UK Football

Well it’s footballers go to jail day today, apparently, and first up is Ricardo Fuller of Stoke City who finds himself jailed for suspicion of driving offences.  Although Stoke won’t miss their striker much, considering he’s been out of action anyway with a dislocated shoulder since February 7th.  And I seriously doubt a reckless driving charge will keep him away from football for any longer than his shoulder injury has already threatened to do.

Marlon King joins Ricardo Fuller as strikers in trouble, the Hull City man faces a court charge of sexually assaulting and punching a woman in an incident at a bar from December 7th.  A fairly serious charge if Marlon King can’t offer some sort of defence, and King is the sort of player Hull City really would miss, especially with the way that they have been struggling in the latter part of this season.  But I have to say, I really won’t miss watching King play should he be guilty of sexually assaulting a woman, something about that would just make me respect a player’s ability less.

And finally, Pompey rejected a takeover bid from Swiss finance group VS Investments.  Apparently current owner Gaydamak was unhappy with the amount, which apparently was low after factoring in Portsmouth’s £40million debt.  Meaning anybody who was unhappy with the way Portsmouth is being run will have to wait a little longer until anything is actually sorted out.

Despite his announcements to the contrary, Sven Goran Eriksson remains Portsmouth’s number one target to replace the recently fired Tony Adams, as club manager.  David James weighed in on the possibility of having a former England manager at the club, “Having a former England manager as manager of Portsmouth I’m sure is something that the fans would never have envisaged

“Somebody of his calibre would be a tremendous acquisition for us.”

Whereas Eriksson himself hasn’t been as excited to accommodate Pompey’s wishes, stating that he plans to see out his contract with the Mexico National Team, which runs out in 2010 after the World Cup.  And I have to say that finishing his international contract would be the smartest move for Sven, because otherwise it looks really bad to have you abandon a national team on the verge of a World Cup to go somewhere else.  No doubt that could come back to haunt his career somehow.

But maybe Sven should do the same sort of deal the Hiddink has with Chelsea, manage Mexico and Portsmouth,  no conflict on interest, and international managers get so little time with the players that Mexico should be almost entirely unaffected.  But seriously, when is Mexico even going to qualify for the knockout stages, let alone win a World Cup?  Sven is just wasting his time.

In form old man Ryan Giggs signs a new one year deal with Manchester United, which will see him at the club at least until he’s almost 37, unless of course United extends his contract again next season.  With Giggs incredibly fit and still in top form at 36, I wouldn’t be surprised if he had yet another season beyond next in him.  The definition of living legend.

And finally, Chelsea want Carlo Ancelotti to become the permanent manager at the London club next season.  Although Ancelotti denies any interest in managing the blues, and has made his intent to see his current contract through to 2010.  But I don’t understand why Chelsea want him anyway. . .I understand the greatness Ancelotti exhibited in the past, but what’s he done lately?  AC Milan didn’t even qualify for the Champions League last season, and their performances last time they graced Europe’s finest football competition were less than convincing.

I don’t think Ancelotti is the right man for Chelsea, and I think if he does fall victim to Abramovich’s chequebook, than Scolari won’t be the last manager to be booted out of Chelsea after only a short period in charge.

photo: Calebrw

David Beckham may have to wait until November to make a permanent move to AC Milan, as the LA Galaxy can’t reach an agreement with the Italian club over Beckham’s transfer fee.  Apparently the Galaxy want £15million for the England legend.  But AC Milan are understandably a little speculative about shelling out so much cash for a player that’s going to be forced to retire in a few years, because let’s face it, Beckham is old in football terms.  Considering Beckham has been their best player in his term at the club, and the fact that he’s playing with the same quality he used to present at Manchester United, AC Milan could do worse in a £15million transfer.

Tony Adams got sacked today, and I don’t exactly understand the move from Pompey.  Premiership clubs need to stop being so willing to fire a manager without giving them time to gel with a club.  Adams never had financial support to bring in players, and Pompey made it a habit to sell their best players, like Jermaine Defoe, without replacing them in any way.  What was Adams supposed to do?

And still with that going on, Portsmouth had Liverpool beaten for most of that match during the weekend, given the state of Pompey’s current squad, how could Adams be in any way a bad manager?  But Portsmouth disagree, and are looking to sign a manager that doesn’t belong in the Premier League ever again in Avram Grant.  I  understand Chelsea finished well, and played well last season, but they would have won everything under a better manager.  Avram Grant’s decisions at the club were so bad I can’t believe Abramovich waited until the end of the season to sack him, or that Grant was able to find another job managing a football club.

Pompey have made a big mistake, and shouldn’t be surprised if they find themselves in the bottom three by the end of the season.

photo: John Dobson

Justice by the FA, Shaun Wright-Phillips has been punished for kicking out at Rory Delap during Manchester City’s fixture against Stoke last weekend, despite the foul being missed by the official during the match.  Wright-Phillips will receive a three match ban, and one that he completely deserves.

