Weekly news blitz, 24-30 December

Presenting the final roundup of all things Czech football, mainly stories of a trio of stars in a slow news week…

Of course, Tomáš Ujfaluši turning down Liverpool and its £500,000 contract was in The Guardian and everywhere in UK media, a personal move that surprised even his agent Pavel Paska: “I have to respect the decision he has made. Nevertheless, it has surprised me a lot. Liverpool rarely makes this type of offer to one player twice.”

(Maybe he should hire Scott Boras, eh?)

Reportedly, Ujfaluši is currently leaning toward a three-year deal with Fiorentina.

From the Only In Futball Department. So, let me get this straight: Arsenal goes to Everton, destroys the opposition for a 4-1 win yet Arsène Wenger has to explain “his decision to rest striker Emmanuel Adebayor and midfielder Tomas Rosicky”? Sheesh.

Here’s the multi-purpose answer, by the way: “It was a slight gamble because they are two important players. They gave a lot at Portsmouth on Boxing Day and needed a breather. We were too nervous and they didn’t play enough. Everton made a battle of it and won most of the duels.”

(Dude’s reading off index cards, to be sure.)

Speaking of “Little Mozart” Rosicky, the Czech skipper was named man of the match (at least at Arsenal Pies) for his performance in the listless 0-0 draw with Portsmouth.

While “Us Gooners may all have been a tad disappointed,” Rosicky appears to get straight-up dissed in Macau (Macau!) on the Macau Daily News webpage in the midst of its strange tiny-font stream-of-consciousness looking futball roundup: …Arsenal failed to score for the first time this season when they could only draw 0-0 with Portsmouth but Czech international Tomas Rosicky could have won it for Arsene Wenger’s team but he screwed a close range shot wide of the target in the closing moments…

He “screwed” a shot wide? No way the unnamed Red Smith of the Far East meant that in the American sense. Did he?

Finally, a couple of stories about Roman Bednar proclaim that he loves West Bromwich Albion (or at least doesn’t hate it like Hearts) and West Bromwich Albion loves him (at least for now).

With the utilitarian headline “Roman Bednar happy to be away from Hearts,” the Birmingham Mail has Bednar “fed up” with being treated like a “toy” by Hearts management, who have created a “little Vilnius in Scotland.” (That last one was writer Chris Lepkowski’s line actually…)

That’s okay with all parties right now, because The Scotsman gives word that “Hearts striker Roman Bednar has been promised a permanent move to West Brom if he keeps banging in the goals.”

Cheers, all, and happy new year!