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. Keith Tkachuk Jersey . 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 Winnipeg Jets Jerseys . Alen, 28, hit .315 with five home runs, 59 RBI and a career-high nine stolen bases for the Goldeyes last season. He is the longest serving catcher in Goldeyes history, having already spent five seasons with the organization. Dale Hawerchuk Jersey . The top-ranked Djokovic also beat Gael Monfils and then routed Roger Federer en route to his first Abu Dhabi title. "Its always great to win a title. This is the best way to start the 2012 season," Djokovic said. http://www.jetsauthentic.com/authentic-teemu-selanne-jets-jersey/ . De La Rosa pitched six strong innings to win his sixth consecutive decision, Todd Helton homered and the Colorado Rockies snapped the Los Angeles Dodgers six-game winning streak with a 7-5 victory on Wednesday night.KAMLOOPS, B.C. - Taylor Vickermans third-period goal held up as the winner as the Tri-City Americans edged the Kamloops Blazers 2-1 in Western Hockey League action on Monday. Jessey Astles also scored for Tri-City (27-24-5). Matt Revel had the lone goal for Kamloops (11-41-5), who have now dropped 10 games in a row. Americans goalie Eric Comrie kicked aside 30 shots to pick up his 24th win of the season. Bolton Pouliot made 27 saves in the losing effort for the Blazers. --- WINTERHAWKS 8 COUGARS 4 PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. -- Chase Leo scored two goals and assisted on three others to lift Portland over Prince George. Taylor Leier had a goal and three assists, Paul Bittner and Garrett Haar had a goal and an assist apiece, and Keegan Iverson and Oliver Bjorkstrand also scored for the U.S. division-leading Winterhawks (39-12-5). Zach Pochiro scored two goals, and Marc McNulty and Brad Morrison added the others for the Cougars (24-27-7), who were outshot 50-32. Brendan Burke made 32 saves for Portland while Prince Georges Adam Beukeboom stopped 42 shots. --- ROYALS 3 GIANTS 2 VANCOUVER -- Travis Brown bbroke a 2-2 tie with a power-play goal late in the third period to lift the Royals over the Giants. Bobby Hull Jersey. Logan Fisher and Austin Carroll also scored for the Royals (38-16-4), who are 8-0-2 in their last 10 games. Dominik Volek and Cain Franson replied for Vancouver (27-22-9), who dropped their third straight contest. Coleman Vollrath picked up his 18th win of the season for Victoria with 26 saves. Giants goaltender Jared Rathjen stopped 26 shots in defeat. --- ROCKETS 7 THUNDERBIRDS 3 KELOWNA, B.C. -- Tyrell Goulbourne scored two goals and added an assist to lead Kelowna over Seattle. Ryan Olsen and Myles Bell had a goal and an assist apiece for the Rockets (44-8-4), while Nick Merkley, Marek Tvrdon, and Colton Heffley also scored. Jordon Cooke stopped 27 shots. Alexander Delnov scored once and picked up an assist, and Jerret Smith and Ethan Bear rounded out the offence for the Thunderbirds (35-17-5). Seattles Taran Kozun started in net but was pulled after giving up four goals on 19 shots through 27:28. Danny Mumaugh stopped 17 of 20 shots in relief. (The Canadian Press) ' ' '