UK Football

photo: de:User:Lokomotive74

Lots of interesting transfer gossip going around the league today, perhaps the most interesting of which, the reported interest Manchester United has shown in Bayern Munich star Franck Ribery.  Apparently Sir Alex is preparing a bid for the French superstar, and I have to say seeing what Ferguson would make out of France’s finest midfielder would be more than intriguing.  Ribery would be a fantastic addition to the United squad, especially given his attacking nature, and also considering United don’t really have a central mid that can put real attacking pressure on defenders.

And finally, apparently Spurs are prepared to part with David Bentley, likely because of the England mans lackluster performances and overall failure to find form.  With Manchester City’s Mark Hughes reportedly taking the biggest interest, Bentley may have a chance to recreate the excellence he found at Blackburn under Hughes.  Although I sincerely doubt Bentley will find much of a career resurgence at any other club, Mark Hughes seems the only one who’s been ever able to get a decent showing out of the lad.  

photo: Mikołaj Kirschke

Manchester City are set to make Tottenham’s David Bentley one of their top targets this summer, and I have to say, that’s more like where City need to be looking for realistic transfers.  David Bentley was fantastic, actually brilliant, the last time he was under Mark Hughes’ tutelage at Blackburn.  Tottenham has proved to have been a huge career mistake for Bentley, but the lad is still absolutely full of talent and potential.  And you’d be hard pressed to find a right foot that can deliver a better cross or take a free kick with more accuracy than Bentley when he’s on his game.

Also, Nicolas Anelka could end up sidelined for at least three weeks with a toe injury, picked up in Chelsea’s defeat at the hands of Tottenham 1-0.  The French Football Federation reported the injury, as Anelka was being assessed for international fitness ahead of this weeks international fixtures.  If Anelka’ s injury is indeed as bad as the French predict, than Anelka is likely to miss Chelsea’s first crack at Liverpool in the Champions League.  And I’m not so sure that Chelsea have it in them to beat Liverpool this time around anyway, but without the amazing contributions Anelka has made for the Blues this season, I’m thinking Guus Hiddink’s Chelsea are pretty well facing elimination from the Champions League. 

photo: James Adams

The UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup draw took place today, and finally we know exactly how the quarterfinals are set up to play out.  The next two legs of the Champions League will take place on April 7/8 and April 14/15, and will feature:

• Manchester United v FC Porto
• Liverpool v Chelsea
• Arsenal v Villarreal
• Barcelona v Bayern Munich
  

The UEFA Cup ties will take place April 9th and 16th, and will feature:

• Manchester City v Hamburg
• PSG v Dynamo Kiev
• Shakhtar Donetsk v Marseille
• Werder Bremen v Udinese 

Now that we’ve got that news out of the way, back to the Premiership…

Theo Walcott has found himself injured once again, after the 20 year old England hopeful was finally back in training, after recovering from a shoulder injury sustained while away on international duty back in November.  Walcott injured himself in training with Arsenal, well actually Walcott was injured walking from the training pitch to the dressing room, when the winger took an awkward step and locked his knee, possibly causing cartilage damage. 

photo: Wonker

Walcott will need proper scans before any word on how long Arsenal’s fastest attacker will be out of the squad.  And all I can think is, what horrid luck Walcott is having this season.  The boy starts out as a revelation for England and Arsenal with his attacking fury flying down the right flank, having his best Premiership season yet.   And then the shoulder injury puts him out for five months, and now when Walcott is finally ready to return, he injures himself walking after training.  Unlucky.

Though only time will tell if Redknapp can fix the many mistakes that are still very evident at White Hart Lane.  

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: Aleksandr Mysyakin

Andrei Arshavin completed his dream move to Arsenal, just in time before the transfer window closed yesterday.  Apparently for quite a bit of money by Arsenal’s standards, Arshavin set them back £15million, but with the transfer came a long term contract like Arsene Wenger always demands from his players, the contract is believed to be in the 3 and a half to 4 year range.  Depending upon how the Russian playmaker adapts to Premiership life Arshavin could be a brilliant signing for Arsenal, but that remains to be seen.

One thing’s for sure, Arshavin has infinite potential to excel and Arsenal desperately needed another attacking midfielder.

Robbie Keane has once again been handed the Tottenham captaincy in his return to White Hart Lane.  Redknapp clearly going for the smartest strategy available in his bid to rebuild Spurs, by restoring the captain that guided Tottenham to a Carling Cup title.  But still to me, all of this begs the question, why did Keane every leave?

