evidence we have seen see far, his stay in [.

Manchester United vs Birmingham City January 22, 2011 ( Man United at home) Final score:- Manchester United 5-0 Birmingham City ( Ryan Giggs, Dimitar Berbatov*3, Nani) Dimitar Berbatov becomes the first Premiership player since Ruud Van Nistelrooy to net three hat tricks in a season as Manchester United crush Birmingham City 5-0.

Manchester United vs Birmingham City January 22, 2011 ( Man United at home) Final score:- Manchester United 5-0 Birmingham City ( Ryan Giggs, Dimitar Berbatov*3, Nani) Dimitar Berbatov becomes the first Premiership player since Ruud Van Nistelrooy to net three hat tricks in a season as Manchester United crush Birmingham City 5-0.

Barclays Premier League game between Manchester United and Birmingham City held on January 22, 2011.

See the full highlights:

Sorry Sports Fans, but due to a combination of travel, alcohol and influenza, the publishing of Monday's WCR Top 25 has been delayed significantly. Since it will be Friday evening by the time I publish this entry, it's going to be an abbreviated version. You can look forward to a return to the full version on Monday when, whether or not I'm over the flu, at least I'll be home and be able to get it published in a timely manner.

By Ollie Irish

...

Man Utd hardman Patrice Evra slams into David Bentley with the force of a charging rhino (maybe). Bentley is a broken man.

Evra is a modern marvel. Hardly ever gets injured, hardly ever gives less than a 7/10 display. We take his excellence for granted.

Okay, the travel has ended for a few weeks so we are going back to a full schedule of entries starting now. Of course, now isn't the best time to be at a full schedule because there's really not a hell of a lot going on. Oh, sure there's a lot of domestic cup action but those are just glorified exhibitions, at least for the top clubs and at least until the semifinals.

Birmingham City make a bit for Newcastle United's Shola Ameobi. Meanwhile, Alan Pardew has to consider letting the striker attend to his international duties. According to The Daily Mail, Birmingham City have lodged a cheeky £1.5m bid to buy Shola from us which, The Mail speculates, we'll 'firmly rebut'.

We start with Jonathan Spector and West Ham in the second leg of their Carling Cup semifinal series with Birmingham City at 2:30pm on Fox Soccer Plus. West Ham won the opening leg 2-1. EPL on Fox Soccer Channel: Liverpool host Fulham at 3pm. Copa del Rey on ESPN Deportes: Sevilla - Real Madrid at 2pm.

No it's not a misspelling, but I will take the opportunity to wish all Arsenal supporters everywhere a Very Happy New Year. And to all those of you who Yearn for silverware and titles, I offer these words of comfort.......

The season is half over. We've done well; we're 2 points off the top of the table in 3rd place.

No it's not a misspelling, but I will take the opportunity to wish all Arsenal supporters everywhere a Very Happy New Year. And to all those of you who Yearn for silverware and titles, I offer these words of comfort.......

The season is half over. We've done well; we're 2 points off the top of the table in 3rd place.

Newcastle are now in 12th position in the league and just 3 points above the third bottom side, which before today's game against Arsenal was Birmingham City. And as we all know the next two games that Newcastle play are against 4th bottom Wigan Athletic, and previous rock bottom side, but now 6th bottom West [.

Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez scored to keep Manchester United at the top of the Barclays Premier League on goal difference with a 2-1 win at West Brom. Rooney opened the scoring when he headed in Patrice Evra's cross on three minutes but James Morrison equalised with a long-range shot.

Birmingham 0-3 Arsenal ( Robin Van Persie, Samir Nasri, Johnson Own goal) St.Andrews', Birmingham- Premiership. Arsenal pick up a 3-0 win at St.Andrews' against Birmingham City thanks to goals in either half from Robin Van Persie and Samir Nasri and an own goal for Johnson. Birmingham vs Arsenal 0-1 ( Van Persie) Birmingham vs Arsenal [.

Birmingham 0-3 Arsenal ( Robin Van Persie, Samir Nasri, Johnson Own goal) St.Andrews', Birmingham- Premiership. Arsenal pick up a 3-0 win at St.Andrews' against Birmingham City thanks to goals in either half from Robin Van Persie and Samir Nasri and an own goal for Johnson. Birmingham vs Arsenal 0-1 ( Van Persie) Birmingham vs Arsenal [.

Birmingham City 0-3 Arsenal

Now that's what I call fairweather blogging! I raved about the Chelski performance, but kept mum after earthward bump at Wigan. Now I'm back to doff the cap to the team for today's performance at lowly Birmingham, which was as excellent as Wigan was disappointing as Chelski was excellent.

Arsenal striker Robin van Persie believes the Gunners were impressive on Saturday after they eased past Birmingham City as their away form keeps improving. Speaking to ESPN, the Dutchman explained the players knew the home side ...

Arsene Wenger was extremely pleased with the way that his team handled the "physical challenges" of Birmingham City to record an impressive 3-0 win at St. Andrews yesterday and the way they refused to let Alex McLeish's side stop them playing their free-flowing football. "We were prepared today to face the challenges, physical challenges.

Highlights of yesterday's 3-0 win over Birmingham, plus some more reaction stuff, after the jump:

Birmingham City v Arsenal
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One of the big talking points after the match was Wenger's rotation policy.