Tottenham keen on former Chelsea and Arsenal midfielder
May 12, 2008
Not content with snapping up the exciting Luka Modric for £16.5million, Tottenham are looking to bolster their midfield further by adding the Premier League journeyman Lassana Diarra to their ranks. The midfielder has already been on the books at Chelsea and Arsenal, before joining Portsmouth during the January transfer window. Many have suggested that if the player had stayed at the Emirates, they may have put up more of a title challenge.
The Guardian report that Spurs have been sniffing around Diarra for some time, while let’s remind you of the player’s loyal words upon joining Portsmouth.
“The people at Portsmouth know that I will not spend my life at the club,” said Diarra after completing his £5.5m move in January. “I was able to add a clause to my contract. If I shine, if a really big club wants me, I already know that everything will go well. I don’t want any more battles.”
The wheeler-dealer that is Harry Redknapp won’t led the midfielder leave without making a decent profit from the sale, that’s for sure. Diarra’s last efforts in a Pompey shirt might be helping them secure the FA Cup before flying the nest to join his fourth Premier League club in the space of a year. If Pot Noodle is the slag of all snacks, what does that make Lassana Diarra?
Everyone agrees with Keegan - The Premier League is boring
May 9, 2008
Kevin Keegan came out after Newcastle’s 0-2 loss to Chelsea and said that he could not turn the Toon into a Big Four team again within the three years his contract lasts for. Such talk has landed him in hot water with owner Mike Ashley, who has called him down to London for “crisis talks” today.
Since his emotional outburst though, it turns out that Portsmouth Manager Harry Redknapp and Reading manager Steve Coppell both actually agree with him, with Harry quoted as saying:
“You would need £150million to spend to have any chance of breaking into that top four, Look at Liverpool last summer, they spent £28million on Fernando Torres and he is a fantastic player but who else can compete with that?
I agree with Kevin Keegan, I do not see any way that anyone else can break into the top four. Tottenham came closest for a few seasons but if you look at them now they have fallen back into mid-table. Nothing is guaranteed by spending money and it is getting harder and harder to get there.”
And Coppell today saying:
“I have been saying that for a long time. At the start of the season you know within four teams definitely, probably within three and most betting people would say within two teams who is going to win the league, I contradict myself by saying it is brilliant to watch these teams do well in Europe but they have too much of an advantage on a week-to-week basis for it to be a really competitive league.
There are sub-divisions within the league that are competitive but in terms of winning the division you know who is going to do that at the start of each year.”
Are they right? Is the Premier League boring or just predictable? Should the Top Four be booted into an Elite Euro League? Should the Champion’s League rules be changed? Surely something needs to change or the fans will vote with their feet.
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?
4 OUT, 3 IN, Liverpool make £30m transfer bids: Rafa starts summer planning
May 6, 2008
So, here we are just one match from seasons end and Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has many irons in the fire. With moves involving a mass of Premier League teams including Aston Villa, Portsmouth and Newcastle among others.
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is on the verge of a summer clearout with £30m rated quartet Peter Crouch, Jermaine Pennant, John Arne Riise and Xabi Alonso all set to leave in order to bring in the cash for bid for the likes of Aston Villa’s Gareth Barry, Borussia Dortmund full-back Philipp Degen and Wigan Athletic’s Antonio Valencia. (various)
So that’s one hell of a transfer mouthful. Some of these deals seem more likely than others but it does seem like the Spaniard wants to make a raft of changes. Are the players linked with moves to and from Anfield the kind that Liverpool fans would agree with?
Liverpool man seems sure to leave for £8m: But is it a big mistake?
May 6, 2008
Rafa Benitez could be about to make a mistake as he looks set to let a player head for the Anfield exit.
Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp will bid £8m for Liverpool striker Peter Crouch. (Various)
Peter Crouch has done enough to earn a decent contract in my view and should really be considered as a possible regular partner for Torres instead of just playing the occasional game here and there. What do Liverpool fans think? Is he worth keeping? After 40 goals in a Reds shirt surely he deserves a decent shot back in the first team rather than letting him leave the club.
Arsenal line up £15m midfielder to cope with mass exodus: Would be a great signing!
May 6, 2008
Depending on which papers you believe, and its never a good idea to believe any of them, there are a few other Arsenal players supposedly on their way out at the Emirates. However there is also a great player linked with the club to make up for this supposed ‘exodus’!
Arsene Wenger is reportedly after £15m rated Portsmouth midfielder Niko Kranjcar as a potential replacement for Alexander Hleb. (Daily Mirror)
Kranjcar is a quality player with excellent touch and he plays the way all good Wenger signings play. Harry Redknapp will find it hard to keep Niko at Fratton Park if the Gunners came calling. Do Arsenal fans rate the 23 year old Croat?
