15 best-paying teams in the world

Barcelona and Real Madrid top an ESPN list of the world's highest-paying sporting teams, with three other football clubs featuring in the top ten.

A global salary survey published in ESPN The Magazine, which was conducted by Sporting Intelligence, revealed which clubs or franchises paid the most on a per-player basis in their most recently completed seasons, with the two Spanish giants coming in first and second ahead of last year's top payers, the New York Yankees.

Rank	Team	League	Average Annual Salary Per Player	Average Weekly Salary Per Player
1	Barcelona	La Liga	$7,910,737	$152,130
2	Real Madrid	La Liga	$7,356,632	$141,474
3	New York Yankees	MLB	$6,756,301	$129,929
4	Los Angeles Lakers	NBA	$6,540,690	$125,782
5	Orlando Magic	NBA	$6,367,114	$122,445
6	Chelsea	EPL	$6,020,741	$115,783
7	Inter Milan	Serie A	$5,999,643	$115,378
8	Boston Red Sox	MLB	$5,991,203	$115,215
9	Denver Nuggets	NBA	$5,990,174	$115,196
10	Manchester City	EPL	$5,863,585	$112,761
11	Utah Jazz	NBA	$5,829,643	$112,109
12	Bayern Munich	Bundesliga	$5,780,358	$111,161
13	Philadelphia Phillies	MLB	$5,765,879	$110,882
14	AC Milan	Serie A	$5,647,633	$108,608
15	Boston Celtics	NBA	$5,236,922	$100,710

The sports and leagues: Aussie rules football (AFL), baseball (MLB, NPB), basketball (NBA), cricket (IPL), football (CFL, NFL), soccer (Bundesliga, EPL, La Liga, MLS, Serie A, SPL).

The countries: Australia, Canada, England, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Scotland, Spain, USA.

source: ESPN, www.soccernet.com

Premier League's 6 best transfers of the 2010-11 season

Goal.com UK picks the top signings of the current campaign based on impact, adjustment, price and contribution to their new sides since their arrivals in the past year.

The transfer window produces its fair share of flop signings as clubs aim to boost their chances of a highest possible finish in the Premier League, but it cannot be denied that some real gems are also unearthed in the process too.

Goal.com judges the best transfers for 2010-11 based on:

• The player's overall contribution (this being the most important factor)
• How the player fitted into his new line-up
• How quickly the player adapted to his new surroundings, and vice-versa
• The transfer fee paid, if any, and any other financial details known. (Transfer fees unconfirmed by either club or otherwise unknown are given as approximations. 

 

1. Javier Hernandez: to Manchester United from Guadalajara - £8m (€9m) 

Potentially one of the best buys in Premier League history, Chicharito had been monitored by the club for a couple of years before they finally got their man in the summer of 2010.

Hernandez has scored some vital goals for United in his debut season at the club, few more important than his double in the Champions League last 16 second leg against Marseille at Old Trafford. 

2. Rafael VAN DER VAART : to Tottenham from Real Madrid - £8m (€9m)

His performances may have slightly tailed off towards the end of the season, but the Dutchman certainly played a crucial part in keeping Spurs in the race for fourth place, while scoring some crucial goals in the Champions League before Redknapp's side were beaten in the quarterfinals by his old club. 

3. William Gallas: to Tottenham from Unattached - Free 

Spurs fans had their reservations regarding the signing of the former Arsenal defender, but manager Harry Redknapp described the move as a no-brainer, and the Frenchman has repaid his boss's faith in him.

Two performances stick out as the ones that could yet endear Gallas to the Tottenham faithful; his stellar display against former club Arsenal in which Spurs won 3-2, and the Champions League home leg against AC Milan in which the centre-back cleared a certain goal off the line.

4. David Luiz: to Chelsea from Benfica - £21m (€24m)

David Luiz has wasted no time in establishing himself as a fan favorite at Stamford Bridge following two decisive goals against Manchester United and City.

At just 23, Luiz has demanded a relatively high transfer fee but has shown all the signs of justifying his £21m price tag with the Blues, while drastic changes could be happening around him.

5. Chris Smalling: to Manchester United from Fulham - £10m (€11.5m)

Smalling has excelled for United this season, largely in the absence of the vastly experienced Rio Ferdinand, and at 21 years of age the former Fulham man looks like he could be the figurehead of the United defense for many years to come.

6. Luis Suarez: to Liverpool from Ajax- £22.8m (€26m)  

A January signing during what Kenny Dalglish was probably hoping would be a relatively quiet winter transfer window, which ultimately saw him lose £50m striker Fernando Torres.

