Tribute to Michael Jackson - R.I.P

Phil Brown

These thoughts had been built up throughout last season but came to a boil on the last day of the season and comments in recent weeks! I officially hate Phil Brown.

The Smug look on his face when he Hull stayed up on the last day of the season, as if they'd won the league, with no humility. His somewhat childish behaviour with his chanting and arrogance that his 'hard work' kept up the tigers. They were lucky.

I'm sure Arsenal fans will agree, considering the part he played in the Fabregas spitting row earlier this year. It was no way for a manager to act or react, and his constant bickering about it made it seem more of a self-publicity stunt rather than genuine emotion. 

I think he's just trying to be a new Jose Mourinho. Phil Brown, you are special...just not in a nice way!!!

Santa Cruz to Man City...

Roque Santa Cruz has left Blackburn to join up with Mark Hughes at Man City. The fee has set them back £18m, which I'm sure is just back pocket change for the owners. He looks quick and agile, as well as a pretty decent first time and aerial ability. But from speaking to City fans, he seems very injury prone. But the prospect of Tevez, Robinho and Santa Cruz...hmmmmmm, pretty good!

Possibly the Ugliest Away kit in football????

Wow!...Now Whilst I'm a fan of Newcastle, something can't help but making me think that Mike Ashley wanted to make a little parting shot before he left the club! This is AWFUL. 

What do you guys think? Anything worse out there?

Nike Advert

TOYBOXX FUNDRAISER....

Guys check out the poster, its a fundraiser to get the UK representatives for the World Hip Hop Championships to go to Las Vegas to compete. Go watch the show, its bound to be ace!

Tony Mowbray - The Celtic Man

Yesterday saw Tony Mowbray make his return to Celtic Park. Now, my knowledge of the SPL really isnt that great. So I turned to the man in the know, Sir Damian Owens, for his opinion on the appointment....

The general feeling is that budget has a lot to do with the appointment. For the amount of money that Celtic have, this is probably one of the best appointments that could have been made. Maybe not as good as a club of this stature deserves, but it will have to do.

But the former Celtic man has many strong plus points. He's been very strong with Hibs in his previous tenure in the SPL and as a former player, should know what the Bhoys' faithful want. His time at West Brom, showed he managed the Celtic way. Attacking football with plenty of passing.

However, he will have to rely on the respect he has to deal with players. His ability to manage big name players and attract them to the club at that are still questionable. And it will also be interesting to see how he deals with his narrow tactical knowledge in big games, such as the Old Firm derby and European ties.

Verdict: Will be interesting to see how he does back in the SPL with one of the big two. It will certainly be a case of time rather than massive results straight away, but no doubt wuth a squad the calibre of Celtic's, he should manage it.

New Fixtures Released....

Just wanted to get everyone's opinions on the new fixture lists released this morning, and maybe even a few predictions for the way the leagues are going to go....

I for one was heartbroken to see Newcastle United classified in the Championship fixture list...Away to West Brom on the opening day :( but we have Reading and Sheff Wed the following week...oh the PAIN!!!

Comment away guys...

The Man in the Mirror...

Carlos Tevez, the man behind the most string attached loan move in footballing history.

Having recently finished a 2 season loan at Manchester United, the hard working striker is pondering where his future lies. With Man U's newly replenished transfer kitty, a lot of the fans would love to see him stay at the club. According to this morning's papers however, he has been linked with Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Barcelona and Inter Milan. Whichever club does fork out the necessary £25 million, will have bought him outright from Kia Joorabchian (the smug git with greasy hair). But I wonder how he'd fit into the above interested teams...

Manchester City - I think Tevez would be an awesome acquisition for Manchester City. He'd help bring along some of the younger talent at the club and with Robinho, would spearhead a very attractive frontline. At a reported £140k a week deal, the money will never too bad either.

Liverpool - This would be my favourite destination for the little man. With either Alonso or Mascherano destined for Spain this summer, I see Liverpool playing a 4-4-2 come 4-3-3 next season. This ideally being Gerrard and a would be Tevez sitting behind Torres with a supporting 3 man midfield. With the workrate of both supporting strikers this is easily a 4-5-1 when necessary also. Another great idea for Benitez to mess up.