Portsmouth gaffer makes the right noises against Fulham - but surely his team have an eye on the cup?
May 5, 2008
After all, his team looked pretty pretty shabby against Middlesbrough on Saturday, another team who looked like they needed the points more than Pompey. Sky Sports reports that Harry Redknapp is adamant that his team aren’t going to go through the motions against Fulham, alhough exactly how heartening that is for fans of Birmingham and Reading remains to be seen.
Redknapp told Sky Sports: “I will field a full strength side as I owe that to other people in a relegation battle.
“I wouldn’t do that - it is not fair, I wouldn’t want someone to do that to me so I won’t be doing that.
“It will be a tough game against Fulham. I know some people say you have to look after yourself maybe, and if I get injuries they will say I shouldn’t have done it but next week I will be putting out as good a team as I can field.
“They have had a flyer, they have done what we did two years go - everyone wrote us off and everyone wrote Fulham off and now they are right back in the race and it will be a very difficult game again next week but I will make sure we are up for that game - I will make sure of that.”
In a way, fielding a full-strength team may be to Fulham’s advantage anyway. After all, if Redknapp played a bunch of fringe players, they might be more likely to play their socks off in an attempt to get into the reckoning for the Wembley final against Cardiff. Perhaps the first-teamers will be more likely to shun a few tough challenges and make sure they are fit for one of the biggest games of their footballing career.
Lanky Anfield benchwarmer heading for the exit.
May 3, 2008
The transfer soothsayers that are the Daily Mail reckon that Harry Redknapp is set to toss £8m in Rafa Benitez’s direction hoping that it is enough to convince the Spaniard to let Peter Crouch leave. Daily Mail journo Neil Ashton writes:
“The Liverpool striker expects to leave Anfield this summer after a frustrating season under the rotation policy of manager Rafa Benitez, but he is waiting for offers from other clubs before making a decision.
“Portsmouth’s bid — sanctioned by owner Alexandre Gaydamak, who wants to provide Redknapp with a large summer budget — is the first firm offer on the table and Crouch could yet be persuaded to return to the south coast.”
Crouchigol back to Portsmouth - a good move for the lankster?
Spurs no hoper about to head for 8m exit: Better late than never!
May 1, 2008
Pascal Chimbonda is not a popular man at White Hart Lane it seems, fans have complaints about his consistency, his attempts to orchestrate a way out earlier in the season and above all, his attitude.
Aston Villa and Portsmouth will battle it out for £8m rated Pascal Chimbonda after the full-back was told he has no future at Tottenham. (Daily Mirror)
So £8m for Chimbonda? Ramos would be a fool to turn that down but that apparently is the valuation of the Wigan Athletic man but will either of these clubs pay this kind of money for the Frenchman, I doubt it! Will Spurs fans welcome the exit of Pascal.
FIVE to leave Liverpool for £30m as Rafa makes summer plans: Keep ONE, sell FOUR!
April 29, 2008
It appears that this summer will be a busy one for Rafa Benitez as he hopes to steer Liverpool nearer to the Premier League title next time around. The following five players are strongly linked with moves away from Merseyside.
Portsmouth owner Sacha Gaydamak is backing manager Harry Redknapp’s £7m bid for Peter Crouch. (The Express)
Jermaine Pennant is set to leave the Anfield club and move to Newcastle United where manager Kevin Keegan is said to be keen to sign the 25-year-old winger. (goal.com)
Defender John Arne Riise fears he is heading for the Anfield exit in the summer. The Norway international has one-year remaining on his present deal (Sky News)
Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill will make no decision on whether he wants to keep on-loan Liverpool goalkeeper Scott Carson permanently until the end of the season. The Villa boss was originally sceptical about paying the £9m asking price (PA)
Liverpool are expected to demand a transfer fee of £2million if Bolton Wanderers try to keep Danny Guthrie at the Reebok. (Bolton News)
Of these five I reckon only Crouch is really worthy of keeping. Carson is a good keeper but I think Rafa has made it clear the England man is not part of his plans. Riise and Pennant have had a fair crack of the whip but neither is in my view Liverpool material and Guthrie will find it next to impossible to get a run in a Reds midfield so graced with talent. What do Anfield supporters think?
PFA Team of the Year Shows Why Chelsea Shouldn’t Win The Title
April 29, 2008
David James (Portsmouth)
Bacary Sagna (Arsenal), Rio Ferdinand (Man Utd), Nemanja Vidic (Man Utd), Gael Clichy (Arsenal)
Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal), Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd), Ashley Young (Aston Villa)
Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal), Fernando Torres (Liverpool)
This weeks PFA awards, which named Ronaldo as the best player in the Premiership for the second year, honoured those players who have been the best all season in their respected positions. Awards obviously went to players from Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal, and even Aston Villa and Portsmouth got in on the action.
