FU Turniere » I got a hundred there last month against

As Manchester United, like Arsenal and Manchester City before them were humbled on the European stage in midweek, the infernal debate about what the best league in Europe rages on. Even Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger felt the urge to discuss the matter during his pre-match press conference ahead of tomorrows visit to Stoke. Anointing the BPL the best, Wenger trotted out the top to bottom competiveness theory. What cant be denied though is that English football is never too far away from grabbing the football headlines. This weeks offering began with a slip of the Mourinho lips. Then we had the national manager waxing lyrical about the possibility of adding a Penalty Psychologist to his Brazil bound backroom staff and how about this mornings revelation Sir Alex Ferguson attributes six of the best as a school boy influenced his managerial ways. Mourinho was clearly agitated and embarrassed when he faced the media Tuesday following the publication less than 24 hours earlier of disparaging remarks he made about Torres, Etoo and Demba Ba to a senior executive of a club partner. Unbeknown to Mourinho, what he thought was a private conversation ahead of a scheduled interview, was in fact been taped by a French TV channel. Who in turn published it for the world to see on their website. Using the old adage the best form of defense is attack, The Happy One launched into the media labeling them a disgrace for publishing extracts of that conversation - which included mocking Etoo and wondering out loud if he was actually older than his stated age. Torres had the last laugh though by responding to his managers harsh words in the most effective way possible by putting Chelsea up early in Wednesdays first leg against Galatasaray. It was no laughing matter not long after the final whistle in Istanbul when Chelsea revealed the club would be immortalized on the small screen in an upcoming edition of the Simpsons. In which a number of players, including Torres will feature in an episode where Bart Simpson plays referee. The week for Torres though didnt end on a happy note. We learnt earlier today and long with Manchester Uniteds Juan Mata both players had been omitted from Spains squad for next weeks prestigious friendly match against the 2006 World Cup winners, Italy. Roy Hodgson who named Toronto FCs Jermaine Defoe in his squad for the March 5 friendly at Wembley versus Denmark yesterday, made news earlier in the week when addressing England penalty woes at tournaments. The England manager, along with all other managers of the 32 nations going to this summers World Cup Finals, has just returned from visiting Brazil let it be known earlier in the week he is giving serious thought to having a psychologist at his disposal as ways to improve on Englands inability to win penalty shootouts. Hodgson experienced penalty misery first hand at Euro 2012 when Italy eliminated England in the quarter finals but certainly does not want to suffer that same fate for a team that has bowed out on penalties in six of the last 10 major tournaments they have qualified for. One of world footballs most dubious of records only once over this period have England progressed from the Achilles Heel of a penalty shootout. This occurring when they edged out Spain at EURO 96 - only then to fail at the next hurdle, Germany beating England on penalties in the semifinal. Hodgson isnt the first England World Cup manager to make the headlines for matters of the mind. As part of final preparations for the 1998 Finals the-then England manager Glen Hoddle arranged for a faith healer to visit the England camp before their departure to France. Such were part of Hoddles unorthodox methods, the ex-Manchester United captain Gary Neville revealed in his 2011 autobiography Hoddle had requested his staff walk around the pitch anti-clockwise as ways to create positive energy before their round of 16 match against Argentina. A match won, by you guessed it, Argentina on penalties. Paired in a group this summer with Uruguay and Italy my how the legions of England fans who will journey to Brazil would dearly love to face the possibility of a penalty shootout. At least this would signify England had successfully made it out of a difficult group. Sir Alex Ferguson who tasted penalty glory himself in the 2008 Champions League Final made it on to the back pages today when it was revealed in the London Times that as a school boy he often found himself in trouble. Not only that, but Ferguson disclosed he felt the corporal punishment he received because of his bad boy ways went a long way to helping shape his hair dryer ways. He also revealed the belt which was used now hangs proudly on the wall of his study at home. With Manchester United not in action this weekend as their scheduled opponent, Manchester City play Sunderland in Sundays League Cup Final, perhaps it might be an idea if Ferguson invites David Moyes over for a cup of tea. In a BPL season which continues to shock, and will do so until mid May, tomorrows action throws up potential banana skins for each of the clubs who currently sit in the Champions League slots. The West London derby sees the current leaders Chelsea, paying a visit to the worst club, Fulham who are desperate for a win. Especially so after coughing up an 86th minute equalizer away to West Brom last Saturday, welcome to the BPL Felix Magath. Arsenal, with a well-rested Mezut Ozil expected to return following his own penalty demons, are sure to be weary of Stokes direct approach. While Liverpool wont need reminding of their early season 0-1 reversal at home to Southampton - result which knocked them off the top spot. Even though his club arent playing, whats the odds occasional Manchester United bad boy Wayne Rooney does not feature prominently come Sundays tabloid headlines? You can reach and follow Noel Butler