Manchester City’s, Kolo Toure has received a 6 month ban for testing positive to a banned substance. The Football Association backdated the ban to March making him ineligible to play until September 2011.  

Toure admitted taking some of his Wife’s pills that are commonly used for dieting, but confirmed he never intended to use the drug to enhance performance and was not aware that the pills contained a banned substance.

This is the first positive drugs test in the Barclay’s Premier League since Adrian Mutu in 2004.

PENDLE VERDICT – How could an experienced Professional Footballer be so naive as to take something without researching exactly what was in it? We think he deserves the ban and is lucky that it has been backdated to March?

YOUR VERDICT – What do you think?

Gary Lineker was talking about the Champions League Final on Five Live last night. When asked the question; Can Manchester United win? Two of his replies were as follows:

1. If Manchester United played Barcelona 10 times, they would probably only win one, maybe two games!

2. Barcalona only have to turn up to win!

PENDLE VERDICT – We think that Manchester United should be shown a bit more respect than this. Yes, Gary Lineker should also be shown respect, but isn’t his second point ridiculous in that even if Man U can only win once or twice out of every ten games, then surely Barcelona have to do a lot more than just turn up if they are going to win? The Champions League Final is only one game and apparently they are able to win one or two out of every ten!

We think that Barcelona are the favourites, but wouldn’t be surprised if Alex Ferguson has something up his sleeve to turn them over!

YOUR VERDICT – What do you think?

Blackpool fans were left devastated following their relegation from the Barclays Premiership on Sunday.

Just before the hour mark, they saw their side go into a 2-1 lead at Old Trafford, before being dominated in the latter stages by the champions, Manchester United who secured a 4-2 win.

Dimitar Berbatov created the opportunity for Park Ji-sung to put United in front after 21 minutes, but Blackpool’s Charlie Adam finely executed a free-kick five minutes before halftime.

It was the Seasiders’s who stunned the Old Trafford faithful when Gary Taylor-Fletcher put Blackpool into the lead on the 57th minute. This was short lived when 5 minutes later; Anderson found some space to make things all square. Blackpool’s, Ian Evatt deflected a third into his own net and Michael Owen compounded Blackpool’s misery with a trademark finish on the 81st minute.

The majority of Football fans will be sad to see Blackpool relegated as they have acquitted themselves superbly and given fans across the nation great entertainment through out their campaign.

PENDLE VERDICT – Sad to see  Blackpool go down and think they deserve to be in the Europa League via the fair play award.

YOUR VERDICT – What do you think?

Carlo Ancelotti’s 3 year contract with Chelsea has been cut short with immediate effect following their 1-0 loss to Everton on Sunday 22^nd May. 

His first year saw Chelsea win the English Premier League and the FA Cup which was the first time that any Chelsea Manager had achieved this accolade in the Club’s history. He was also considered a favorite among players and fans alike.

This year saw them finish 2nd to Manchester United in the Barclay’s Premiership and go out of the Champions league in the last eight.

It was considered that Ancelotti was under pressure from owner Roman Abramovich, despite winning the Double in his debut season.

PENDLE VERDICT – We think the sacking is harsh given his success last year and the fact that they finished 2nd this year. Problems seemed to begin after the sacking of Ray Wilkins. Wasn’t this what caused Chelsea’s poor run of form and not Carlo Ancelotti?

YOUR VERDICT – What do you think?

Wolves, looked out of it at half time, trailing 3-0 and almost certain to go down, however a late surge saw 2 second half goals to lift them out of the bottom three by only goal difference. Other results went their way and even a 3-2 loss was enough to secure premiership survival.

Half way through the opening period, Jason Roberts put Blackburn into the lead when Michel Salgado’s shot was parried. Brett Emerton doubled the lead seven minutes before the break to leave Molinuex stunned and Wolves staring Championship Football in the face.

Matters increased to crisis point when Blackburn’s Junior Hoilett neatly slotted home a third on the stroke of half time. Wolves though were not finished yet and on the 73^rd minute, Jamie O’Hara scored from a well-worked free-kick and Stephen Hunt added a second on the 87^th minute. Results were going their way and it was Pavlyuchenko’s winner in stoppage time at White Hart Lane that confirmed Wolves’ safety and Birmingham City’s fate.

PENDLE VERDICT – Glad to see Wolves stay up given some of the negative press they have had especially in regards to reports of some over aggressive tackling. It’s about time we saw a Premier League team getting stuck in!

YOUR VERDICT – What do you think?