Real Madrid President, Florentino Perez, is at it again after he has called Europe’s biggest clubs to come together and start a Super League. Perez’s comments have caused outrage within football communities because if his calls are acted upon it will mean the destruction of established leagues across Europe.

Perez has been in the headlines all summer long because of his outrageous spending of money on a small group of players that have recently arrived in the Spanish capital. Just as English fans may have been thinking that they weren’t going to read about this man again for the next few days, he rears his ugly head.

His idea is quite simple but it would destroy more than one league. Perez wants to hold effectively a permanent Champions League, meaning that the top two or three sides from England, France, Germany, Italy and Spain would all go off and play each other every single week in order for an over all prize. The problem means that these teams would have to leave the league of the country they play in and this would not be well accepted.

Really prestigious leagues such as the Premier League and La Liga would be forced to restructure and although the idea of a European Super League may be tempting and quite lucrative, it is this, which may be holding any thing from ever happening back.

Perez said: “We have to agree a new European Super League which guarantees that the best always play the best – something that does not happen in the Champions League.”

For the fortunate few that would be involved in a new league, they would be silly not to support it. The advantages of such a league are huge. Firstly there is the fact that the fans of each club would be able to travel around Europe on a constant basis, meeting new opposition fans and being able to experience beautiful cities that they would not have had access to before.

There is also the added factor of money that is always important in modern football. Television and media rights packages to show this new league would produce figures that have never been seen before, which in turn would put a larger amount back into the pocket of the clubs involved.

Thirdly, there is the respect that the players at these top clubs would be playing against a better class of opposition all of the time. This would mean that there personal levels of performance would increase and this can only be beneficial for the national teams, which will draw even closer as a result.

So the argument is there and it is a good one but when you weigh in the disadvantages you start to see the cracks that would be very difficult to replace. Firslty there would be the distruction of top flight leagues upon which a lot does depend. For example, restructuring the Premier League could mean that the Football League in England is completely changed to cope.

This would have to be done because if it isn’t it would only mean that the gap between the very top clubs and those trying to make a name for themselves would only increase even further, meaning that it would become virtually impossible for some sides to ever have a chance of getting Premier League or Super League football.

You also need to consider the viability of fans travelling large distances each week and the strain this would place upon the authorities of various countries. If this was not properly considered then it could result in a lot of violence from a small bunch of hooligans that are taking advantage of an inefficient new league to go around Europe expressing their dominance through violence and territory. Barcelona v Liverpool could become the new West Ham v Millwall.

Perez did promise big changes when he was up for election for the Madrid presidency but the billionaire clearly needs to have a sit down and rest his head for a little bit. He may well be getting carried away with the fact that he is physically having an impact on the power shift in Europe. When you sign the best players in the world and money is no object it would take a special person not to be buoyed by this and try to develop an idea in another area.

However, just because Real Madrid can spend hundreds of millions of Euros on one or two players does not mean that Perez can go about trying to change football completely. Someone at FIFA should maybe get on the phone and have a chat with him for a little bit before he gets too carried away and thinks up ideas such as using two footballs in a match or something similarly mad.

In essence, it is a very good idea that could develop at some point in the future, but this point will not come for a long time. The leagues of each country would not allow it to happen and it would take something special for a Super League to be up and running within the next decade. The beauty of football is that you slug it out in the domestic leagues each week before having a special European night against another team that you would otherwise not play. It is these type of strange beauties that people in football value so much more and is just another reason why a Super League may not happen.

When you are at the very top of the game it is easy to try and make predictions and come out with statements that you believe will help to take the game forward but what Perez is not thinking about is how League One or League Two teams in England would cope when the Premier League is changed because there will obviously be a knock on effect. If someone somewhere can come up with a package that suits and helps all involved then there is no reason why a Super League cannot happen soon.

West Ham United manager, Gianfranco Zola, and assistant manager, Steve Clarke, have both signed contract extensions to stay at Upton Park, which could result in a number of benefits for the club.

The pair have quietly helped West Ham reach 8th place in the Premier League table and the guarantee that they will both be in place at the start of next season is massive news for Hammers fans all over the country.

Both have signed four-year contracts and will be looking to develop the grains of success that they have sewn this season. Zola has shown all of the passion and energy that we loved him for in his time at Chelsea and Clarke arrived in East London hot off the Chelsea press and rated as one of the best coaches in the country.

Their new contracts are the clearest sign yet that the new men in charge are looking to propel West Ham to silverware next season and their innovative ideas and coaching could be just the methods needed to achieve this.

The pair have blooded some of the most talented youth players this season that the league has seen in recent times. James Tomkins and Freddy Sears are just two of the names on everyone’s lips but it proves that the management at West Ham must be doing something right to produce such gifted players.

Clarke spoke openly in the media after signing his contract saying: “I have had a great time since I came here. We have done OK. There is a lot more still to be done and the contract reflects that. It is a long-term contract and what Gianfranco and myself and the rest of the coaching staff look forward to is improving things and working hard every year to make things better and better at this football club.”

“The manager and his staff have to be close and they have to believe in the same things. That is what we do and we try and give that message to the players and so far it has been OK.”

The reason this is such significant news for West Ham is quite simple. It virtually eradicates the days of a power struggle between the club’s owner and then manager, Alan Curbishley that saw the latter leave of an argument about transfers.

When that squabble was going on the team were not performing because the focus of the management and staff was elsewhere. This will not breed success and Zola and Clarke can now funnel every single bit of enthusiasm they both have into making their side better than they currently are.

Centralisation is everything in a football club and it allows success to grow. If each member of the management knows their individual roles then there are no undisputed areas and the team can focus on performing to the best of their capabilities.

Keep an eye on West Ham, they could well break into the top 6 next season and I don’t think many open-minded football fans will be too surprised.

