Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich angered their supporters yesterday with news that they would be making a spectacular signing before the transfer window closed only for the fans to later find out that it was a marketing gimmick.

Apparently, Bayern was trying to gain interest for their new app by creating intense speculation as to who the signing would be.

The Portland Timbers added five players to their roster on January 17, signing Colombian defender Hanyer Mosquera and selecting four players in the MLS Supplemental Draft. One of their selections is a local product, as University of Portland's Ryan Kawulok was their first pick at number 8. Kawulok has spent the last two summers playing for the Timbers' U-23 club, and becomes the fourth member of those teams to make the jump from Timber U-23 to Timber MLS.

I've written some poems about the Premiership action this weekend. Starting with Chelsea, ending with Swansea... Celebration: A thunderous volley rattles the bar falling to a favorible shin. A smug look of delight floats across number 8 as the ball ricochets in. 'Run Lamps, RUN', point to the sky cherish this moment of celebration.

Interestingish article here on the Portland Timbers website. (yes, this is Rich, but I like American things, too).

So while recent history suggests the Number 8 [pick in the MLS draft] has produced some promising young players, perhaps the most famous MLS Number 8's of all time was the New England Revolution's Number 8 selection in 2004: Clint Dempsey.

The Portland Timbers had an eventful day in the 2012 MLS Super Draft, being the only team to complete a trade while selecting the defender they were targeting with their pick at number 8. The Timbers now have 25 players under contract going into the January 18 MLS Supplemental Draft, although rumors persist that there are big signings forthcoming.

Deep within the confines of the Ambedkar Nagar slum in Mumbai, there's a shack, no bigger than a typical garden shed, that 13-year-old Montesh Bankar is proud to call home
It's a home that houses not just Montesh, one of 2,700 students at the nearby Colaba Municipal School, but also his mother and father, who have lived there for 20 years, his sister, two brothers and uncle.

Why 12 managers have failed in the footsteps of Jose

There are certain shirts whose previous owners hold such mystique that anyone inheriting them are on a hiding to nothing. Liverpool's Number 7, Newcastle's Number 9, United's Number 7, Derby's Number 8.. It's the same with managers.

During the past year, I have compared teams across the Big 4 leagues (Bundesliga, EPL, La Liga, Serie A) with regard to various performance indicators. With the Bundesliga about to get underway tonight, I thought it'd be interesting to see where they all ended up by the end of the season, and to find out what we may expect for next year.

Chelsea confirmed yesterday the signing of Barcelona's 19 year old defensive midfielder Orio Romeu for a fee of around £4.5m on a four year contract and immediately AVB was quick to point out that he WILL feature in games this season.
AVB said:

"It is a part of the squad where we are struggling with numbers because of Michael's injury.

After his nine years with Robbie Jackson and subsequent five years with Sonia, Bianca, Mickey, Vinnie and Gus, I'm sure that many of you, like me, were wondering what became of Eastenders' most famous dog (other than Ethel's little Willie, obviously).
Rumours abound that Bianca killed Wellard by feeding him chocolate, before scattering his ashes on the allotment.

After his nine years with Robbie Jackson and subsequent five years with Sonia, Bianca, Mickey, Vinnie and Gus, I'm sure that many of you, like me, were wondering what became of Eastenders' most famous dog (other than Ethel's little Willie, obviously).
Rumours abound that Bianca killed Wellard by feeding him chocolate, before scattering his ashes on the allotment.

I'll start with the bad news: Wayne Routledge will not be wearing the newly-vacated number 8 shirt at Nottingham Forest, [...] Read the original post on eighteensixtyfive

Are you lot going to stop riding us about dumping Fernando from the F5 list soon? When he heard about his exclusion, he upped his game, and judging by the above photo of Frank Lampard in training with Chelsea during their Malaysian tour the other day, the idea has caught on. We're doing you a favour by making them work for it, people, help us to help you!

By Tom Flatt, writing from Chelmsford, England. (Follow Tom on twitter @ZolasBackHeeel)

Well, maybe a blessing in disguise is an exaggeration, but there is no doubt that the Chelsea ‘haters' in the football world have, and will continue to, boast the significance of this result.

Apparently the long-rumored signing of Norwegian international/prog-house DJ Jan Gunnar Solli has come to pass in Harrison. And since he's wearing the number 8 and Sinisa Ubiparipovic's name has been removed from the club's roster I'm guessing that Ubi is no longer a member of Team Taurine.