THE NEW YORK ANFIELDER

In only a matter of hours, the transfer window's doors will be thrown wide upon, and it seems that a number of Premiership clubs will have both 1) money to spend, and 2) immediate needs to fill over the next month. This should make for an interesting month. To be fair, however, I would say that the majority of transfer rumors are unrealistic, and there's bound to be a shock transfer or 2 that no-one can predict at this moment. Hear are some of the more bizarre (and unrealistic) links being proferred at the moment, have a look (and a good laugh):

Vincenzo Montella (AS Roma) - loan to Blackburn Rovers
Steve Finnan (Liverpool) - to Charlton Athletic
Kevin Nolan (Bolton) - to Everton
Ivan Klasnic (Werder Bremen) - to Manchester City
David Bellion (unknown) - to Reading

Other news I can't resist commenting on:
- Is it only me, or does there seem to be a magic potion at Stamford Bridge that has incredible healing powers? I'm reading rumors that John Terry will be fit in time for Chelsea's Carling Cup semi-final against Wycombe Wanderers on January 10?! Incredible...I'm stunned that John Terry will be playing, never mind training, two weeks after having surgery. And ever wonder why Frank Lampard is never injured and never misses a game? There has to be a magic potion stored somewhere in the confines of Stamford Bridge...
...and it seems that Chelsea must have left some of their potent potion in the Old Trafford dressing room. After initial reports that Michael Carrick would be out for a month, he played yesterday for United against Reading.

- It's also quite satisfying to see Mourinho rip his team the way he has over the last 24 hours. Sadly, I think most teams would suffer from internal dissent and rifts in the squad from the sort of criticism Mourinho has leveled. However, as we saw in their games at Wigan and Everton, Chelsea have incredible character. Mourinho is no dummy either - rather, he's quite clever, has a sharp and unrestrained tongue (I suspect that he often makes his outlandish comments in an effort to deflect criticism, attention and pressure away from this own squad) and knows the right buttons to push. What does this mean? Expect Chelsea to get back to their dominating ways, unfortunately - looks like they might take their recent frustrations out on Martin O'Neill's side by thrashing them at Villa Park.

-Nicolas Anelka has a knack for scoring against former employers this season. Tomorrow, he will come up against another former employer, Liverpool, in the early game on New Year's Day. I wonder what the bookies' odds are on Anelka snapping Liverpool's run of home clean sheets and snatching a goal at Anfield...