And finally, as if Arsenal weren’t having enough problems this season, Adebayor has picked up an injury, meaning the striker faces a three week lay off with an injured hamstring.  Arsene Wenger has already been having trouble getting his side motivated enough to break back into the top four, and now being one striker down Arsenal are in more trouble than ever.

photo: Gordon Flood

Carlos Tevez is still whining about the fact that he hasn’t been offered a long term deal by Manchester United. Although I don’t really understand it, as Tevez’s loan deal goes through the end of this season, so why as a business, would Manchester United want to put down a whopping £32million before they have to. Although considering this season, I really don’t think that Tevez should be made a permanent signing at United.

Because Sir Alex seems to like playing Dimitar Berbatov as one half of a 4-4-2 strike partnership in ever game, and Tevez can’t play well with Berbatov. In fact, Tevez is horrible with Berbatov, whereas the Bulgarian seems to make everyone else on the pitch better, with his brilliant passing, Tevez remains fairly useless as a strike partner. Often times having to be substituted around the 60^th minute, when Rooney takes back his rightful place up front, and almost always either gets United a goal or becomes the driving force in a score almost immediately after taking the pitch.

Tevez is useless to United at this point, so to his threat of leaving for Real Madrid, go ahead and go because Sir Alex and Manchester United really don’t need you anymore.

And for today’s rundown of important transfer news, Ryan Giggs might retire at the end of this season, Jermaine Defoe is going to Tottenham officially after Pompey accepted the Spurs bid for the England striker. Andrei Arshavin is so desperate to get to England that he may buy out his own contract so he can finally break free of Zenit St Petersburg. Carlos Tevez’s will to leave United if not offered a new deal has led Manchester City to join Real Madrid as interested parties. And Scolari will not have any money to spend in the transfer window, making me wonder if the Russian billionaire owner’s money well for football has gone dry.

(probably not one of Gareth Southgate’s fond memories)

Stewart Downing officially turned in a written transfer request, for his departure from Middlesbrough, but I doubt Downing will find another club as Tottenham was turned down with their bid of £12million. Which in this economy, seems like a massive amount of money for someone like Downing, who still hasn’t proven himself to be at the level of consistency that the Premiership requires. I don’t know exactly what Boro are looking for, in terms of financial compensation for Downing services. The boy doesn’t want to play at the club anymore, so Downing already won’t be at his best, and unless Gareth Southgate and crew are planning on convincing Manchester City to offer up a huge bid, they may regret not taking Tottenham’s money.

£12million is a massive amount of money that Middlesbrough could put to good use, buying a few more attacking options that they desperately need. Stewart Downing already isn’t getting it done, as their sudden drop in the table has shown, meaning Southgate needs to attempt something different anyway. So why not take a good offer like Tottenham’s, and then change the club for the better?

And to sum up the rest of the transfer news that matters, Redknapp is also interested in Sunderland’s Pascal Chimbonda, as well as Jermaine Defoe, looking to improve Tottenham’s season even more. Theo Walcott still hasn’t been offered the long term Arsenal contract he desires, which could lead to the gunners losing their pace fuelled winger. And Carlos Tevez is still complaining about having no permanent deal at Manchester United.

Jermaine Defoe is already planning his exit from Portsmouth apparently. I find it a little convenient that after all the talk about Harry Redknapp’s interest in bringing the England striker over to Tottenham, and Manchester City’s reported interest, that just now Defoe is complaining about unnerving threatening phone messages he has received from football ‘fans’. I see this as Jermaine Defoe preparing his Pompey departure, and still being able to save face with as many fans as possible.

You know, trying to make himself look as though he isn’t just chasing the money. The other factor that makes this story scream false, is that Defoe said he reported the messages to officials with Portsmouth, but not the police force. Which to me means he’s lying, and saying you’re trying to resolve the problem from within the club, gives him another reason to leave and not look like a money hungry striker.

I would respect Jermaine Defoe if he just made his intentions of going to a ‘better’ club with possibly greener pastures clear, like Stewart Downing who seems to be voicing his will to leave Middlesbrough every other day. Just admit you want to leave, football is a business, everyone understands if you need to make the best business decision for yourself by leaving for a different club.

In other news of note, the Premiership may be getting one of Europe’s finest and most often forgotten talents in Barry Ferguson, Scotland and Rangers captain. Joe Kinnear is reportedly interested in bringing the brilliant Scot to the Premiership with Newcastle United. And I would hope for the Premiership’s sake that Ferguson won’t be opposed to playing in the biggest league that the world has to offer.

photo: Austin Osuide

Well the transfer window is well and truly upon us, although many football analysts predict a lacklustre transfer period this time around, I highly doubt that. What with Manchester City’s billions, and their horrible place in the table. I don’t see Abu Dhabi United Group sitting back, and waiting for the possible fall. What if they should fall? Which billionaire organization would possibly want a relegated club to work with. More importantly who can you possibly attract, in terms of big names, to a Championship club.?

