Soccer World: Levante living the dream

For many the Spanish Primera Liga is the ultimate two-team league. You have footballing powerhouses Barcelona and Real Madrid, and then you have the rest, scratching around for scraps.

The way Spanish clubs negotiate their own TV rights also means that this inequality is merely magnified when it comes to finances – the big two able to command fees far higher than the rest.

But just when we thought romance was dead a plucky little side from Valencia are defying gravity and ruffling a few of the established feathers.

After successfully staving off relegation last year with a run of eight wins in 12 games from January to April, tiny Levante are unbeaten in their first eight games of the current campaign – beating Real Madrid in the process – and turning the La Liga betting on its head. They are currently only second to Barcelona by a point, with the Catalans having played a game more.

But before you suspect heavy investment is involved in what is the best start in their 102 year history I feel I should say now that it isn’t - Levante spent €210,000 over the summer. How about in previous seasons? Nope, their most expensive player cost €300,000 and their last 50 players have cost a combined total of less than €400,000.  Their entire budget is €22m – 20 times less than that of Barcelona, who are just a point better off.

Now, not many people think this flying start will continue, the age of their squad would dictate that they can’t defy the La Liga odds forever and that there will be a drop-off at some point. But it has at least breathed new life into what was becoming a stale and predicable league – even with the brilliance of Messi and co.

Their story gives others hope that money doesn’t rule all and maybe, just maybe, the underdog could have its day.

Soccer games: Platt staying grounded

Manchester City first-team coach David Platt has insisted the squad are fully focused on their upcoming Carling Cup date with Wolverhampton Wanderers following their heroics last weekend.

In what was a thrilling encounter which had everything at Old Trafford on Sunday, City ran out 6-1 victors over their rivals Manchester United, to stretch their lead at the top of the Premier League table to five points.

However there has not been too much time to celebrate, as their Italian manager Roberto Mancini and his side look to progress to the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup, with a victory over Wolves at Molineux on Wednesday. People placing a Carling Cup bet should remember this.

Following such as historic victory over a United side which has ruled the roost for so many years in Manchester, City could be forgiven for taking time to pat themselves on the back and take in the magnitude of what they accomplished.

Platt has insisted that has not been the case and it has been business as usual at the club ahead of their upcoming League Cup encounter in the West Midlands this week. Those following the Carling Cup betting should remember this.

He said: "You have always got to put your football boots back on, it is always zero-zero when you start another game.

"It is something that will be at the back of his [Mancini's] mind, to make sure we don't let what happened at the weekend take away focus on what the position in hand is - and that is progress in the Carling Cup.

"There is a belief in them that they can do it and the manager is greedy, he wants everything.”

Soccer Games: Cardiff wait on Miller

Cardiff City will have to wait and see whether or not they will have Kenny Miller available to them for this week's Carling Cup clash against Burnley. The Scottish striker was forced from the field during his side's 5-3 thrilling victory against Barnsley at the weekend with a head injury, following an unfortunate collision with team-mate Ben Turner.

The former Rangers and Celtic striker had scored the opening goal of the match, only to run straight into the powerful figure of Turner just before the half-hour. Miller left the field with his head covered in blood, with his manager Malky Mackay later confirming the front-man had gone to hospital for a check-up. People looking at the Carling Cup betting should remember this.

The Bluebirds boss will now have to wait on the results of the scans before deciding whether or not to include him for this week's Carling Cup fourth-round against an unpredictable Burnley side. Anyone placing a Carling Cup bet should bear this in mind.

"I still don't know how it happened, but it was a 5ft 10in player running into a 6ft 5in giant. Ben was okay, but Kenny had to have stitches in a nasty cut on his head," he said.

"The doctor will have to check him out before we decide whether or not he will be alright to play on Tuesday night against Burnley."

Cardiff will be one of a number of Championship clubs who will be looking at the Carling Cup as a genuine chance of reaching the latter stages in a big competition. Having the in-form Miller available to Cardiff would be the ideal situation for Mackay, but the manager won't want to risk his main striker with so many important league games coming up. 

Soccer World: Could Rooney suspension be a good thing?

Ok, the headline may sound strange. But given his act of petulance against Montenegro will have ramifications on England’s preparations for next summer, it may force England into a beneficial reshuffle.

At time of writing Rooney is set to miss just the opening game of the finals in Poland and the Ukraine, though that could be extended to two or more.

This means that the Three Lions’ fate will largely be decided without their talismanic striker. But could there be some benefit from Rooney’s absence?

After all, over reliance on one or two players has been an England trait for years and that pressure has proven too much to bear for some meaning, unsurprisingly football scores have suffered.

Therefore this could force England to explore other options and give vital international experience to the likes of Andy Carroll, Darren Bent and Bobby Zamora.

Ok, they are not in the same class as Rooney, but by working out a plan b, when Rooney does come back into the team England will have a number of options, giving opposition defenders something to think about.

Given Rooney has been in the game of nearly ten years, we can no longer treat moments of madness like Friday night as a wild act of immaturity. he has had enough time to grow up and learn from his mistakes – the World Cup in 2006 was surely the moment for that. So therefore, despite his immense talent, he is a powder keg waiting to explode at any time – and opposition players know it.

Rooney’s red in Podgorica now means he will be taunted and tormented in England games to come, with defenders looking to get him sent off, don’t rule it happening in a crucial game again in the future.

Therefore, Capello has to find a workable alternative - otherwise if Rooney’s ban is extended to two or even three games he could play his first live football of the summer with England already on their way out of the tournament.

I know it is clutching at straws and trying to find a glimmer of hope amongst Rooney’s red mist, but sometimes circumstances can force change for the good. England will be hoping that will prove the case in eastern Europe next June.