Back in 1703 some Portuguese chaps and some English chaps signed a Treaty, the Methuen Treaty it was called, to allow the import of Portugal’s finest Port to England at a low duty, all because the French were at war with the English and consequently wouldn’t let them have any wine.
Since then the English have remained partial to a drink and Portugal has continued to have its finest treasures poached by the blighters, but apparently not this month.
The stereotype of footballers is that they are thick as sh*t, an image not helped by the seemingly continuous stream of verbal cack that they spew forth. Here is a small collection of some of the more infamous football clangers. I'm sure there are a veritable glut of ridiculous remarks missing from the list, so if there are any glaring omissions, please feel free to add them in at the bottom of the article.
"My parents have always been there for me, ever since I was about 7" David Beckham
The recent phenomenon of the mid-season January transfer window has just finished its second week for 2009 and as of yet there have been few major signings to occur. Clearly the transfers most worth speaking of so far have been Wayne Bridge leaving Chelsea to join Manchester City, and last week's return ticket of Jermaine Defoe to Tottenham from Portsmouth.
Weekend Premiership review - Church mice & chewing gum
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Written by The Rome
In the build up to the weekend's fixtures, the major talking point was the astonishing Rafa rant against Alex Ferguson and all things Manchester. Let’s cut through the (venom) bulls**t of it all. Sir’s much vaunted mind games are somewhat of a myth seeing as the only person that has ever been affected by them is Mr ‘Loov It’ Kevin Keegan, and I would suggest that he is hardly the most difficult of men to outsmart.
Yet, despite this, a throw away Ferguson remark about Liverpool being under pressure, which should have been easily rebuffed, instead sparks a remarkable four minute tirade. Benitez, whose attire at the press conference did nothing to dispel his fat Spanish waiter image, went on the verbal rampage and berated the Man Utd boss over several issues.
Spanish La Liga review - Snowball attacks and fight-backs as Barca go 12 points clear
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Written by Benjamin Cullen
Some unbelievable weather and even less believable comebacks were to set the tone for this week's round of La Primera division. With some great examples of the latter setting up the start of the weekend's fixtures.
Sevilla, first off this week, were away at in-form Deportivo and, after an opening half-hour of relatively few chances, they suddenly found themselves both a goal and a man down. Rodolfo Bodipo's goal on 34 minutes - struck firmly past Palop at near post- was followed by the dismissal of Maresca for flattening Bodipo with his forearm in an attempt to disrupt a Deportivo counter-attack.