After the opening round's somewhat surprising outlay of points, there is already a wave of activity happening on the fantasy transfer market. This means some players are set to rise in value, and if you are after a short term monetary gain, then jumping on these players at the earliest opportunity is the way to make it happen.

Often enough, asking nicely is the key to getting something that you want, and it looks like that might be the case with soon-to-be former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso, who could be on a flight to Madrid sometime in the next few days to complete his dream move to Real Madrid.

As the Austrian training camp draws to a close, Arsene and his staff have a better understanding of where the squad needs to be strengthened in particular now the Adebayor has left and Toure is virtually a Man City player too, whilst Eboue and Senderos are also looking at Arsenal exits.

If Arsene sold the remaining four players he would have £55 million to spend, but before people go mad, he will not spend that sort of money.

Sky Sports has published these stats from another memorable season of the English Premier League. Opta stats report for the 2008/09 season,
942 - The final goal tally was the second lowest in Premier League history.
14 - Manchester United set a new Premier League record of 14 consecutive clean sheets between November 2008 and February 2009.

MJ would have loved these youngsters too
It's certainly not the biggest story this month in world football, but the UEFA U-21 Championship is nearing its conclusion in Sweden, and England's youngsters have really impressed.
They're through to the final after squeaking by host country Sweden on penalties in the semi-finals today, so I figured it would be nice to give them their due.

Who will play more, Lee Cattermole or Anderson? Not usually a question that truly matters in the wide context of Premier League football, but then as we already know, Fantasy Premier League is a different territory entirely.

With just days to go until the start of the 2009/10 English Premier League season, armchairs and swivel chairs are getting very sweaty indeed as managers look to finalise the last details of their title-challenging squad.

It was an interesting game at the JJB Stadium, where Wigan Athletic faced the table toppers in a game that could potentially see them lifting the Premier League title at Old Trafford.

The Latics struck in the twenty-eighth minute and took a lead that shocked many, including some of their own fans.

Xabi Alonso's move from Liverpool to Real Madrid appears to be imminent after a source at the Merseyside club confirmed that the Spanish midfielder had submitted a transfer request.
The 28 year-old, who arrived for training on Thursday, expects to hold talks with Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez as Real are believed to be preparing a new, improved bid.

How do this pair sleep at night?

Take a look around at the teams forking out big money in this transfer window, and then take a look at whats going on at Anfield. Then ask yourselves, why is this happening?

In case you didn't know, Tom Hicks and George Gillett bought Liverpool with loans and debts.

In the old days, Reid loved doughnuts more than corner kicks
I was leaning all week towards Everton's Steven Pienaar - his goal last night in the Europa League only further confirming his chance as a Funny Feeling Friday selection - but, having selected Everton's Rodwell just a few weeks ago - and seeing as Pienaar is already owned by about 7% of managers - I went with an unlikely selection, the less than 1% owned Andy Reid.

Burnley v. Sunderland 12:45 GMT Team news: Burnley captain Steven Caldwell is still troubled by the groin injury which has kept him off the pitch this season. Michael Duff is back from his ankle injury, but is expected to start on the bench. Sunderland summer signing Lee Cattermole is a doubt for the trip to Burnley, still suffering [.

It was not the start that England's Under 21 side wanted, but it could have been a whole lot worse after today's close shave against a Finland side full of surprises. By finding themselves in the toughest of the two groups with Spain and Germany, this was the game that Stuart Pearce would have targeted as a must win match.

Wigan are closing on a double signing that gives clear indication they may be losing Lee Cattermole.
Manager Roberto Martinez moved to agree a £3.5million deal for highly-rated Rayo Vallecano midfielder Mohamed Diame and his teammate centre half Antonio Amaya.
It follows Wigan also striking an agreement with Chelsea to loan Scott Sinclair for the season but shows concern that prized asset Cattermole could leave before the window closes.

Hopefully this rumour will not lead to anything!

Wigan Athletic manager Roberto Martinez has claimed the transfer speculation surrounding midfielder Lee Cattermole is unsettling for both the club and the player.

Liverpool and Sunderland have been strongly linked with the England Under-21 international over the summer, with Black Cats' boss Steve Bruce formerly in charge at Wigan admitting he will test the Latics' resolve in trying to sign the player.

Brucey is putting together a nice little squad of players, isn't he? Of course, his signing as manager was a boost to the club. He knows his business, can recruit players and can get a team punching above their weight... if he/they are also prone to lose the plot from time to time. It also helps that he has the continued financial backing of the Sunderland board.