Suarez wasted no time in scoring, netting with a fine strike against Sunderland towards the end of March. The Uruguayan also endeared himself to Liverpool fans by turning in a performance of the highest calibre against bitter rivals Manchester United as the Reds ran out 3-1 winners. 

source: Goal.com 

It’s time for a change, Arsene

ARSENAL'S failure to defend a lead took on a new dimension at the Emirates yesterday.

Only the Gunners could go ahead in the 98th minute - and still not win. They got exactly what they deserved. A solitary point which is of no use to them at all.

Now Manchester United need only a dozen points from their last six games to be champions - even if Arsenal win all theirs. So there was a silver lining to a weekend in the capital for the watching Alex Ferguson - even if United's Treble dream was ended the day before by Manchester City. 

In the end, Arsene Wenger was told to "p*** off" by Kenny Dalglish after the Arsenal boss advanced on him, moaning about the injustice of it all.
Do us a favour, Arsene.

The 102nd-minute penalty conceded by Emmanuel Eboue for bundling over Lucas in the box was what you would expect from Arsenal's madcap full-back.  And another example of the errors that have littered Arsenal's season.

As it was, Wenger's team had to rely on a penalty to break the deadlock - their 16th of the season.  So the Frenchman can hardly moan about the breaks going against his boys.
The lack of character that has been the hallmark of this Arsenal side has been there for everyone to see over the last six weeks.

Just one win in five Premier League games.

And just two in nine overall - against Orient in the FA Cup and a Blackpool team in freefall.
It must be eight seasons since Thierry Henry spoke about the need for "a fox in the box".
And yet, along with his failure to sign adequate goalkeepers and centre-halves, Wenger has also done nothing to buy an orthodox, proven goalscorer. Since Henry netted 27 goals in the 2005-06 season, only one Arsenal player has scored over 20 in the league - Emmanuel Adebayor in 2007-08.

If you can't put the ball in the net when it matters most you won't win a thing. As ever, when the season comes to the boil, Arsenal go off it.

They cannot even beat strugglers like Sunderland, Blackburn and West Brom. Or a Liverpool team, already without Steven Gerrard, that then lost Fabio Aurelio, Jamie Carragher and Andy Carroll.

How much longer will Arsenal fans put up with all this?

How much longer before Fabregas and Van Persie realise they are wasting the best years of their careers chasing their manager's dream?

How much longer before Wenger's vanity and stubbornness starts to cause damage to a club he has served so brilliantly?

Arsenal's majority shareholder, American Stan Kroenke, was there yesterday. He may not be a football expert but even he can see this team is heading nowhere.

If Wenger doesn't want to make the marquee signings that can turn things round then, perhaps, someone else should be given the opportunity.

source: Steven Howard, Thesun.co.uk

United risk Roo three-game ban

ALEX FERGUSON is risking losing Wayne Rooney for THREE games to make sure he can face Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final. 

Rooney, 25, accepted a charge of using offensive, insulting and/or abusive language for his foul-mouthed rant at a TV camera at West Ham. But Roo and Manchester United are arguing that the striker's two-match suspension is too severe.

That ban rules him out of this weekend's Premier League clash with Fulham PLUS the FA Cup semi against their Manchester rivals at Wembley on Saturday week.

An FA hearing will consider the appeal - and could increase it by an extra game if they consider it frivolous.

That would also rule him out of the leaders' league trip to Newcastle on April 19.
Rooney is likely to hear the verdict just two hours before taking on Chelsea in the Champions League tonight.

An FA statement said: "Manchester United player Wayne Rooney has admitted a charge for the use of offensive, insulting and/or abusive language.

"However, Rooney has submitted a claim that the automatic penalty of two games is clearly excessive.

United boss Ferguson yesterday refused to talk about the Rooney incident, saying: "I am not going to discuss it at all. We have submitted our case."

But Fergie is happy the striker's hat-trick at West Ham shows he is coming to the boil at the right time of the season in terms of his scoring.

source: Thesun.co.uk

 

Rafael Benitez: It Would Be A 'Dream' To Return To Liverpool

Rafael Benitez has admitted that he harbours a "dream" of returning to manage Liverpool.

The Spaniard parted ways with the club last summer, after an underwhelming campaign that saw the Reds miss out on a Champions League place.

The Merseyside outfit brought in Roy Hodgson from Fulham, but have since replaced him with club legend Kenny Dalglish - who was the last manager to guide the club to the league title.

Meanwhile, the ex-Valencia boss succeeded Jose Mourinho at Inter, but has since left the Italian club after a poor start to the season.

