I know what you are thinking that this may be a harsh statement to make but many will be agreeing that the dismissal of Rafeal cost Manchester United the game.

United where rampant right from the start with two goals under 10 minutes and many included myself thought that this was going to be a roll over on the Germans but boy was we wrong.

I always knew with the like of Robben, Olic and Ribbery that Bayern Munich had goals in them and that it would be hard for them to finish the game without getting on the score sheet.

After Rafeal playing so well the first half he picked up his first yellow card and five minutes into the second half he picked up his second, I felt the Ref could of gave him a talking to but it was a second yellow and he was off.

This lead to the pressure and with Rooney nowhere near on form Bayern got them self’s back into the game and with a wonderful strike from Robben but an end to United’s chances of progression.

At the moment everyone is all too aware that Wayne Rooney is on fire at the moment where he is finding the net in every game he plays but things that to do worry the United Fans is the statistics when Rooney does not play or score.

This should not be the case however as Manchester United’s fire power is set to blow with many of the youth and reserve players showing they have what it takes to play on the big stage.

Players next to shine include:

• Mame Biram Diouf,
• Danny Welbeck,
• Fabian Brandy,
• Joshua King,
• Nicky Ajose,
• William Keane,
• John Cofie,

Tonight see’s England take on the Africa’s Cup of Nation winners Egypt at Wembley this game has been schedules in as a gentle warm up game ahead of the world cup. However with a lot of talk around this game has built it up to be a big and testing game against the Egyptians.

Through the week there have been many statements from players asking the fans to get behind them in the build up to the world cup as at the moment the focus is still on the John Terry and Wayne Bridge saga which we are all hoping to put behind us.

Tonight’s predictions England win 3-1

Don’t get me wrong i am a Manchester United Fan but i did rate this player highly may be this was because he was English but reports stating he has come back to top flight football have me asking questions i mean come on surly he needs to hang up his boots now.

35 and still wanting to be a force in the English Premiership i think not, maybe he has come back to arsenal just to strengthen and add depth to the squad. His experiences with certanily help the younger players who can learn from him.

Sol Campbell to old what do you think?

Tonight marks that the start of the champions’ league group stages in which many people have been waiting for as some groups have great teams making way for some fantastic games.

Tonight will see last year’s runners up Manchester United take on Besiktas and Chelsea taking on old rivals FC Porto in the opening group games.

Manchester United have stated that they are still hurting from last year’s Final defeat to Barcelona and aim to correct this by winning it this year even though the current team is without their boy wonders C.Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez

On the other hand Chelsea who lead the English premier league with a 100% record so far have alot of confidence in their at the moment under the new coach and feelings are that this is their season to lift the champions league trophy.

For regular updates on football and any other sport the best way to keep updated is by free text alerts that can tell you live scores and news so there is no reason to go without knowing what is going on.

Many may say this is pay back after the croacts stopped England’s chances of making the European finals the other year. However the England players seemed to have put this behind them after showing ruthlessness about them and powered home a 5-1 win resulting in England qualifying and top the group on max points.

Right from off England looked the most hungry double up on players and closing down right from the off important to do in those big games and that paid off winning a penalty within 6 minutes. I have to say that Croatioa where not at their best and all though it was a good English performance the opposition did not put up much of a fight

England now joins the following teams heading to the 2010 world cup finals.

• Holland
• Japan
• South & North Korea
• Ghana

For those teams hoping to progress into the champions’ league group stages these final games could very well seem them getting their this may be the hard way having to qualify before the group stages but that is the price the teams have pay.

Non-Champions Route
Lyon v Anderlecht
Celtic v Arsenal
Timisoara v Stuttgart
Sporting Lisbon vFiorentina
Panathinaikos v Atletico Madrid
Champions Route
Sheriff Miraspol vOlympiakos
FC Salzburg v Maccabi Haifa
FK Ventspils v FC Zurich
FC Copenhaegn v APOEL Nicosia
Levski Sofia v Debrecen

Cristiano Ronaldo’s old home in Alderley Edge, Cheshire, has been snapped up by new Manchester City signing Emmanuel Adebayor for £5.5 million.

According to close sources, Adebayor beat off competition for the seven-bedroom house from team-mates Kolo Toure, Gareth Barry and Carlos Tevez.

New Manchester United signing Antonio Valencia also put in a bid. You would think he would of done a deal with Tevez or velencia guess money comes first.

Ronaldo has made a £1.65 million profit after paying £3.85 million for the pad in February last year. The house has an indoor pool, jacuzzi, gym and cinema room.

The Liverpool captain has today been cleared of affray after punching a man in a Merseyside bar.

The England midfielder admitted hitting Marcus McGee, 34, in the Lounge Inn, Southport, in December last year but denied the charge of affray.

A jury at Liverpool Crown Court agreed with Mr Gerrard’s assertion that he was acting in self-defence.

Speaking after the hearing, the player said he had put it behind him and was looking forward to the season ahead.

Six friends of the 29-year-old footballer, of Formby, admitted charges connected with the brawl and will be sentenced on 7 August.

With the cash injections being pumped in to Manchester City the squad is going to be like a man pumped on steroids with sheer volume they are paying for these players

City had already tied down Gareth Barry at the start of the season but have since gone on to try and but every world class player there is with just capturing the signature of Carlos Tevez and being in negations with Arsenals Adebyour.

Rumours are now suggesting that City have the squad to break in to the top four but the real question is who will be forced out if this happens.

Manchester United?

Liverpool?

Chelsea?

Arsenal?