infernal debate about what the best league in

As Manchester United, like Arsenal and Manchester City before them were humbled on the European stage in midweek, the infernal debate about what the best league in Europe rages on. Even Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger felt the urge to discuss the matter during his pre-match press conference ahead of tomorrows visit to Stoke. Anointing the BPL the best, Wenger trotted out the top to bottom competiveness theory. What cant be denied though is that English football is never too far away from grabbing the football headlines. This weeks offering began with a slip of the Mourinho lips. Then we had the national manager waxing lyrical about the possibility of adding a Penalty Psychologist to his Brazil bound backroom staff and how about this mornings revelation Sir Alex Ferguson attributes six of the best as a school boy influenced his managerial ways. Mourinho was clearly agitated and embarrassed when he faced the media Tuesday following the publication less than 24 hours earlier of disparaging remarks he made about Torres, Etoo and Demba Ba to a senior executive of a club partner. Unbeknown to Mourinho, what he thought was a private conversation ahead of a scheduled interview, was in fact been taped by a French TV channel. Who in turn published it for the world to see on their website. Using the old adage the best form of defense is attack, The Happy One launched into the media labeling them a disgrace for publishing extracts of that conversation - which included mocking Etoo and wondering out loud if he was actually older than his stated age. Torres had the last laugh though by responding to his managers harsh words in the most effective way possible by putting Chelsea up early in Wednesdays first leg against Galatasaray. It was no laughing matter not long after the final whistle in Istanbul when Chelsea revealed the club would be immortalized on the small screen in an upcoming edition of the Simpsons. In which a number of players, including Torres will feature in an episode where Bart Simpson plays referee. The week for Torres though didnt end on a happy note. We learnt earlier today and long with Manchester Uniteds Juan Mata both players had been omitted from Spains squad for next weeks prestigious friendly match against the 2006 World Cup winners, Italy. Roy Hodgson who named Toronto FCs Jermaine Defoe in his squad for the March 5 friendly at Wembley versus Denmark yesterday, made news earlier in the week when addressing England penalty woes at tournaments. The England manager, along with all other managers of the 32 nations going to this summers World Cup Finals, has just returned from visiting Brazil let it be known earlier in the week he is giving serious thought to having a psychologist at his disposal as ways to improve on Englands inability to win penalty shootouts. Hodgson experienced penalty misery first hand at Euro 2012 when Italy eliminated England in the quarter finals but certainly does not want to suffer that same fate for a team that has bowed out on penalties in six of the last 10 major tournaments they have qualified for. One of world footballs most dubious of records only once over this period have England progressed from the Achilles Heel of a penalty shootout. This occurring when they edged out Spain at EURO 96 - only then to fail at the next hurdle, Germany beating England on penalties in the semifinal. Hodgson isnt the first England World Cup manager to make the headlines for matters of the mind. As part of final preparations for the 1998 Finals the-then England manager Glen Hoddle arranged for a faith healer to visit the England camp before their departure to France. Such were part of Hoddles unorthodox methods, the ex-Manchester United captain Gary Neville revealed in his 2011 autobiography Hoddle had requested his staff walk around the pitch anti-clockwise as ways to create positive energy before their round of 16 match against Argentina. A match won, by you guessed it, Argentina on penalties. Paired in a group this summer with Uruguay and Italy my how the legions of England fans who will journey to Brazil would dearly love to face the possibility of a penalty shootout. At least this would signify England had successfully made it out of a difficult group. Sir Alex Ferguson who tasted penalty glory himself in the 2008 Champions League Final made it on to the back pages today when it was revealed in the London Times that as a school boy he often found himself in trouble. Not only that, but Ferguson disclosed he felt the corporal punishment he received because of his bad boy ways went a long way to helping shape his hair dryer ways. He also revealed the belt which was used now hangs proudly on the wall of his study at home. With Manchester United not in action this weekend as their scheduled opponent, Manchester City play Sunderland in Sundays League Cup Final, perhaps it might be an idea if Ferguson invites David Moyes over for a cup of tea. In a BPL season which continues to shock, and will do so until mid May, tomorrows action throws up potential banana skins for each of the clubs who currently sit in the Champions League slots. The West London derby sees the current leaders Chelsea, paying a visit to the worst club, Fulham who are desperate for