In terms of big name possibilities so far we have Roque Santa Cruz’s name being thrown around once again, mostly in connection with Mark Hughes and his reshaped Manchester City. Who have just recently acquired Wayne Bridge, and Bridge may prove to have been a great addition, considering how well the last time City bought a Chelsea reject turned out with one Shaun Wright-Phillips.

Stuart Downing is being linked to basically everyone, despite Gareth Southgate’s protests to Downing’s actual chances of departing Middlesbrough. Jose Mourinho doesn’t want Michael Owen, Cristiano Ronaldo pledged his long term future to Manchester United once again, Carlos Tevez is still desperately seeking a permanent Old Trafford deal. Jermaine Defoe is looking to greener pastures with a return to the managerial tactics of Harry Redknapp at Tottenham.

And David Villa may yet be appearing in the sky blue of Manchester City before January’s end.

All that, and it’s just the second day of January.

photo: John Dobson

Juande Ramos, in his Tottenham exile has admitted that the loss of Berbatov and Keane damaged the squad. So why is that only coming out now, and why didn’t he do more to keep two such strikers if he had the ability to do so. Both were under contract, Spurs didn’t have to sell Berbatov or Keane, but they saw the money both could bring, and sold them despite what effect they could have on the team.

Berbatov and Keane combined were good for fifty goals a season, you can’t just replace that by buying someone new, or rotating the position with strikers you already had on the bench. But I do find it entertaining that Ramos is trying to justify his termination with quotes like: “The exit of Berbatov and Keane, important for their human qualities and scoring ability, was too hard a blow for the squad,”

“We had a hard pre-season which stopped us from working with the tranquillity summer preparation needs,”.

You blew it Juande, that’s about it, you could have forced your opinions and put your job on the line if you really thought Berbatov and Keane were as irreplaceable as they turned out to be. A manager just doesn’t allow an owner to sell players of that quality, without assuring yourselves of an adequate replacement. Something Tottenham have been lacking all season, and with Redknapp only targeting as high as Defoe, the striker problem will continue to be a persistent one.

Portsmouth fans are disgusted with Redkapp, as the former manager was booed during a ceremony to commemorate Pompey’s victory in the FA Cup last season. Redknapp was greeted by loud boos and chants of “Judas” which he essentially deserved and will likely continue deserve as not only has Redknapp abandoned Portsmouth but also is planning on taking a few players with him.

Most notably at the moment is Jermaine Defoe, who Redknapp hopes lure back to Tottenham Hotspur, but Portsmouth has issued a statement saying that no players will be following Redknapp. Rednapp is supposedly planning a deal involving a trade for Aaron Lennon and some Spurs millions for Pompey’s England striker. However I doubt any such deal will go through. And also given the state of Defoe’s spotty performances over the years, I don’t see how Redknapp thinks Defoe will bail Tottenham out at this stage.

Sure they got their first victory over the weekend, but Tottenham still have an incredibly long way to go.

On a side note for Spurs, Juande Ramos has filed a £7.5million claim for compensation due, after the club sacked him last week. Although how he could ask after Tottenham’s worst start to the Premiership in 80 some years, I have no idea. Surely a club can fire a manager that’s just unfit to manage anymore.

Photo: John Dobson

I wasn’t sure I’d read that correctly at first, I mean after Redknapp was told by Portsmouth that he could manage the club as long as he wanted, as he would never be fired because of his leadership and guiding the club to higher heights than ever before.  And Tottenham definitely needed to get rid of Ramos, but I never expected a switch for Redknapp out of the blue like this.

Tottenham will be getting themselves one hell of a manager with Redknapp though, a perfect choice for a club that’s struggling with only two points out of their league fixtures this season.  Redknapp also has no delusions as to the uphill battle he will be facing, “It is a club that has massively underachieved this year - to be sitting there with two points and, let’s be honest, in a real desperate situation, a relegation battle.

“There’s a lot of quality players there that obviously haven’t done as well as they should have done. You don’t end up with two points from eight games if you’re doing what you should be doing.

“So they need to start performing as I know they can. Whether it’s confidence or whatever, it’s up to me to go in and try to get the best out of them players.” Redknapp told BBC 5 Live about his impending appointment.

Tottenham are expected to make the announcement later this week.  And I also thought that in parting from Pompey Redknapp’s first comment about coaching Tottenham is a bit insulting to the club he used to call home.  Redknapp was quoted as saying  “It’s a big opportunity to manage a big club before I retire,”  which some Pompey fans, after finishing eighth in the league and winning the FA Cup last year, may state that Pompey is a big club now.