at:Noel.Butler@BellMedia.ca@TheSoccerNoel TSN & TEAM Radio is your exclusive BPL radio home this season. Saturdays double header action features, Fulham v Chelsea with kickoff at 10am et/7am pt and Southampton v Liverpool with kickoff 12:30pm et/9:30am pt Jonas Hector Germany Jersey .C. -- Duke sophomore Rodney Hood is entering the NBA draft. Niklas Sule Germany Jersey . -- When the Los Angeles Kings are on top of their formidable defensive game, they revel in the silence they can create in a frustrated road arena. http://www.germanysoccerpro.com/Mats-Hum...any-Jersey/.com) - Colorado forward P. Matthias Ginter Germany Jersey . Ted Ligety, Mikaela Shiffrin, Bode Miller and Tim Jitloff underlined the squads enormous potential on the Rettenbach glacier in Austria. Germany Blank Jerseys . Louis still looking for a way out of Tampa Bay, the 38-year-old NHL veteran isnt showing his cards.Jonny Bairstow looks ahead to the first Test between England and Pakistan at Lords, discusses Mohammad Amirs return, revels in England Rugbys series win in Australia, and tries his hand at fencing… I got the opportunity to try a bit of fencing this week down at Team GB headquarters.I was alright. I managed to get a couple of points off a couple of the guys, but its safe to say its probably not my next gig after cricket.It was fantastic to see the people there preparing for the Olympics, though - the fitness and skill on show was truly remarkable. I wish them all the best for Rio.Weve got a big game to prepare for on Thursday. We know how important it will be to start the series well, but well try to treat it no differently to any other, just look to prepare in the same way, with the same intensity.Theres been a lot of talk about external factors in the build up to the Test but we try to take all of that out of the equation. Sure, its bound to still be there, but in the periphery of our minds.I have no idea what kind of reception Mohammad Amir will get on his return. Whatever happens, happens. All we know is he is a quality bowler. Pakistan seamer Mohammad Amir is looking forward to bowling at England’s captain and ‘backbone’ Alastair Cook when he makes his return to Test cricket At the same time, we have batsmen that are capable of countering his threat. Were in good form and have exceptional skills ourselves.He has talked about wanting to become number one in the world. Its hard to judge given I havent properly faced him - other than once or twice in under-15s cricket! He is coming back after a long period of time out of cricket, so Id imagine he has a long way to go for that.Look at Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad; both have performed day in, day out, for a number of years and only recently have they reached number one. Its not something thats going to happen overnight for Amir.We have Gary Ballance back in the squad, and Toby Roland-Jones linking up with us for the first time. Who is Toby Roland-Jones? All you need to know about the Middlesex quick called into Englands Test squad to face Pakistan Ive played for the Lions before with Toby. He has obviously done really well in county cricket recently and has rightly been rewarded with a call up into the Test squad.Gary is a class act. Everyone has enjoyed having him back in the squad; were all behind him, and Im sure he will score plenty of runs.He is someone who has scored four hundreds already in 15 Test matches. You dont have those stats and average over 50 with 28 hundreds in first-class cricket, if youre not a proven player. England batsman Gary Ballance admits he was surprised to be called back into the Test team for their series with Pakistan He also played really well for Yorkshire against Middlesex last week, hitting a hundred, so will come into the game on Thursday with his confidence on a high.ddddddddddddWere back at Lords for the first Test. I got a hundred there last month against Sri Lanka, and while its always nice to score runs for the team, to get onto the prestigious Lords honours board made it particularly special - something Id always wanted to do.Hopefully I can get my name back up there again this week, although its not going to be easy. Jonny Bairstow is hoping for similar celebrations at Lords to when he reached three figures against Sri Lanka Left-arm seam is obviously not something we faced against Sri Lanka and it will play a big role in this series.There are some things we learned from playing Pakistan the UAE last year in terms of facing some of their bowlers, but it will be completely different conditions here, both overhead and with the pitches, compared to that tour.Pakistan have got a strong side all the way through. We know it is going to be a tough challenge, but hopefully playing with home advantage can help us.It served Andy Murray alright this week - you saw how much it meant to him to win Wimbledon again.It was great too to see England win 3-0 in Australia in the rugby union. Obviously, its always special to go to Australia and win. The way the guys performed in all three Test matches was brilliant to watch. Englands rugby team celebrate after their 3-0 Test series triumph in Australia There are a lot of rugby fans in the squad that took enjoyment from that - Cookie is a big rugby fan, Broady, too. Everyone kept a keen eye on those games while they were going on.Theres a lot of guys that take a keen interest in football too and watch that religiously, so by contrast, it was obviously disappointing to see England go out earlier than expected in the Euros.But thats part of sport sometimes - Im sure the team will move on, bounce back and come back stronger.Watch the first Investec Test between England and Pakistan from Lords, live on Sky Sports 2 from 10am on Thursday. Or watch from £6.99 with NOW TV, no contract. Also See: Pakistan v England: Story of 2015 Bairstow can be one of the best Amir: Life ban or second chance? 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