a win. Especially so after coughing up an 86th minute equalizer away to West Brom last Saturday, welcome to the BPL Felix Magath. Arsenal, with a well-rested Mezut Ozil expected to return following his own penalty demons, are sure to be weary of Stokes direct approach. While Liverpool wont need reminding of their early season 0-1 reversal at home to Southampton - result which knocked them off the top spot. Even though his club arent playing, whats the odds occasional Manchester United bad boy Wayne Rooney does not feature prominently come Sundays tabloid headlines? You can reach and follow Noel Butler at:Noel.Butler@BellMedia.ca@TheSoccerNoel TSN & TEAM Radio is your exclusive BPL radio home this season. Saturdays double header action features, Fulham v Chelsea with kickoff at 10am et/7am pt and Southampton v Liverpool with kickoff 12:30pm et/9:30am pt Issuf Sanon Jersey . -- Zach Johnson asked his short-iron approach on the par-4 18th to "Do something right, baby. Ian Mahinmi Jersey . Fans can also watch the game on the newly launched TSN GO (currently available to Bell TV and Rogers customers), which gives TSN subscribers the freedom to live stream the networks programming from their smartphones, tablets, and computers at no additional charge – just as they would watch Canadas Sports Leader on TV at home. The following week, MLS ON TSN is at BMO Field in Toronto to deliver live coverage of TFCs home opener vs. D.C. United on Saturday, March 22 at 4:30 p. http://www.cheapwizardsjerseys.com/?tag=cheap-dwight-howard-jersey . Just as the meeting was beginning, Major League Baseball unveiled Rule 7.13, an experimental rule for the 2014 season aimed at eliminating what the league calls “egregious” runner/catcher collisions at home plate. Womens Wizards Jerseys . Still, its a start. Josh Baileys goal with 1:40 left capped a furious third-period rally, and the Islanders edged the Penguins 4-3 on Friday night. Wes Unseld Jersey . According to TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger, the Maple Leafs have trade offers on the table for the 26-year-old, but none have been deemed acceptable by the team.PINEHURST, N.C. -- Masters champion Bubba Watson avoided major mistakes, putted well and seemed more comfortable in his second run through Pinehurst No. 2 at the U.S. Open. Too bad it came a day late. Watson shot an even-par 70 on Friday, not enough following an opening 76 that ultimately cost him a shot of playing on the weekend. "Its easy today," Watson joked. "After youre out of it, its kind of easy just to go around and play golf." Watson finished at 6-over 146 to miss the cut by a stroke. Jason Dufner, Luke Donald, Charl Schwartzel and Hunter Mahan -- -- done in by a two-shot penalty for playing the wrong ball on his ninth hole -- also dropped out after finishing at 6 over. Dufner has missed the cut in two straight majors after winning the PGA Championship. Watson won his second green jacket in three years in April -- his second PGA Tour victory this year -- then led late at the Memorial before faltering and finishing third. He arrived at Pinehurst hoping to become the first player since Tiger Woods in 2002 to win the years first two majors. But he never gave himself a chance, his stay cut short by Thursdays miserable round of five bogeys and one double-bogey -- a performance that had Watson lamenting that the course "is better than me right now." He got off to a better start Friday on a layout softened by overnight rain with birdies on two of his first three holes. He was more accurate hitting fairways and greens while also making more putts than a day earlier, but three bogeys in four holes just before the turn did him in. Watson tied ffor fifth at the U.dddddddddddd. Open in 2007 at Oakmont, but has missed the cut three times since. "The greens are very difficult," Watson said about Pinehurst. "For me personally, I dont like the look of it. The targets are really small to try to hit the greens. Youve got to hit the ball really straight I believe to hit it in the 10-foot circles on each green. So for me, its just a very difficult course." Donald was worse off than Watson after a 7-over 77 in his first round. He was much better Friday with only one bogey and a 69, but missed the U.S. Open cut for the second time in three years. Meanwhile, Schwartzel -- paired with Watson and top-ranked Adam Scott -- went the opposite direction. After an even-par 70 on Thursday, he had five bogeys and two double-bogeys en route to a 76 on Friday. Dufner, who missed the cut by six shots at the Masters, had 11 bogeys over two rounds and shot 74 on Friday. He had tied for fourth in the past two U.S. Opens. Then there was Mahan. A year after playing in Sundays final group, Mahan was penalized when he and Jamie Donaldson each mistakenly played the others ball in the 18th fairway following their tee shots. That two-shot penalty dropped Mahan below the cut line. John Wood, Mahans caddie, took the blame because he was the first one to reach the ball. "You cant imagine yourself doing something colossally as stupid as that, but I did it," Wood said. "I wont forgive myself very soon after this." Donaldson also missed the cut, shooting 81 on Friday after an even-par first round to finish at 11-over 151. 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