Perfect Football

The legend Bobby McMahon's links (all worth looking at)

Nick Szczepanik on the cardiac screening of players.

The Beckham effect on MLS website visits. (very interesting)

For those of you who followed the FA Cup blog last season you will recognize Jarrow Roofing Boldon Community Association FC. That was the side that the blog started to follow at the Extra Preliminary Round last season.

A look at the challenge Israel will pose for England in European qualifying.

Duncan Castles considers the battle for the Arsenal boardroom.

James Lawton delves more deeply into David Dein’s ambition.

Stewart Robson with a comparison of Pires and Ljungberg vs. Hleb and Rosicky.

Brian Doogan takes a look at Portsmouth’s impressive new signing John Utaka.

The dream is dead – again! American Samoa will not be one of the thirty-two teams in South Africa in three years time.

In another extract from his autobiography, Sir Bobby Charlton on Denis Law and George Best.

Arsenal Crossbar Challenge

Comment from a loser Arsenal fan

From Erik...(about Henry possibly leaving North London)

No way does Henry leave Emirates. Despite being injured for more than half the year, Arsenal still finished in Champions League placing in the Premiership without any real problem. They have great young talent: Rosicky and Cesc, and still have Gilberto and Lehman to back him up. Arsenal will be fine next year and will hopefully challenge the Devils and v*gina blues for the cup.

Though Barca is not doing poorly, they are many pegs down from the incredible season they experienced last year. However, losing Eto for a majority of the season could be pointed to, they still crashed out of the Champions League and have been conceding ground to a Real team that still isn't great.

He should stay at Arsenal and remain a demigod there to the fans. As long as Arsene is there, he won't leave. Besides, how much would English football suck if we just had to watch man U and Chelsea play all the time.

Henry to Barca???

First a French magazine reports this...

Arsenal striker Thierry Henry has reached an agreement to transfer to Barcelona, the Web site of a French sports magazine reported Monday. Henry's agent and Barcelona's sports director agreed to a three-year contract, and it's now up to "convincing" the north London club, France Football reports in its edition to be published Tuesday. Details were not immediately available. The site only showed a photo of the magazine's cover page featuring a photo of Henry under the headline "Barca-Henry: Deal Reached." On a promotional trip to China last month, Henry did little to dampen speculation that he was about to leave Arsenal for Barcelona - weeks after Barcelona's president said he was completing a deal.

Then, According to Thierry Henry...

Thierry Henry's agent will "seek legal advice" after France Football magazine
claimed the Arsenal striker has agreed terms with Barcelona. Henry's future has been the subject of speculation again this summer despite him signing a four-year contract with the Gunners last year. But his agent Jerome Anderson was categoric in denying the magazine's claims. In a statement, he said: "No meetings have ever taken place between Jerome Anderson and Barcelona in France or anywhere else, and Jerome Anderson will be seeking legal advice against France Football."

So, what's the deal? Well, we don't know for now. If Henry gets transferred to any club, no matter where it is, it is going to be the biggest move of the transfer season without a doubt. AC Milan? Barca? Who knows? Henry says he is an Arsenal player for now, but he was devastated when a big part of the club left. This was the departure of vice-chairman David Dein, who left after a dispute with his fellow directors over the increased involvement of American businessman Stan Kroenke. Henry said, "I was devastated when Mr Dein left the club. I don't know what happened and I don't want to know but whatever went on, Mr Dein leaving was not a clever move."

Sources: www.ap.org and www.rivals.net