Early Doors

Happier times.

We're just weeks into the new year and it's already time for many happy returns.

Welcome back fixture uncertainty and two-gamers! We're trying to confirm with Yahoo! that the rescheduled fixtures - Liv/Tot and Ars/Bol - will be added to match week 19. Assume they will, and we'll let you all know when we get the final word.

Welcome back Edwin van der Sar:

Edwin van der Sar has returned to training with Manchester United after taking compassionate leave.

The 39-year old's wife collapsed with a brain hemorrhage in December, and the veteran goalkeeper has been absent from training for three week.

Medical tests have shown that van der Sar's wife has suffered no permanent damage, and he has traveled to Qatar to take part in United's winter training camp, according to The Guardian.

So automatically we have a doubt between Kuszczak and van der Sar in net for the Red Devils.  That is just terrible timing for a two-match week.  Especially THIS two-match week with ManU nailed on for two clean sheets at home against Burnley and Hull.  Maybe we'll know more by the weekend, but my guess will be that we won't know who is starting the Burnley match until the Burnley match starts.  And that may not mean that that keeper is the long- or even medium-term number one.

Welcome back Fabregas and Denilson:

Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas says his injured hamstring feels ''100%'' and that he should be fit to make his return for the weekend trip to Bolton Wanderers.

Fabregas has missed Arsenal's last three games with a hamstring problem which he aggravated during a stunning cameo against Aston Villa over Christmas, when he came off the bench to score twice.

Initially there were fears he could have missed a month of action, but Fabregas now claims he is ready to make his comeback.

"My hamstring feels 100% now," said Fabregas. "The snow may have disrupted the football, but it hasn't interrupted my rehab."

On Monday, it was confirmed Denilson would also be available for Sunday's trip.

The Brazilian was forced to leave the pitch late on during Arsenal's 2-2 draw with Everton at the weekend and with the 21 year-old having just returned from a back injury there had also been fears of a longer lay-off.

So Ramsey goes back to fantasy obscurity where he belongs.  He could evolve into another Scholes.  Seems like a great pick but just never pans out.  It's not his fault.  He's a great player but right now he's just not worth the investment for fantasy.

Welcome back... SOL CAMPBELL!?!?!?

Tonight’s Reserve team to face West Ham United at Upton Park features Sol Campbell, who plays tonight on a Reserve League registration.

Talks are ongoing with Sol with a view to a permanent move back to Arsenal Football Club.

What, was Steve Bould too busy with the youth team?

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I wanted to throw out my $0.02 on the "ManU shouldn't have sold Tevez/ManU shouldn't have bought Berbatov" frenzy that's all the rage on the internet-o-spheres.  I don't think that Tevez could have stayed or that he would have been an asset if he had stayed.  He's shown that he's at his best when he's the man.  His best form comes when he's given the responsibility of being the leader of a team - his end of season run with West Ham, and now leading the line for Citeh.  That was never going to happen at ManU where he was always going to an understudy to Rooney.  Unfortunately, the same comments can be made of Berbatov.  He needs to be the man.  He's not going to be happy - or effective - in a support role.  He needs play to go through him and others to play for him.

What ManU is lacking isn't a Carlos Tevez.  ManU are lacking a K2.  A Roque Santa Cruz.  Or even a Benjani.  They don't have a striker with the size and physicality to take on center backs and win the one-on-one battles for the ball.  Berbatov is amazingly skilled, as is Rooney, and they can make the most amazing things happen on the pitch.  But too often they find the ball in midfield rather than in the attacking third.  Yes, as Neal likes to point out, much of that has to do with deficiencies in ManU's midfield.  The striikers too often need to be creators as well as finishers and that just isn't working this season without a certain player who would get beyond the strikers via a run or a dribble.

And maybe that player doesn't have to be Ronaldo.  When it has been Giggs this season ManU have been nigh-unstoppable.  Valencia has shown more and more that he can be that type of player.  But what if ManU had kept faith with Chris Eagles?  He is showing the kind of pace, skill and ambition that ManU could use either to replace Giggs or to flank him.  It's taken six years since he debuted for ManU for him to become a consistent Premier League player, but it's happening.  And since he's left Tosic and Obertan have come in but neither have shown that they're anywhere near ready for a regular place. 

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Finally, I want to have you all help me in wishing Neal a very happy 40th birthday.  Neal was the one who said, "Why don't we put this stuff down in a blog?" and "Why don't we try to get in touch with Yahoo!" and I'm indebted to him for that.  He's also been a good friend and constant companion on instant messenger for years.  So congrats on the big 4-0, Neal.  Here's hoping the next decade starts on a high(bury) and that 40 (emi)rates a 10.