Lot number 738, a rarely-used Liverpool and England striker. We’ll start the bidding at £15million…
May 8, 2008
Should your team be bidding for Peter Crouch this summer? It’s clear that if the former QPR hitman gets a regular run of games for most Premier League clubs, he’ll score a fair few, both on the floor and in the air. It’s just a shame that Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez seems intent on persisting with a formation that includes just one forward, and that Crouch has to compete with the goal machine that is Fernando Torres.
While there’s been a whole heap of speculation surrounding Crouch all season, most of which has been rebuffed by the striker, it now appears as though the talented forward is moving to pastures new. Sky Sports report that Rafael Benitez has slapped a £15million price tag on his head (after getting a ladder out to reach that far), which is the equivalent of one-and-a-half Gareth Barry’s if Liverpool’s economics are anything to go by.
“Crouch wants to play every week but knows he must fight it out with Fernando Torres,” Benitez said.
“We keep seeing Portsmouth linked with the player but we have had no offer as yet.
“A £15m price tag would not be unreasonable.”
Which is basically the Spaniard’s way of saying ’show me the money’ to potential buyers. Harry Redknapp is clearly a fan of Crouchaldinho, having been his manager when the pair were at Southampton. Will there be a little and large act at Pompey next season, with Crouch and Defoe wreaking havoc amongst opposition defences?
West Ham and Spurs after intelligent £3.5m man: But where will he go?
May 6, 2008
Alan Curbishley will be looking to invest in his squad but he will not want to splurge big money on players, he tried that last summer and due to injuries and poor form those signings failed. West Ham have now been linked with a clever player who has been in top form in the Championship this season. Tottenham are also believed to be considering a move for the talented youngster.
West Ham United are about to move for Wolves winger Michael Kightly.(The Mirror)
Tottenham are also interested in a move for Kightly (Daily Mail)
22 year old Kightly has had seen his career sky rocket in recent seasons. After being released by Southend he got stuck in at Grays and netted an incredible amount of goals from the midfield and the wing. He had a great season at Molinuex but now it appears he may be about to leave Wolves for a move back to London and into the Premier League. Do West Ham and Spurs fans like the look of Kightly?
Should Chelsea manager be surprised that his massive squad of world-class players are challenging for title?
May 6, 2008
After all, the Blues have quality all over the park. Chelsea’s second string would probably finish sixth or seventh in the Premier League, so why have Avram Grant’s expectations been exceeded by his team’s strong finish to the season, which could mean a domestic-European double this season?
Look at the players he has at his disposal! Perhaps Arsene Wenger should be the man that is making the below sort of quotes, considering the smaller squad and the terrible luck with injuries that Arsenal have experienced in the past few months. To hear Grant speak (through the medium of Sky Sports), anyone would think he was manager of Aston Villa or Everton.
“From day one our target was to be in the Champions League final and to improve our game,” he said.
“We’ve done more than I even expected, so we want to believe the season will end well and we will fight to the last minute.
“United have had a fantastic season. They’ve been champions many times before but this year we have given them a good battle and it is not finished yet.
“Even if they win the title on goal difference you must give my team respect.”
Hmmm, can’t see many neutrals ‘respecting’ Chelsea for their achievements, particularly as their success is down to a Russian billionaire deciding to pick them as his pet project and investing hundreds of millions to ensure that they become one of the world’s leading clubs and brands. Surely, Everton, Villa, Portsmouth and Sunderland deserve more respect for having decent seasons, while Stoke and West Brom should also be praised for scrambling out of the Championship without having a bottomless pit of cash.
Leicester chairman fumes from across the pond after Stoke draw sends them down
May 5, 2008
Quite why Milan Mandaric wasn’t at the Britannia Stadium to watch his Leicester City team draw 0-0 with Stoke is a puzzle in itself. After all, Potters chairman Peter Coates travels the length and breadth of the country to watch his team in action, collaborating with manager Tony Pulis every other day. It appears to be quite the opposite at the Walkers Stadium, where the Foxes chairman describes his role at Leicester as a ‘project’ and appears to be unconvinced that Ian Holloway is the man to take the club forward.
Sky Sports report that the former Portsmouth chairman is fuming after seeing Leicester get out of the Championship, but not in the way he intended. Poor Milan, he’s not going to make a profit out of selling the club at this rate. Get the violins out for this likeable fellow.