Whether it is club policy or whether they simply have not been able to strike deals with the players, Middlesbrough continue to stall on signing Matthew Bates and Ross Turnbull to extended deals.

I can see how leaving all contract negotiations until the end of the season may allow everyone to concentrate on the task at hand but it is a risky game to play.

So Malcolm Crosby believes Arsene Wenger is a fan of Gareth Southgate and the job he is doing:

Arsene Wenger is very complimentary towards Gareth and what he's trying to do and if he thinks that then maybe we're doing something right.

I am personally of the belief that Southgate is a good young coach but that maybe the current Boro job is too much for such an inexperienced manager.

TSB's Good Guy Team of the Season:
Friedel
Ashbee
Onuoha
Jagielka
Fagan
Murphy
Arteta
Ireland
Palacios
Alonso
Arshavin
Bench: Given, Bullard, Tugay, Johnson, Lawrence. Modric, Laursen, Essien
Manager: Zola/Hiddick/Hodgson
Fans: Stoke
TSB's Dickhead Team of the Season:
No Keeper [they don't deserve one]
Richards
Guthrie
Ronaldo
Barton
Bednar
Bellamy
Adebayor
Drogba
Santa Cruz
King
Bench: Cruz, Cattermole, Zaki, Sturridge
Manager: Phil 'fuck me, I look like a twat with this thing in my ear' Brown
Chairman: Mike Ashley
Fans: AC Milan fans who jeered Maldini.

Stuart Pearce defends 'disrespectful' move England under 21s deployed goalkeeper Joe Lewis as an emergency substitute striker as they coasted to a 7-0 friendly win over Azerbaijan. The Peterborough keeper experienced life on a football pitch without the aid of gloves as he came on as a 75th minute replacement for Wigan's Lee Cattermole.

Reports from the UK indicate that Real Madrid are nearer than ever to realising their ambition of signing Xabi Alonso from Liverpool, who in turn have already singled out the midfielder's potential replacement.
The Reds and the Blancos have refused to budge from their respective valuations of the Basque star all summer, but it is thought that a middle-ground figure of around €34 million could be agreed by the weekend.

Rounding up all the yesterday's biggest transfer news and gossip.

Rafa Searches For Replacements As Alonso Hands In Transfer Request
Alonso has today handed in a written transfer request, paving the way for Aquilani to join Liverpool. It is believed that Real Madrid and Liverpool will agree on a price believed to be between £28M and £30M.

UPDATE: According to Graeme Bailey at Sky Sports News, Sunderland boss Steve Bruce is planning to make a third bid for Wigan Athletic midfielder Lee Cattermole.

July 12th, 2009 According to ESPN Soccernet, Sunderland have increased their bid to £6million for Wigan Athletic midfielder Lee Cattermole.

Aston Villa v Wigan Athletic Live Streaming & Match Preview
Premier League - Aston Villa vs Wigan Live Online - Click Here
Saturday, 15th August 2009
Kick Off : 15:00 GMT
Venue : Villa Park, Birmingham

Aston Villa kick off their new season with a home match against last seasons mid-table opposition Wigan Athletic.

The Premier League kicks off tomorrow - here is the second part of our preview, you can read Part One here.

Man Utd

It could be a difficult season for United. Ronaldo is irreplaceable, and only time will tell if Owen is a suitable replacement for Tevez. Giggs, Scholes and Neville are all a season older.

The Premier League kicks off tomorrow - here is the second part of our preview, you can read Part One here.

Man Utd

It could be a difficult season for United. Ronaldo is irreplaceable, and only time will tell if Owen is a suitable replacement for Tevez. Giggs, Scholes and Neville are all a season older.

Lee Cattermole is currently one of the hottest prospects in England and he has had the best possible development for a young player. He took one step at the time in his career and is now on the road to become one of true England greats. His latest switch to Sunderland will additionally help him mature and grow as a player, and maybe even help him win the place in England World Cup squad.

One in, one out.
Not much new news this morning, the latest being the casualties from yesterday's Europa League matches. Those claimed Andy Johnson and will force Jack Rodwell and Steven Pienaar into the dreaded "late fitness test".
Spurs have lost Gomes for a while and so Cudicini will sit behind their make-shift back line.