However, not one player from the title-chasing juggernaught that is Chelsea was present.
Does this show how unworthy Chelsea are of winning the title? They have not played entertaining football meaning none of their so-called ’superstars’ have played good enough football to be named as the best in the league. Chelsea fans may claim that winning the league is a team effort but a quick glance back at the list and there are three players from Manchester United, three from Arsenal and two from Liverpool. This shows that these teams are just that: teams.
Granted it all boils down to how many points you get, but when it is this tight at the top and you have to make a choice, I’d rather see a team playing entertaining football win the title. Those are the teams people remember. The teams people are proud to call “the best in the country”. United’s Treble-winners of 1999. Arsenal’s Invincibles of 2004. These teams are remembered as they played glorious football en route to the title.
Will anyone say the same about Chelsea if they win the 2008 Premier League title? The PFA seems to think not.
Do you agree with PFA Team of the Season?
April 28, 2008
Especially the decision to not include a single Chelsea player in the line-up? After all, this is a team which could still quite feasibly win the Premier League title, while they are favourites to beat Liverpool and make it to the Champions League final.
Team: James (Portsmouth); Sagna (Arsenal), Ferdinand, Vidic (Man U), Clichy (Arsenal); Ronaldo (Man U), Gerrard (Liverpool), Fabregas (Arsenal), Young (Villa); Adebayor (Arsenal), Torres (Liverpool).
Are there any glaring omissions from the XI selected? Naturally, these things are always subjective, although it’s difficult to argue that any of the above haven’t stood out for their teams this season. Chelsea’s Frank Lampard and John Terry might have had more of a look-in if they hadn’t been injured for chunks of the season, while the likes of Joleon Lescott, Gareth Barry and Glen Johnson have all performed extremely well for their respective clubs.
Who would feature in your team of the season?
ONE Liverpool star soon to leave Anfield in £7m exit: Rafa should keep him!
April 27, 2008
Peter Crouch is getting more first team action as the season draws to an end but of course this is only so Rafa can rest his star players before Champions League action. It does look like the giant striker is heading for the exit, but should Benitez try to keep the England man at Anfield?
Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp has been given the green light to make a £7m summer swoop for Liverpool striker Peter Crouch. (Sunday Express)
Three goals in his last three Premier League outings shows that Crouchy is a damn good player and I can see why lots of clubs are eager to purchase the 27 year old but do Liverpool fans think he should be persuaded to stay at the club?
Portsmouth midfielders set to fly the nest
April 23, 2008
There’s no room for sentimentality in football (the selection of Scholes and Giggs might cost Manchester United silverware this season), with reports coming from the South Coast of England that Pedro Mendes and Sean Davis are likely to leave the good ship Portsmouth at the end of the season. The pair have previously helped keep Pompey in the Premier League but Harry Redknapp’s recent strengthening of the squad has left them with an almighty fight on their hands according to The News.
Redknapp said: ‘With Sean, we are looking at the end of the year to see what he wants to do with his contract. As for Pedro, I like him, I have no problems with him.
‘But it’s like everything in football, you bring people in to strengthen your team and your squad. I want to keep improving the team and that’s what I have done. It’s nothing personal.
‘We have got no-one I want to get rid of. There are no players I wish we didn’t have here. They are all good players.
‘It’s rare, really. They are a great bunch of lads, all good players. It is a pleasure to manage them.
‘You don’t want to get rid of them but it depends if they get better offers and how good the clubs are who want to take them.”
It’s likely that the pair will find another Premier League club, albeit one which is likelier to finish in the bottom half of the Premier League. Gary O’Neil left Fratton Park last summer to join Middlesbrough and it could be the same scenario for Mendes and O’Neil.
Arsenal and Liverpool both chase a £10m Premier League striker, but is he really THAT good?
April 20, 2008
This rumours falls under the confusion bracket for me. I rate Kenwyne Jones I think he has done a fantastic job at the Stadium of Light and his efforts in a Sunderland shirt should not only be measured by his goal-scoring exploits. However I really don’t see him as top four material although he has now been linked with three of the quartet.
Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones is attracting interest from Chelsea, Portsmouth, Manchester City and Arsenal (Sunday Express) Rafa Benitez is also said to be a fan and has apparently been linked with a move for the £10 rated former Southampton striker throughout the season (various)
The 23 year old forward is much loved in the north-east and Roy Keane will not let him go without a fight and seeing as the Black Cats helped him get a foot hold in the Premier League I would think it unfair for him to use the club as a stepping stone, especially as we are talking about Sunderland, one of the biggest clubs in the country. Jones would be better off staying at the club as I think that Keane will continue to push the club ever upwards. What do Sunderland fans think about the speculation?
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