Robbie Keane flourished at Tottenham, but still never looked like a striker with the great potential to play in a club at the top of the table consistently.  Tottenham have been a mid-table team for some time, and still Keane doesn’t play well consistently enough, so how Liverpool thought the Irishman would turn it around, or better yet how Keane thought he would compete with someone like Fernando Torres I have no idea.  I get that Keane was a Liverpool fan and wanted the opportunity, but sometimes chasing glory and money just isn’t the best career move.

photo: Gordon Flood

And finally, once again Manchester United have clearly show that they may not be willing to spend the £30million it would take to make Carlos Tevez a permanent addition to the club by turning down their first option to buy the striker’s contract when his loan deal expires at the end of the season.  And why keep him?  Tevez isn’t worth £30m, not at all.  Sure the Argentine is tenacious, but not the good tenacity that Ji-Sung Park or Wayne Rooney employ, that ball winning fury but level headedness to keep aware of team mates to keep your attacking flow going at full force.

Tevez likes to sit on the ball until the attackers in front of him have to pull up before going into an offside position, thereby making any positive movement impossible.  Tevez is good, he just doesn’t play the Manchester United way, and therefore he is not the proper permanent addition for the defending champs.

The Tottenham captain returns, Robbie Keane is back at White Hart Lane just six months after having departed for Liverpool.  I’m not really surprised to see it, despite all the talk from Rafa Benitez and his attempts to convince the public that Keane belonged at Anfield.  Robbie Keane was never meant for a club like Liverpool, and he will flourish once again back at Tottenham.

The fans love him, and Keane always was a vital part of Tottenham’s accomplishments during his six years at Spurs.  Now with Keane back, as well as Defoe and Chimbonda, Redknapp should now be able to completely turn the club around and get Spurs firing on all cylinders once again.

The only other fairly major change at the deadline was Jo’s departure from City on a loan deal with Everton.  Everton will have Jo’s services for the remainder of the season, and none too soon considering that Everton don’t really have any capable striker’s available.  Perhaps given this second chance at life in the Premiership Jo will find his form, or Everton have wasted time and money getting a Brazilian who isn’t suited to EPL life.

And finally, Andrei Arshavin, who knows whether he’s still relegated to life at Zenit St. Petersburg, or Arsenal’s newest addition to midfield.  Neither Arsenal or Arshavin’s agent will comment as of yet.  Of course the transfer window has closed, and no doubt if the deal has been done Arsenal will announce it sooner rather than later.  But I have to say, if Arsenal let Arshavin get away again, than Arsene Wenger clearly has no plan for making a legitimate attempt at winning the league.

photo: Jonnymccullagh

Word has it that Tottenham has made an offer for Robbie Keane in the area of £15million.  Considering the out of favour Liverpool striker was left out of a big match like Chelsea, I can’t imagine that Liverpool are all that committed to keeping Robbie Keane.  And for the sake of Keane’s career he should go back to Spurs.  Tottenham made their former skipper look fantastic, with his ability to score goals and spread the ball around in the box.  At Liverpool Keane just looks sluggish and completely off target.

He cannot adjust to life at Liverpool, and hopefully for the sake of Keane’s career, Liverpool will accept the offer and their £5million overall loss in the Robbie Keane saga.

Shay Given has completed his transfer to Manchester City, meaning unless Newcastle pick up someone quick they are without a quality goalkeeper.  And Manchester City finally has a solid keeper for the first time in a long time.  Seeing as Newcastle finally did sell Given City must have improved on the previous bid of £5million that Toon manager Kinnear had called ‘insulting’.

Chelsea are preparing a last minute deal with Manchester City which will see the blues trade Didier Drogba and centre back Alex for City’s Robinho.  Chelsea are also planning on including £20million cash to further increase City’s interest.   However Drogba has been horrible of late, and Robinho is Manchester City’s best player, so I would hope for City’s sake that Mark Hughes wouldn’t be so stupid as to sell his biggest star.

Especially considering how City have failed to acquire any of the big name talent they were originally linked to.

photo: Jonnymccullagh

If you believe the rumour mill, and most of the time I tend to, than Liverpool look as though they are prepared to give Robbie Keane back to Tottenham, for the small price of winger Aaron Lennon. Which again seems like an odd decision to me, because Liverpool are stacked with great attacking midfielders. Kuyt often plays in midfield now, Babel, Benayoun, Riera, and of course Steven Gerrard, all of which are much more talented than I think Aaron Lennon is capable of. The only thing that will come from a swap like this, is another useless player from Tottenham that Liverpool don’t need to waste their time or money on.