“It is not an easy moment. It is one I have never experienced before in any project, whether business or football,” Mandaric, speaking from the United States, told Sky Sports News.
“It is a dreadful experience. It is a shame. I feel let down and right now I am not a very happy man.
“You don’t have to be Einstein. If you look at the support I have given to my managers and my players, both financially and morally, and what do you get in response?
“You expect rewards and results. We didn’t get it and you have to feel let down.”
Perhaps Mandaric let himself down at Leicester. After all, there was a distinct lack of continuity, with four managers taking charge at various points in the season. Who knows whether the club would have found themselves in this position if he’d stuck with Martin Allen for a few more months.
West Brom and Stoke - any chance of staying in the Premier League?
May 5, 2008
They’ll be dancing in the streets of Hanley and Newcastle-under-Lyme after Stoke City bagged themselves the second automatic promotion spot on Sunday. The Potters have done magnificently this season, coming from behind on several occasions to land wins or draws against Championship opponents and it’s hard to argue that they don’t deserve their place in the Premier League next season.
Quite whether they’ll stay there for longer than a season is another matter. Many have commented that this season’s Championship has been bereft of quality, with West Brom winning the league with the lowest points total for over two decades. Not that the Baggies or Stoke care at this particular moment in time, with the BBC reporting Tony Pulis, the manager of the latter, in a bullish mood.
“I have to say a special ‘thank you’ to the chairman. Peter showed a lot of character to buy this club and spent a lot of money on it.
“This is a great day for this club and an opportunity for us to build and push on for next year.”
However, the fun starts next week when Pulis and Coates have to start planning for next season. With just eleven points on the board this season, Derby County have demonstrated how promotion to the top flight can go terribly wrong and while the Rams will be much richer for their season in the big time, it’s obvious that the promoted three will be desperate not to disgrace themselves in such a manner.
The new boys will take heart from Sunderland’s efforts this season, a team who were floundering in mid-table of the Championship when Roy Keane took over and have now completed a successful season of consolidation in the Premier League. Birmingham too have shown that the gulf between the teams at the bottom of the top flight and the top of the second division isn’t that great, while the Baggies and Potters will also be confident of finishing above at least one other team - the one who is promoted through the play-offs and has less time to prepare for the new campaign.
Fulham, Birmingham, Bolton and Reading - who are your picks to ‘go down with the Derby’
May 2, 2008
There’s an almighty scrap at the top of the Championship to determine who will be playing Premier League football next season, which teams will the likes of West Brom and Stoke City be replacing? The bookmakers still don’t give Fulham much of a chance, despite their heroic comeback at Manchester City last weekend. A victory against fellow-strugglers Birmingham on Saturday would mean that their top flight safety could potentially be in their own hands!
Surely Reading fans are a touch on the concerned side, considering their team’s inability to score, let alone win a game. OK, so they managed a creditable 0-0 draw at Wigan last weekend, although the decision to bring back Leroy Lita from his loan spell at Charlton smacked of desperation, while the Daily Mirror report tension in the camp ahead of Saturday’s game against Spurs. The Royals record signing won’t play for his ’stupid team’ anymore apparently.
“It is not clever at all to suspend your own players, it is stupid,” said the 24-year-old. “The sanction is heavy - two weeks!
“I cannot understand their attitude. I refused to play with the reserves and they said: ‘Okay let us meet on Thursday’.
“But in the meantime I received a letter saying I am axed.
“They are not courageous enough to tell me things in the eyes, man to man, in five minutes.
“I am an adult, I can recognise when I make mistakes. I can also admit to people when I am wrong. The team needs all their players for the last two games.
“For sure my future is not with Reading.”
Not exactly what you need when you’re teetering on the edge of the drop zone, although perhaps this will galvanise the rest of the Reading squad, who face a last-day trip to Derby after the weekend game against Spurs. Bolton are in action at home to Sunderland and will at least have the comfort of the Black Cats having nothing to play for after their 3-2 win over Middlesbrough last weekend.
Spurs teen star on the move: I very much doubt it!
April 28, 2008
Surely this is a joke?
