Is Thierry Henry Gunning for Arsene Wenger?
It's fun day Friday with five BLT's of brilliance to send you topped up and tingling ahead of another huge weekend of sport.
1) Wenger denies supporter unrest ahead of crunch clash against Spurs
Yes, Sports Burst is three days late with the whole Julius Caesar, 'Ides of March' riff, but it is going to cling onto the theme like Cristiano Ronaldo and his comb, Leo Messi and his Mom cutting his hair, Zlatan and a wax work model of... Zlatan. Wenger has had a number of scrapes in his 20-year-tenure at Arsenal with fans' constant disgruntlement over the club's tendency to finish fourth and think job's done. But matters have really come to a head, this season, with the feeling that a spineless, rudderless Arsenal team is throwing away the chance to win the EPL title (again) by handing it to Leicester City, and even worse Tottenham.
Thierry Henry was the latest to throw rocks at Wenger, fretting in an English newspaper that he had never heard the supporters so angry as during Wednesday's 2-1 hopeless home defeat to Swansea. A bit awkward, really, considering the magnificent playing history of the Frenchman at the club, and the fact that Henry is also a coach of Arsenal's Under-19 side, but perhaps fancies a shot on the big chair.
Either way, Wenger did his best to sound thunderous on Friday and suggested that Henry was talking out of his nether regions, as he sits up in the fancy seats at the Emirates. Wenger also confirmed that Petr Cech will be out a month. The first game to be missed? Saturday's North London derby with Spurs. That match is on the agenda for Kay Murray and the gang on the Locker Room at 10.30 ET PM.
2) Calls continue for entitled European heavyweights to be given free Champions League pass
A storm continues to brew on Friday with comments made on SiriusXM on Thursday by Charlie Stillitano, one of the men behind the summer friendly tournament, the International Champions Club, after meeting five top EPL clubs in London, this week. The suggestion? To prevent Arsenal and the likes from having to bother competing in their domestic leagues by automatically entering the Champions League by birthright, eliminating the likes of unsexy nobodies like Gent and Leicester City.
3) Serie A continues cracking campaign with top team rumble in Roma
Two sides that might be left by the wayside if the American money-men get their way are Roma and Fiorentina, who are both competing for Italy's third Champions League spot, and the chance to lose out in a play-off in August before dropping into the Europa League. They both go head-to-head on Friday on beIN SPORTS from 2.40PM ET and it should be an absolute humdinger considering these are two clubs that play tasty football and feast on goals.
4) Elland Road rulers are more offensive, than charm in insult battle with Leeds fans
Leeds United is an enormous club, with a bejeweled history and the most loyal of fans. Unfortunately it is also sitting in 18th place in the Championship and being run into the ground by a maverick - euphemism for appalling - Italian owner, Massimo Cellino, who fires his managers as often as Sports Burst changes its sheets. About every six weeks. Over the past few months there has been a furious battle between supporters groups wanting Cellino out and the owner very much wanting to stay. That battle continued with Cellino's two sons getting stuck in to an insult battle with fans on social media. And that always goes well.
To cleanse the palate a little, there is a fine Championship encounter at 2:45PM ET on beIN SPORTS CONNECT between Middlesbrough and Wolves, with Boro in with a chance of taking over top spot from Burnley, at least until Saturday, when the current league leaders face local rivals, Blackburn. You can catch this clash which dates back to 1888, doncha know, on beIN SPORTS from 7.25AM ET. Also watch all the highlights of the Boro game, as well as Caen v Monaco in Ligue Un...and the AVIVA Premiership rugby clash between Newcastle on the Worcester Warriors on the half-an-hour, very stuffed edition of the XTRA tonight at 10PM.
5) Mexico coach gives hope for return to the fold of Galaxy's Gio
In a kind act of charity, Mexico boss, Juan Carlos Osorio has said that he won't hold it against Giovani dos Santos that he is playing in MLS, when the Colombian boss prefers his finest talent to be plying his trade in Europe. It seems that the forward may be considered for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Canada.
The Mexican maverick has yet to appear on a roster for Osorio, but the fact that the new MLS campaign gets going on Sunday, may help Giovani's case. Oh, beIN SPORTS is the home of the CONMEBOL and CONCACAF 2018 WC qualifiers. And tune into the XTRA tonight from 10PM ET to hear Kaka, talk about his hopes for his new season for Orlando City ahead of the MLS opening weekend.