To Summer Or Not To Summer, United Lose To Sunderland, Hitzlsperger Comes Out, Lazio, Laurent Dubois On Afro-Europe In The World Cup

Happy Humpday! 

We'll begin with SPECTRE FIFA. One of their guys said Qatar 2022 will not be played in the summer. Then some of their other guys said nothing had been decided. Clowns.

Speaking of clowns, apparently that's what Manchester United think of referees these days. It was another loss for the Red Devils at Sunderland last night. The loss marks the first time United have lost three matches inside a week since 1992. Jamie Jackson took in the show at the Stadium of Light, and Louise Taylor thinks David Moyes is being haunted by Sir Alex Ferguson. Spooky.

Beginning to make Moe Szyslak look handsome...

Ian Darke wants to grade each of the Premier League teams on how they have fared thus far. For example: Cardiff City -- Owner Vincent Tan has made the club a laughing stock and spoiled what should be a wonderful adventure in the top flight. Perhaps he will calm down and let Ole Gunnar Solskjaer pilot the club to safety, but you would fancy them more if they had a striker as good as the former Man United man. C. Read the other 19 grades here.

Thomas Hitzlsperger is gay. The former German International and Villa/Stuttgart/Lazio/West Ham/Wolfsburg/Everton man made the announcement yesterday. One day announcements like this won't have to be announced. Until then, well played, Tommy. Respect. Marcus Christensen has a good piece on the man they called 'Der Hammer'.

Over in Italy, Lazio are a club in chaos. The Roman giants just haven't been able to get it together of late. James Horncastle takes a closer look.

Friend of SSN, Professor at Duke, Haitian Expert, and All Around Good Guy Laurent Dubois has a new piece in Sports Illustrated. This time around, Professor Dubois is looking at Afro-Europe in the World Cup.

Eastern Europe expert Jonathan Wilson is in Venice. The local club are in trouble. They might go under. Sorry. Take a look.

There is a match of note this afternoon. Manchester City host West Ham in a Capital One Cup Semi-Final First Leg clash at the Etihad. Here's a preview. As with yesterday, it can be viewed in the USA on beIN Sport USA at 2:45pm EST.

The Mill is burning up. It's so hot it needs a Plus One.

Onward!!

-SSN