Vote for the African Premier League player who has been the best ambassador for Africa here...The winner will be declared on the 30th of November 2009
Drogba signed a new advertising contract with Pepsi and pledged the entire £3m he earned from the deal to the setting-up of a hospital and orphanage in Ivory Coast.

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Tonight Rafa Benitez is on the managerial tightrope when his side faces Lyon in the Champions League. Liverpool have to win, if Fiorentina and Lyon win then Liverpool can say goodbye to major silverware this season and Benitez can probably say goodbye to his job.

Benitez's side is decimated by injuries and an awful lot of responsibility is on the shoulders of Fernando Torres tonight if he plays.

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Why not give them a taste of their own medicine!

Brazilian striker Robinho is unhappy with life at Manchester City according to a report in Spanish publication Sport.

It is reported that Robinho told journalists in Brazil that he is deeply dissatisfied with his current time in the Premier League.

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Ist Pint

Arsenal took to the field, on what started out as a very beautiful afternoon, and within five minutes were giving the illusion of being the better team and being in complete control. And why not, everyone of the City mercenaries had previously been at a club that had been tonked by Arsenal at one time or another, add to that, a couple of Arsenal rejects and there should never have been any doubt that Arsenal would appear the more confident and boss the game, and so it was.

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The battle for the Premiership trophy recommences in earnest on Saturday as the Gunners return to Manchester. Unlike the red half, this visit should be a little easier and despite the millions of pounds spent on Mark Hughes team, I cannot see that a bunch of mercenaries will triumph over quality.

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The transfer window may be shut but these guys don't care, because they have no contract! From Everton rejects to former Liverpool heroes to Arsenal stalwarts to West Ham and Newcastle United mercenaries. These players should, with some exceptions, be avoided like the plague!

The Daily Mail came up with a list of players that were out of contract and therefore allowed to move to your club even with the transfer window firmly shut, we give our thoughts on the players you really shouldn't hope to see in your clubs colours!

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Tim Vickery observes:

This idea of representation is especially strong for the South Americans, where the shirt of the national team is such an important symbol of the country.

Back in Brazil and Argentina, the European-based stars are always liable to be branded as mercenaries who are out of contact with the game in the land of their birth - when in fact the players make sacrifices to play for their national team that many Europeans would not be willing to undergo, especially in terms of travelling time.

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Brisbane Roar could be without 8 plus of its 23 person squad in September as injury and U20 World Cup bites deep.
There is hope that Tiatto will be fit for half a game. But Murdocca and Packer will be out. It is also likely that McCloughan will be out for a few weeks. Reinaldo hasn't been sighted yet. Click to continue reading...

Gold Coast's owner has denied that his side is mercenaries.
I wonder how the team is feeling. First their owner and coach tells their fans not to come to the first match. Then the fans don't actually materialise for the second. Click to continue reading...

With Madrid and City spending money like a drunken man in Vegas, whose fortunes will change from spending a fortune? Who's gamble will succeed and who will end up behaving like Rainman?

I know there is always the argument of money won't buy the league and I agree with the fact that money certainly won't by you the respect of the general football fan, look at Chelsea, their popularity of the all important working class footie fan certainly hasn't improved since the oil Barron rolled into town.

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David Moyes appears to have lost the battle to keep Joleon at the club.

MANCHESTER CITY expect to finally land Everton centre-back Joleon Lescott today.
The England defender could even be unveiled to fans at City's Eastlands open day this afternoon.

Mark Hughes has trailed Lescott, 26, since January with Goodison chief David Moyes insisting the player was not for sale.

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Well, subject to a medical of course (of course!), Alonso's finally been sold to Real Madrid. In other earth-shattering news, the sky's still blue.
The sum of the text on the official website, in sum, is thus:

Liverpool Football Club this evening confirmed they had reached agreement for the sale of Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid, subject only to a medical.

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You know that club that finished 10th in the Premier League last season, then went out and bought a bunch of high priced players and just lost two of three matches against South African teams? Yeah, well, Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill thinks they are most likely to win the league this year.

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I've used that headline before, whatever:

• Tottenham is shopping for defenders.
  
• Mercenaries are not welcome at Old Trafford?
  
• Livorno confident of 2010 Donovan move.
  
• Eto'o/Zlatan swap agreed on.
  
• Real Madrid closer to Alonso? And selling?
  
• Huntelaar not going to Stuttgart.

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This has been a topic I had been meaning to touch upon for a while but haven't until now.

Tim Rich, who seems to be The Guardian's man accompanying the United travelling party, has been doing his share of sending postcards from the far-east. Topics covered in his daily dispatches range from describing the boredom of our poor, grossly overpaid, footballers [boo, hoo.

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The Telegraph talks of the boredom our lads face on tour.

The Daily Mail ponders on United's new formation now Ronaldo has left.

Football365 looks at the Premiership's neediest clubs.

The Times shows football's biggest mercenaries

Tell me a joke and win free tickets to watch Manchester United train at OT the day before the Community Shield.

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The cricket season is upon us and, I for one am loving it. I am a bit of a traditionalist and still enjoy the break from my beloved footie for a few months. I like to forget about it for a couple of months and then start the new season afresh, especially after an Ashes win!! This summer though, I am finding it hard to switch off from the circus that is the Premier League.

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