Spurs youngster Adel Taarabt is a target of West Brom (The Sun)
At first I thought this was in relation to possible loan move, but it appears that Tony Mowbray is interested in bringing in the teenager permanently, but surely Adel is out of the Baggies range? Are Spurs fans keen to see more of Adel? He is still yet to get a start under his belt and is a player thought of highly by White Hart Lane supporters, can he make an impact next season?
Can Robins Premiership Dream Still Fly?
April 24, 2008
Everyones favourite little overachievers Bristol City are in danger of running out of steam before the finishing line. The previous Championship toppers have finally fallen into the play-off spots. With 2 games to go, 4 points between them and automatic promotion and their horendous playoff record, the Robins look set to miss out on the big time and spend another year in Championship. West Brom and Stoke are leading the way and Hull are sitting in 3rd blocking City’s path. All three are looking like they have come into form just at the right time, just as the Robins fall on hard times.
However, although they have only won once in the last nine games, it is not all doom and gloom at Ashton Gate. Last year they were in the League One, trapped in a division they should have escaped on several occasions over a 7 year period. Will fans be dissapointed if City fail to reach the ‘promised land’ or will they simply reflect on the outstanding achievement of a newly-promoted team, seemingly lacking in goalscorers? (City have a goal difference of -1)
I personally think Gary Johnson has done amazingly well to get City out of League One, let alone challenge for promotion to the Premiership. I think next season will be more of a reality check for Robins fans. Yet, not everyone agrees with me. Defender Bradley Orr seems to think promotion is still possible.
I’m not going to say ‘we can’t', we’ll go right to the end and see what happens. We’ve just got to go and do the job that we can do, affect the games we can and hope other people do us favours. We’ll go right to the end and see where it takes us.
The last two games are going to be exciting and we’ve got to get over this disappointment [Losing to rivals Stoke] and go again.
Thoughts?
Liverpool or Everton? £5m British teen has a tough decision to make
April 20, 2008
Sheffield Wednesday’s 18 year old defender Mark Beevers has been in fine form despite his side’s relegation battle and now it seems that both Merseyside giants are after £5m rated Barnsley born lad.
Liverpool and Everton both want young Sheffield Wednesday defender Mark Beevers. (Sunday Mirror)
The lanky centre back looks to be one of the most sought after youngsters in the country and with Rafa seemingly keen on increasing his English contingent you can see why Liverpool are monitoring the situation. Everton too want to add the England under 19 international to their ranks, but who, if either, will win the race?
Everton and West Ham battle it out in £6m double swoop for fine young talents!
April 20, 2008
Ipswich Town have a host of young bright stars that Premier League sides are taking a fancy too.
Everton are lining up a £3million swoop for Ipswich star Owen Garvan. (Sunday Mirror) and David Moyes is also still in the chase for Garvan’s teammate Danny Haynes (various)
However both players are also targets for Alan Curbishley as he attempts to add some young talents to West Ham’s squad (various)
Tommy Miller’s last gasp equaliser at Wolves has given Jim Magilton’s side a faint hope of reaching the play-offs but should they fail then the East Anglia club may find itself the subject to many more aggressive bids for their best players and then it will come down to whether the club can afford to turn down large offers as they once again prepare for another shot back into the big time. Do Everton and West Ham like the look of either of these 20 year olds? And do Ipswich fans hope they can keep hold of them?
Liverpool manager looking to sue Warnock
April 20, 2008
If you ask most people in football whether they like Neil Warnock, the answer is no. The current Crystal Palace manager seems to find it easier to make enemies rather than friends, which is a shame as he’s actually a very nice bloke when you get to know him. The Guardian reports that Rafael Benitez has consulted his lawyer after the former Sheffield United boss questioned the Liverpool manager’s integrity in a recent newspaper column.
Benítez bristled at a question about Warnock’s comments and said: ‘Somebody told me [about them]. We knew he was bad as a manager and prehistoric, but we didn’t know he was a person like this. I will speak to my lawyer. We don’t need to waste time with him.’
It’s clear that Warnock is still bitter about the Blades’ relegation last season on the final day of the season. One of their relegation rivals was Fulham, who achieved a 1-0 win over a weakened Reds team. However, Benitez was not the first and certainly won’t be the last manager to do this when there are crucial games on the horizon. And anyhow, what exactly constitutes a weakened team when you have two players for every position anyway?