Now he admits that a return to the Reds would be a dream come true, but admits that current boss Dalglish is doing a good job.

"I am really proud of being the manager of Liverpool Football Club and I would like to come back in the future," Benitez told Sky Sports News.


Benitez also conceded that he is ready to manage another club in England, but hinted that he would not entertain offers from either Everton or Manchester United.

He said: "Fans in Liverpool know the teams I would not go [to] but I think these clubs wouldn't offer me a job.

"I'm a professional but obviously some clubs I would not go to, especially the big rivals of Liverpool. I won't say the names, but it's not difficult!"

(But it'll be a very nightmare for Liverpool fans, if you, Benitez , comes back here!!!)

source: Goal.com

What Matches Do You Want To See In The Champions League Quarter-Finals?

8 Teams in the Champions League Quarter-Finals
Barcelona (Spain)
Real Madrid (Spain)
Manchester United (England)
Tottenham Hotspurs (England)
Chelsea (England)
Schalke 04 (Germany)
Inter Milan (Italy)
Shakhtar (Ukraine)


Our LIVE! coverage of the draw will begin at 11:30 CET, and we will have all the news, views and reactions you need. Our experts will breakdown each of the four quarter-final ties.

England fearing Barcelona but confident of dominating final four

Amar Singh, UK deputy editor, says: "This could be a vintage year for England, with three teams vying for Wembley. As long as the dreaded Barcelona or all-English tie are avoided, all three could make the semis.

"Manchester United are really starting to click up front with Rooney and Hernandez, Chelsea march onwards despite failing to dazzle but have the Carlo Ancelotti factor, and Tottenham's fearlessness and record in the previous rounds means they can't be underestimated."

pain wishing for Clasico final: 'We have the two best teams'

"A Clasico in the Champions League final - that's the dream of everyone in Spain, from fans to media, from players to managers," says Spanish chief editor Sergio Aguilera.

"Real Madrid overcame their Round of 16 curse in style by thrashing Lyon, and Barcelona's victory over Arsenal was nothing short of sensational. Clearly, both teams are real candidates to reach the final. I'd say that both squads must be treated as serious rivals, and between them they are the teams everyone will want to avoid when the big draw comes this Friday."

Italy surprised to remain, but maintaining champion spirit

Sergio Chesi, Italian editor at Goal.com, says: "It's a bit of a surprise for we Italians that we're even in the draw. After the first leg we were certain that all of our teams would go out, but Inter went on to show all of Europe exactly why they are reigning champions.

Germany desperate for easy Schalke draw after Bayern failure
"Of course, they want to avoid Barcelona. Despite having goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, otherwise Schalke are too weak defensively to deal with the favourites. Chelsea and United are also a danger, so fans generally want to see Shakhtar, the other 'underdog' remaining. Real Madrid and Inter would be difficult but special: Mesut Ozil would face the club that chased him away, while fans haven't forgotten the UEFA Cup showdown with the Nerazzurri in 1997... although a repeat of that would be too much to ask."



Ukraine warn big guns to watch out for rampant Shakhtar

"Shakhtar are on a mission: they look to be en route to beat hated rivals Dynamo Kiev domestically but they are yet to match their Champions League feats," notes Michael Yokhin, Goal.com's Eastern Europe expert.


source: Goal.com 

If Real Madrid Don't Win All Their Games, Will Jose Mourinho stay or go???

Even the great one Jose Mourinho isn't immune from the ruthless daggers that are constantly hovering around the Santiago Bernabeu dugout.

There's much uncertainty about Mourinho's future at Real Madrid. Is he really happy in the Spanish capital under the watchful eyes of Florentino Perez and Jorge Valdano? Will he be given the sack if he doesn't deliver trophies this season? Will he see out his four-year contract?

The 'Special One' has made it clear that he will stay on and respect his agreement with the club, provided his bosses do not give him the sack. But there are other factors to consider, such as his on-going relationship with the hierarchy.

The internal spat between Mourinho and club director-general Jorge Valdano has died down in recent months, but the volatile Portuguese tactician is someone who lives and die by the motto "my way or the highway".

If all goes swimmingly in the boardroom, Mourinho is likely to stay until he guides the club to success, or until he dethrones Barcelona... whichever comes first. Therein, however, lies the problem.

Things rarely go swimmingly at the 'Casa Blanca' when they are not winning. The smallest fall-outs after a catastrophic result tends to turn into full blown crises for months on end. And the next seven days could go a long way to determine Jose's fate at the club.

source: KS Leong, Goal.com