If we've learned anything since Russia invaded Ukraine three weeks ago it is that in the world of football the English FA have no spine. Here is an organisation that continued to open the gate to foreign investors to buy historic clubs as their play things and it was all done with dirty money. It was an open secret at Chelsea with Roman Abramovich, now after 19 years it has been confirmed. Has any owner in the history of the game with one of the most powerful clubs in the world and current World Club Cup champions put his club up for sale so quickly?
Notice how the FA did nothing until the British government started issuing sanctions against Russian oligarchs. Notice how some Chelsea fans support Abramovich although this is probably only a mourning phase. It's natural perhaps for some fans to only see the football side and Abramovich completely changed Chelsea's history, but if he does have allegiances to Vladimir Putin the burning flame which Chelsea hold Abramovich in needs to be blown out.
So there are plenty of restrictions now on Chelsea, rightly so. But at the same time the FA have to look at themselves, why did it take thousands of innocent people to die and for Russia to invade another country before the FA woke up to the dirty money in the Premier League? Of course there is dirty money everywhere but the Premier League is now seen as the best and most commercial in the world and for that it needs to set standards. And yet the current champions, Manchester City are owned by a state that continue to execute people, many for petty crimes. Eddie Howe at Newcastle is under pressure to answer why the clubs owners are from a state that executed 81 people at the weekend. If Howe is honest he loses his job, so he instead only wants to talk about football….
Perhaps an independent team will be formed in the wake of everything that has developed to avoid such owners taking over clubs in the future. But it looks doubtful. There are already suggestions that Chelsea's era is over, but how so? Here we have a British government that laid out sanctions to the club but when Chelsea bit back, those sanctions swiftly became 'amended sanctions'. In truth Chelsea will be sold to billionaires and the club will soon be back at the top of the tree one suspects. But will anyone be wondering where the next owners wealth comes from?
The Premier League title is pointing towards Liverpool now after Manchester City drew away to Crystal Palace with that game finishing 0-0. City have failed to score against Palace this season and the gap is just four points but the Reds have a game in hand. Liverpool look on course to win the league because unlike City they have not one but a few strikers. One has to wonder if not being able to buy Harry Kane last summer is finally going to pinch Pep on the bum?
To win the Premier League: Manchester City 1.33, Liverpool 3.00, Chelsea 151.00
Cristiano Ronaldo just keeps surprising us and he scored a terrific hat trick at the weekend as Manchester United beat Tottenham 3-2. Here is a 37 year old playing, at times, like he is 10 years younger. Ronaldo with 12 goals is in 2nd place in the goalscorers chart. Mohamed Salah is in first place with 20 goals and is unlikely to be caught, but if Ronaldo can keep up this form as United chase 4th place he will be top of the fairytale stories that proud parents tell their kids. Ronaldo is so loved that he transcends football clubs, and it would also be quite a story if the Portuguese legend's goals were the difference between United playing Champion League football next season.
To score the most goals in the Premier League: Mohamed Salah 1.05, Cristiano Ronaldo 21.00, Harry Kane 21.00, Diogo Jota 34.00, Sadio Mane 41.00
It is fair to say that the relegation battle this season looks like going down to the wire. Brentford have taken giant steps to survival and Leeds' win at the weekend has given them some breathing space. How Everton are not in the bottom three currently is a near miracle and if Frank Lampard's team were a movie prop they would be the coach dangling over a cliff from The Italian Job. Other clubs below them keep losing games which in turn is helping out Everton, but it feels like a stay of execution- at one point Everton need to remember how to start winning games again. Watford beat Southampton at the weekend and that has to be another timely reminder that Everton are in deep crisis. The Toffees play Newcastle on Thursday in a busy week for football that will also see Liverpool take on Arsenal at the Emirates.
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