Leeds United Go To Elland Back Over 15 Points
April 16, 2008
Just as you thought their fall from grace was complete and they were focusing on climbing back up the football league, Leeds United are still refusing to let things lie.
Seemingly taking a leaf from the Sheffield United book of ‘How To Fight A Court Case You Won’t Win And Tarnish Your Reputation At The Same Time’, the Yorkshire club are still fighting the Football League for their 15 point deduction which occurred back in August 2007.
An independent tribunal considering the penalty is set to start today. The three-man panel reviewing the deduction is expected to make their ruling before Leeds travel to Millwall on the 19th of April, and if they receive all 15 points back, a win at The New Den would clinch 2nd place and automatic promotion back to The Championship.
If that were to happen League One promotion rivals Carlisle United and Doncaster Rovers have already said they will start legal proceedings and may more could follow suit.
However, the chances of that happen is slim but, according to leading sports lawyer Richard Cramer, it is still possible for Leeds:
A few weeks ago, I thought it was bleak, but having seen the legal documents, I think the prospects have improved. I think there’s probably a 25-30% chance of winning.
They may carve it up - they might say ‘Well hold on, 15 points is too much, we’ve got to give them something’ and bring it down to eight, seven or six.”
Wolves v West Brom: The REAL player ratings!
April 16, 2008
Yes, it was a crucial derby encounter as Wolverhampton Wanderers searched for the points to keep up with a play-off push and West Bromwich Albion looked for points to take top spot. Now it’s your turn to say it as you saw it! Who had a ‘mare’ and who was on the money? You decide with our lovely cut and paste thingy!
Check the line-ups below, then simply give your personal rating for each player and cut and paste the whole thing into the comments box. Then see how your fellow fans scored the game.
Wolves
Hennessey
Foley
(Kyle)
Neill Collins
Craddock
Elokobi
Jarvis
Olofinjana
Gibson
Gray
(Eastwood)
Keogh
Ebanks-Blake
West Brom
Kiely
Hoefkens
Barnett
Clement
Robinson
Gera
Koren
Greening
Morrison
Miller
(Bednar)
Phillips
(Pele)
Everton, Newcastle and Aston Villa battle over £10m trio, but who can offer the best future?
April 15, 2008
Three teams moving in the right direction up the Premier League table appear to be battling for the same three British talents.
All three are apparently keen on Wolves keeper Wayne Hennessey, valued in the 3m bracket, who said of the attention:
“At the end of the day I’m still at Wolves and I love it here. The club and the fans have been fantastic to me and I just want to keep going and playing my games. When you look at the table it’s all still there for us with our games in hand - we’ve just got to go and grab it.” (various)
Next up, another Wolves star, 4m rated striker Sylvain Ebanks-Blake
However Wolves’ chief executive Jez Moxey has vowed that none of the club’s big hitters will be leaving this summer.
“We won’t lose anyone that we don’t want to lose,” said Moxey. (various)
And the final member of this trio Barnsley captain Brian Howard
Howard will be offered a massive £10,000-a-week deal to make him the highest-paid
Oakwell boss Simon Davey is desperate to keep the £3million-rated midfielder, who has a year left on his deal Howard said of the possible deal: “I would be delighted to talk about it.” (The Sun)
So will these player resist moves away? If Wolves fail to make it through the play-offs then it will be harder to keep these youngsters and Brian Howard, having now had a taste of the big-time in their fabulous cup run, may seek an even bigger pay packet in the Premier League or indeed he may just see a move to the top tier simply a more ambitious move regardless of salary and I don’t think anyone could blame him. Unlike the Wolves pair, who are a good three or four years younger, Howard may see this as the right time to move up the ladder. Would Villa, Everton and Newcastle fans welcome their arrivals?
James Beattie - was he treated badly at Everton?
April 12, 2008
Everton gaffer Davie Moyes has had a pop back at James Beattie, a clodhopping shire horse of a striker, who recently claimed that:
“I don’t think I was treated with the respect I deserved during my time with Everton.”
Moyes seemed a bit shocked to hear such tripe from an ex-player, especially one given ample chance to impress, and retorted with a restrained swipe. Moyes said:
“It surprised me to hear those comments. I don’t like talking about players at other clubs, but what I will say is that we always do well by players while they are here.”
A case of sour grapes from Beattie, a man who plumbed new depths of craptastic striking whilst at Goodison?
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