1. Back to back defeats for Manchester United now against teams we should not be losing to. Blackburn have been woeful this season and Newcastle have had a pretty poor record at home. We are of course missing important players like Nemanja Vidic and Tom Cleverley but that isn't a good enough excuse for not getting the wake up call we should have had after the Blackburn result.

Houston Dynamo striker Brian Ching has had a storied MLS career and is one of the more intriguing names available in this afternoon's MLS Expansion Draft. If the Montreal Impact select him, though, it could create quite the situation.

The 33-year-old Ching told the Houston Chronicle that he'd retire if picked by Montreal, stating his wish to remain in Houston with the franchise he's played for since 2003 and play in the new stadium that is set to open next season.

I'm late on this, but it's worth following up on how Paul Kemsley is out at the Fake Cosmos and that the organization is facing a lawsuit for payment of money to the youth sides it cravenly rebranded. David Kilpatrick at The Viper's Nest gloats accordingly:

Speaking of goodbyes, none more welcome than shyster wideboy Paul Kemsley.

So this is what it means to get relegated from a soccer channel to a nationally televised channel along with their soon to be re-named sports network? So this is how it feels when one of the three national broadcasters in the United States decides to promote our country's first division league during an NFL pre-season game?

Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel's Father has been found alive after a 10 day kidnap ordeal in Nigeria.

Michael who was last seen in the town of Jos on August 12 was found by Police alive and well after his nightmare ordeal, his kidnappers are believed to be in Police custody having demanded a £78,000 ransom three days after Michael was last seen.

De Tekegraaf in the Netherlands have reported that Newcastle United will only pay a maximum "ransom" of €5 million (around £4.3 million) for PSV Eindhoven and Netherlands left back, Erik Pieters, which falls far short of the £6-7 million PSV are looking for. However they also state that the reason is that moneybags Manchester City [.

The marvelous news is that John Obi Mikel's father, Michael, is indeed alive after several days missing in his native Nigeria. The bad news: He has in fact been abducted, with a ransom set by kidnappers on Wednesday.

Michael's abduction was confirmed Tuesday when a pair of calls were made from the kidnappers to the Mikel family.

Kidnappers in Nigeria have demanded a ransom of £78,000 for the safe return of Chelsea midfielders John Obi Mikel's Father who has been missing since Friday.

Police became suspicious after Michael's car was found abandoned in an un-disclosed location in Nigeria on Friday and despite his Dad's disappearance Obi Mikel kept strong and togged out for Chelsea against Stoke on Sunday with only manager Andre Villas Boas knowing of his family grievances.

No ransom yet Chelsea star John Obi Mikel took to the field for his side's season opener against Stoke City before being told before kick-off that his father had been kidnapped in Nigeria. Transport firm owner Michael Obi disappeared in the city of Jos last Friday. His son played 90 minutes at the Britannia Stadium [.

Who wants to live forever, the questioned once proffered by moustachioed, hip-thruster, Frederick Mercury. That's a good one, Fred, but the way this summer's panned out, I rather think I know what that might feel like. So it's a no thank you from me.

Now here's one for you folks. Perhaps not as existentially challenging, but important nonetheless.

Blackball the KemsmosIn what must be the most shameless piece of sport-fashion marketing, the Kemsley-Anomaly-Umbro partnership brings us their latest in the Cosmos collection, a celebration of the ... of the ... yes, it's true, of the '77 blackout. The Son of Sam sweatshirt will surely soon be available at your local soccer ship.

I've been getting frustrated with the coverage of the Samir Nasri contract situation over the last week or so, particularly around the vitriol directed at him for his stance in negotiating his new contract and/or move to another club. I don't doubt for a second that he has been somewhat ruthless in his approach, but I've not seen anything that he's said or done that has left me thinking 'ooo, that's a bit off'.

• Liverpool insist they won't be held to ransom over Stewart Downing and Charlie Adam http://bit.ly/lbFfom #LFC #FB 23:58:10, 2011-06-30
• Liverpool now offer Wilson in part-ex for Adam http://bit.ly/mw0gi7 #LFC #FB 23:56:00, 2011-06-30
• The Kop That Daily is out! http://bit.

English Premier League could be welcoming another Brazilian talent as the latest reports suggested, Wolfsburg's Diego Ribas, who is set to leave his current club after falling out with the team's coach, is keen on playing in the premiership.

Moreover, the player himself has also confirmed that he already received several interesting offers from EPL teams, which unfortunately he refuse to name because negotiation is still at an early stage.

There was a time when I spent a few hours every day browsing the Arsenalsphere. In the last 10 days or so I don't think I have totaled an hour of surfing. There is so little going on.

First a random player is linked. Then the supposed transfer moves forward. One day, according to unsubstantiated reports, a player is close to signing as terms are settled.

55 right-footed (71.4%)
12 headers (15.6%)
8 left-footed (10.4%)
2 own goals (2.6%)
Two thoughts.
First, it helps explain why so many of Liverpool's supposed transfer targets are left-footed. At least two attacking midfielders/forwards/wingers and a starting left-back (along with perennial favorite Charlie Adam) seem to top Comolli's summer shopping list.

After a final day draw against West Bromwich Albion clinched Newcastle a 12th place Premier League finish, manager Alan Pardew has wasted no time in putting his summer plans into action.

In what could be an interesting end of season on Tyneside, Pardew has already begun to attempt to mould his squad to his liking, after having little chance to do so in the January window following his arrival in December.

There is loads of speculation surrounding Samir Nasri at the moment.
Will he, or won't he, sign a new contract at Arsenal? I don't know to be honest because I'm not a psychic, his mind, or his agent.
What I do know is Nasri needs to be careful. He needs to be careful because things can change rather quickly.

So this pro reform group in the PSSI, you know, them what supported Nurdin until he quit and have now decided football needs reform? Well, they have decided to keep supporting George Toisutta in his bid to lead the PSSI claiming he is the only person to take football into an era without government subsidy.

Kenny Dalglish has been told he can splash the cash by Liverpool's owners – but he has warned he will not be held to ransom by greedy players.
Sunday Mirror Sport understands that Fenway Sport Group are ready to invest more than £50million in strengthening a Liverpool squad that has been resurgent since Dalglish replaced Roy Hodgson as manager in January.

Eric Cantona was asked about Wayne Rooney's decision to hold Manchester United to ransom over a massive pay rise. Cantona has claimed he has no problem with players taking their share but can't abide by players whose motivation is money rather scoring a last minute winner.

"I have no problem with players taking their share, because without players you have no game," Cantona told ESPN.

Newcastle United manager, Alan Pardew, has revealed in an interview that the club have put in offers for two players, but has warned that he will not be held to ransom over any potential new signings at the club. He also said that he is searching for a replacement for recently departed winger, Wayne Routledge, [.

Photo by comcinco

It's no secret that Chelsea has a love affair with Liverpool's Fernando Torres. Chelsea has on repeated occasions attempted to pluck the World Cup winner from Anfield, to take him to the posher confinements of Stamford Bridge in swanky west London. So the news tonight that Liverpool has rejected a £40 million bid from Chelsea hardly comes as a surprise.

A work permit has been secured and Benfica have publicly admitted that negotiations are taking place. A deal for the defender David Luiz appears imminent.

Should we be pleased? I'm learning toward no.

I'll pass.

Sigh. The latest in a series of transfer sagas involving Chelsea Football Club.