I’m really starting to believe the talk about Keane considering Liverpool are facing some big opposition today in Chelsea, and they’ve left Keane out once again. If he’s so great, why wouldn’t you play him in one of Liverpool’s most important matches of the season.

David Beckham isn’t the only MLS player that could escape the league for a while, as Fulham are looking to secure a loan deal for Brian McBride for the MLS off-season much like Beckham’s deal with AC Milan. The thing I still don’t understand, is why McBride left in the first place for MLS.

Chelsea are looking to offload Didier Drogba to fund another attempt at signing Manchester City’s Robinho. Although I doubt City will bite, as Robinho seems to factor largely into Mark Hughes future plans at the club. And unless City secure another big star, Robinho is vital to their reputation for scoring the world’s top talent.

photo: John Dobson

Tottenham have picked up Carlo Cudicini on a free loan deal from Chelsea. The move means Tottenham finally have someone capable, instead of the unpredictable Gomes, as Gomes has played a big part in the horrid season Tottenham are having. And if nothing else Cudicini will bring capable hands as a back up for the next time Gomes is injured.

West Ham have found their replacement for Craig Bellamy in Savi Nsereko, although I don’t understand how signing an unproven 19 year old and letting another club buy Bellamy is in any way good club strategy. Bellamy was awesome, and understood how to play Premiership football, not to mention how to make perfect runs behind the opponents defence. Nsereko could end up being a dud, I know he was the UEFA U19 best player of the tournament, but that’s a big difference from trying to cut it in the Premier League.

photo: Vintagekits

Sunderland are on the verge of selling Pascal Chimbonda to Tottenham Hotspur, and I don’t really understand the move. Sunderland were really trying to achieve something with the signing of stars like Chimbonda, but in the aftermath of Roy Keane I just don’t understand the direction that the club is taking. Just over the halfway point of the season, and Sunderland are selling their best players? That club really needs to get itself straight, or else they‘ll drop another five places and find themselves back in the Championship.

Word is that Robbie Keane is heading for an Anfield exit, especially after Liverpool’s last match, in which the Irishman was left out of the squad completely, Rafa Benitez even resorted to putting David Ngog in place of Keane on the bench. But this is nothing new, Robbie Keane has never been right for Liverpool, and Liverpool never should have bought him.

photo: Jonnymccullagh

Keane needs to go somewhere else, maybe another mid-table club where the expectations will be lower, and Keane will once again flourish as he did at Tottenham.

Manchester United are in trouble again as 12 senior players will be unavailable for Tuesday’s fixture against West Brom. The problems are also mounting as United’s upcoming fixture against Everton that was supposed to take place next Monday has been moved to Saturday, because of Everton’s upcoming FA Cup replay with Liverpool. Meaning the almost fit Rio Ferdinand and Wes Brown will probably still be unavailable after having lost an additional two days of recovery.

But United have been playing well with the youngsters, and as long as they still have Giggs, Neville and Scholes to keep the younger players in check, United will do fine.

photo: Austin Osuide

Manchester United lose two more players to their mounting injury woes after today’s victory against Tottenham in the FA Cup. The quadruple may still be on for the champions, but now Fabio and Danny Welbeck join the injured ranks that will be unavailable for Tuesday’s Premier League match against Stoke City.

Wayne Rooney is set to return soon, as well as Patrice Evra, but not soon enough for Tuesday, meaning United will once again have to bolster their defence by calling up more of their promising youngsters and asking them to go up against a determined Stoke side. My question ahead of Tuesday is how will a make shift defence handle a few Rory Delap long throws?

Tottenham are going after Sunderland’s Kenwyne Jones, and Redknapp desperately needs him what with most of his team giving disappointing performances lately. Nobody for Tottenham looked as impressive as they should have against United today. Especially David Bentley, who should have been able to slice through a make shift defence like United’s with his precision passing and long range shooting. But Bentley just hasn’t been the same since his departure from Blackburn.

Tottenham’s lack of confidence in front of goal makes me wonder why in the world Redknapp waited until the 72^nd minute to bring on Jermaine Defoe, especially with how well Defoe has been playing as of late. Wouldn’t you want a confident striker out there on the pitch, especially when you’re down a goal at Old Trafford? Which just leaves me to believe that while Redknapp complains about his lack of good players, I just think he can’t get a grip on Tottenham, and he might find himself jobless before too long, the way he’s now running the club.