Well it’s been a while since we posted a Football Matters, but to be fair, most of us were pretty busy with the holiday season (read, hammered for days on end). The same can’t be said for the players in the Premier League who have had a bloody busy time with each team playing at least twice, if not thrice over the break. In lieu of the usual banter about specific games, we’re going to just summarize the holiday season (which was a roller coaster of games and results).

If you want to hear more about particular players, we suggest tuning in (see how-to at bottom) to the show tonight at 9pm EST to hear WindJunkie, BennyBoy, 5cents and Xander mouth off. The Footy Fetish Show is broadcast every Thursday on AceRadioLive via the good folks at BlogTalkRadio.

TOP 4 TEAMS

Currently reads Arsenal (50), Manchester United (48), Chelsea (44) and Manchester City (39) with Liverpool (38) in fifth and with a game in hand. The Reds will move into the top four if they draw or win their upcoming game. 11 points separate the Gunners and Man City.

BOTTOM 4 TEAMS

Sunderland (17), Fulham (15) and Derby (7) with the latter being in dire straits with a meagre 7 points garnered thus far.

PLAYER NEWS

Juande Ramos, Spurs coach, values in-form striker, Dimitar Berbatov, at 30 million quid on the back of rumors insisting the player will leave. That’s quite the price tag and while we agree the man has been inspirational of late, we’re not convinced he’s worth that much.

Joey Barton, Newcastle midfielder, has been released on bail from jail following the fracas at Liverpool’s Church St. Newcastle are 11th in the table and getting Barton back wont make a difference we thinks. Nor will it help the England national team.

Chelsea midfielder Lampard pledges to stay at the club until retirement. Is this because he is ageing rapidly and no one else wants him? Keep in mind some high profile players have transferred this season soon after they pledged to stay (*cough*Henry*cough*). Meanwhile, Lampard is sidelined with a thigh injury.

Jens Lehmann, former Arsenal number 1 goalie, is open to transfers for the right price according to Gunner manager, Wenger. We’d sell the sagging, sinewy German and get it over with already.

Red Devil striker, Carlos Tevez, has not broken any bones in the injury that saw him being carried off the pitch at Birmingham. Apparently it was just a bruised ankle and we all know how South Americans milk the injuries. Manager Ferguson also complained that the 75 thousand crowd in attendance was strangely silent. Fact? Or is the old man just showing his age?

Scotland full-back, Alan Hutton, rejects the opportunity to move to the Premier League in the January transfer window. Loyalty is not the word. Or is it?

OTHER NEWS

Tottenham have been the team to watch over the break scoring an insidious number of goals (5-1 against Fulham and 6-4 against Reading!). Berbatov scored 4 in the Reading game, cor!

Sol Campbell is the latest to complain about verbal abuse from the crowds during games. His manager, Redknapp, lends support to the embattled defender. Odd that the manager doesn’t come in for ridicule given his atrocious jowls and generally drooping visage.

ON THE FANTASY FRONT

Given my general state of stupor this holiday season, my roster was left mostly unchanged for the last three games and the results were in line with my middling expectations. How well other members of the league fared remains to be seen. If you had a particularly good run of games, do let us know in the comments by posting your insights or recommendations.

As usual, if you simply want to mouth off about footy, do so below. See you on-air or in the comments.

FOOTY FETISH SHOW SUMMARY

For a list of injured players, go HERE.

For a list of suspended players, go HERE.

For a list of players to be suspended, go HERE.

For a list of penalty takers, go HERE.

For a list of players missing games due to the African Nations Cup, go HERE.

Tune in to the show HERE.

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