A rock at the back, what a defender
Sunderland manager Steve Bruce keeps adding quality talent to the squad - bringing in defender Michael Turner (4.5M) today on the last open day of the transfer window.
Turner joins fellow big names Darren Bent and Lee Cattermole at the Stadium of Light, and though the Black Cats lost 1-0 at Stoke this past weekend, things are surely looking up in Tyne and Wear.

1. A Change Of Tack
I don't know about you, but personally I think this blog has become just a little too considered in recent weeks at the expense of our bread and butter.
Perilous flirtation with the threat of legal action has been discarded in favour of sound reasoning, and that has to change.

Premiership clubs have spent a lot of money on new players this summer and even though it is still too early to make final judgment, some of them have already started to prove their potential. Six games is definitely not enough time for players to show all they've got, but a couple of summer signings have made a big impact already and I felt obliged to create the top 5 list.

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has brushed off his furious touchline clash with Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez, following his side's 1-0 victory at the Stadium of Light.
The Black Cats further dented the Reds' fast-fading title hopes, thanks to a controversial Darren Bent goal, his eighth of the season flying past goalkeeper Pepe Reina after taking a wicked deflection off a beach ball that had been thrown on to the pitch by a Liverpool fan.

Steve Bruce's Sunderland side have been one of the surprise packages of the season so far. With 16 points from nine games they sit above Liverpool in the Premier League table and have picked up some impressive results.

On their visit to Old Trafford the Black Cats took a point from Manchester United, but were within a whisker of taking all three.

The final international break of the year is over. How good does that sound?

Real football returns tomorrow, and unlike many Premiership weekends, it is Saturday that looks the tastier of the days. Liverpool and City play each other at lunchtime, United face Everton in the evening, Chelsea are involved and we have a very tricky trip to Sunderland to negotiate.

Wigan Athletic

Current Position: 8th, 11-8-12 (41 points, -2 goal differential)

Home Form: 7-4-4

Recent Form: LLWWL

Last Meeting: Arsenal 1-Wigan 0 (12/6/08)

Aston Villa Watch: Everton

Everton Watch: at Aston Villa

Tomorrow we travel to the JJB to play Wigan Athletic.

Wigan Athletic 1-2 Manchester United

Carlos Tevez came off the bench to help inspire Manchester United to victory after going a goal down and the win means the Red Devils are one point away from being crowned Champions.

Wigan had United on the back foot as early as the second minute as Valencia burst clear of Nemanja Vidic but shot wide.

From the FA.com:
Goalkeepers
Joe Hart (Manchester City), Joe Lewis (Peterborough United), Scott Loach (Watford)
Defenders
Martin Cranie (Portsmouth), Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal), Michael Mancienne (Chelsea), Nedum Onuoha (Manchester City), Micah Richards (Manchester City), Andrew Taylor (Middlesbrough), Steven Taylor (Newcastle United), James Tomkins (West Ham United)
Midfielders
Lee Cattermole (Wigan Athletic), Andrew Driver (Hearts), Craig Gardner (Aston Villa), Adam Johnson (Middlesbrough), James Milner (Aston Villa), Fabrice Muamba (Bolton Wanderers), Mark Noble (West Ham United), Jack Rodwell (Everton)
Forwards
Theo Walcott (Arsenal) Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa), Frazier Campbell (Tottenham Hotspur - on Loan), Danny Welbeck (Manchester United)

Dan Mobbs writes at ThreeMatchBan.com.

The result was never in doubt against part-timers Andorra, but Fabio Cappello's England fielded a strong side and cruised to a 6-0 victory, demonstrating the Italian's respect for the opposition, although this was something perhaps that wasn't reflected by other members of the England entourage.

UEFA U21 Championship: England 2:1 Finland
Halmstad, Sweden - At 7,500, the Orjans Vall in Halmstad, twice a venue in the 1958 World Cup, must be the smallest venue a lot of England's team have played in for a while, but by the time of Finland's first corner in the fourth minute, the blue and white fans who had crossed the border made it feel a lot larger.

According to Tom Walker at Setanta Sports, Wigan Athletic midfielder Lee Cattermole is not for sale. Wigan chairman Dave Whelan said,

"Lee is not going anywhere ... You just cannot replace these kind of players."

Latics chairman Dave Whelan recently stated he has no intention of selling the England Under-21 international midfielder. Tottenham Hotspur are the latest club believed to be considering making an approach for Wigan Athletic's Lee Cattermole, according to a report in the British tabloid The Daily Mail.