After the weekend’s games in the English Premier League, Manchester has regained first spot with a 1-0 win at Upton Park in London over West Ham. Veteran Ryan Giggs supplied the winner with a marvelous goal in the 62nd minute.

At the other end of the pitch, goalie Edwin van der Sar extended his British shutout streak to 1, 212 minutes. United hasn’t conceded a goal in over 13 league games now and lead second place Liverpool by two points and also have a game in hand over their rivals.

Down south, Portsmouth blew a 2-1 lead over Liverpool with 12 minutes remaining in the game as Dirk Kuyt tied the contest in the 85th minute and Fernando Torres, who came on as a substitute in the 76th minute headed home the winner in injury time to save manger Rafael Benitez from being embarrassed for leaving his top striker on the bench for so long.

Things didn’t work out so well for Portsmouth manager Tony Adams after the game though as he was sacked for failing to win a game during his nine games in charge. I wouldn’t feel too bad for him though as he brought it upon himself by employing negative tactics in most of those games by employing one striker up front on his own. Adams leaves Pompey with 24 points, just one point out of the relegation zone.

Aston Villa jumped over Chelsea by two points in the standings and into third place with a 2-0 road win in Blackburn, who are still in the relegation zone with 23 points.

Chelsea could only manage a scoreless draw at home against hull and were roundly booed off the pitch at Stamford Park for their efforts.

Arsenal continued their mediocre season with a 0-0 draw with Tottenham in the north London derby and sit in fifth place with 44 points, 12 behind Man United.

The other two cellar dwellers, Middlesbrough and West Brom, both with 22 points, also lost. Manchester City squeaked by Middlesbrough 1-0, while west Brom were edged 3-2 at home by Newcastle.

The best individual performance belonged to Everton’s new on-loan signing of Brazilian star Jo, who scored twice in a 3-0 thumping of Bolton at Goodison Park. It was Jo’s first game with the Merseysiders after moving over from Manchester City, who bought him for 19 million pounds last year.

This shows me somebody isn’t doing a good job. You don’t pay 19 million quid for a player and then discard him halfway through the season. Either the scouts overrated him and the club paid way too much for him, or City never gave him a chance by sitting him on the bench. Either way, he’s already made them look foolish after just one game.

The David Beckham soap opera continues over in Italy as the Los Angeles Galaxy has turned down AC Milan’s offer for their star player. The two clubs are now haggling over the price for the talented midfielder.
Beckham could also be a big story this coming Wednesday as well when England travel to Spain for a midweek friendly against the Euro 2008 Champions. The 33 year old will get the chance at his 108th cap for England, which will equal the record set by Bobby Moore for an English outfield player. Goalkeeper Peter Shilton holds the all time England record with 125 caps.

Meanwhile, Carlton Cole of West Ham and Everton’s Phil Jagielka could get their first caps after being named in the squad.

I think it’s about time Robbie Keane told Liverpool Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez to get stuffed. Keane was again left out of the Liverpool squad for their showdown with Chelsea on Sunday. I can’t believe Benitez still has a job. It’s about time the owners got rid of him before this season ends up being a total write off for the Merseyside club. Benitez is behaving like a spoiled kid because he said he didn’t sanction the 20 million pound move to buy Keane, instead blaming it on the club and now refusing to play him. If the Liverpool owners had any business sense, it would be Benitez leaving town on the next bus, not Keane heading back to London to rejoin Spurs.

Liverpool did finally get a win though, as they managed to beat Chelsea at Anfield 2-0. It took some last-minute heroics by striker Fernando Torres combined with a red card to Chelsea’s Frank Lampard to seal the victory. The 24-year-old Spaniard scored in the 89th minute and then again in injury time. Referee Mike Riley had sent Lampard off in the 60th minute with a straight red card in a poor decision after Lampard went for a 50-50 ball with Xabi Alonso. Chelsea has already put in an official appeal about the card.

On the transfer front, the deadline has been extended after 5pm for clubs that can prove they’re still working on a deal. In moves that have been completed, West Ham midfielder Julien Faubert left London for Spain and has completed his loan move to Real Madrid for the rest of the season.

Portsmouth has tried to strengthen their midfield by coming to terms with 33-year-old Greek veteran Angelos Basinas from AEK Athens. You might remember Basinas from Greece’s Euro 2004 cup-winning squad. He has agreed a deal to stay at Fratton Park until the end of next season.

Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given, who many feel is the best in the Premier League, has moved to Manchester City on a six million pound transfer fee. The Republic of Ireland keeper has spent the last 11 years in Newcastle.

Everton have signed 21-year-old Manchester City outcast Jo on loan until the end of the season. City originally bought him for 18 million pounds.

Wigan has lent striker Henri Camara to Stoke City for the rest of the season.

Meanwhile over in Italy, AC Milan has announced that David Beckham has been included on their updated UEFA Cup player list. This has of course started to spark rumours that the club is trying to keep him in Italy longer than first expected.

After the weekend’s round of games, Manchester United extended their record of league games without conceding a goal to 12 as they beat Everton 1-0 in a mediocre affair at Old Trafford. Meanwhile, Aston Villa blew a chance to leapfrog over Chelsea and Liverpool by only managing a 0-0 draw at home against Wigan. This was a game Villa should have won, but instead they ending up dropping two points. Arsenal did likewise as they played to a scoreless draw with fellow Londoners West Ham in a local derby.

At the bottom end of the table, Sunderland earned a 1-1 draw away against Newcastle in the 130th Tyne-Wear derby at St. James’s Park. West Brom, Middlesbrough, and Blackburn are the three unlucky clubs in the relegation zone at the moment. However, this could change drastically after each game as there’s only seven points separating ninth to 20th place in the table.