Chelsea - Don't see making this move personally. With the likes of Anelka, Drogba and Malouda/J.Cole, I think he'll end up in the same situation he was at United.

Barcelona - Just don't do it. He'll never break that front 3 or the middle 3 for that matter. And with the array of talent coming through, he'll leave before he's finished unpacking.

Inter Milan - Potentially a good move for him, a slightly slower league for a very technically gifted player. Would be a good replacement for 'taking a mid-career break' Adriano and he could compliment Ibrahimovic very well. Although whether he'll be at the San Siro next season remains to be seen.

Tevez, quality player, class man. He says he'd like to stay in the Premier League, and I for one, believe he'll do just that. Coming to  an Anfield or Old Trafford near you soon...

Minnows in Qualifiers...

This was originally going to be my post yesterday, but some orange man went to Spain.

Andy Townsend brought up the issue on Wednesday night after the England game. Should weaker teams, such as Andorra, Kazakhstan etc have to pre-qualify to be in the qualifiers?

The argument of yes. In England's case, this is 4 extra games they will have to play in a season in order to qualify. 4 more cases for managers to worry about their star players getting injured and tired, in games where a win is almost guaranteed. We are now the best part of 3 weeks after the last game of the season, within touching distance of pre-season at some clubs and some players would not have had any decent rest whatsoever. Theo Walcott for example, is now away for the U21 Championships for another few weeks. In my opinion, the other side of the argument is far more interesting...

No. Qualifiers. It does exactly what it say on the tin. Critics seem to forget that these are the QUALIFIERS for the World Cup. A bigger and better tournament. Every team that is registered with FIFA should have the equal right to qualify for the same reason we all started playing football. Its all well and good to ask this question when the national team is of prominence, but people forget to realise that England didn't even qualify for the last Euros, because we played so poorly in the qualifiers. What if someone had said that about us? There would have been outrage!

Look at cup football. The FA cup would be nowhere near as exciting if there weren't the odd major scalp every season, and that truly is the beauty of football. Anything can happen. These teams deserve a bit of glory and to be able to live a dream out as well.

Verdict: LET THEM PLAY!!!!

Wayne Rooney....

I mentioned in the last post that in my opinion Ronaldo wasn't Manchester United's best player. I sincerely do think that Wayne Rooney deserves this recognition. 

He's genuinely has the heart of a lion (or three). You get the feeling that he is the kind of player that doesn't care what position he plays in, as long as he is playing. We've seen it countless times for England and he has been a scolding hot red devil. We've seen him play across the front three and increasing in a left wing position. I think my argument is reinforced by the fact that he has played phenomenally wherever he has been placed.

He has excellent touch, an awesome workrate and a footballing mind which is simply great. His array of finishes is also something to be admired. Headers, left foot or right foot, he can apply either power or the required finesse. Let's not forget the agility that he also carries.

I think on his day, he can be one of the best players in the world and he certainly is a playing role-model for young players. You'll have to mind his foul mouth and temperament, although some would argue that is what makes him so loved by his fans.

So the Portu-girl star is leaving....

Real Madrid have twice proven that they have more money than sense in the space of a week.

£80million for Cristiano Ronaldo?? I thought £59m for Kaka was excessive earlier this week! According to manutd.com, it was CR7's desire to leave that made the Red Devils accept this latest bid. Good business on their part I think. In opinion he wasn't even MU's best player this season. Let alone the world's.

I don't think that the Premiership in all honesty aren't losing much. We're losing some flair and a few goals from next season's highlight reel. We are also losing a primma donna, sulking and lazy one season wonder. Admittedly he deserved the World Player accolade that he took home last year,  but since the Moscow final he hasn't reproduced consistently this season. There have been a number of occasions where his lacklustre behaviour have cost Utd goals this season, and he has almost forced Sir Alex to play him as the central striker due to his inability to track back. I'm sure Patrice Evra breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing the news that Rooney was ahead of him rather than Ronaldo.

So there was THAT strike in Porto, a few free-kicks and a couple of penalties. There were also those dives, those whinges and those tantrums. I think the Premier League has already seen the best Ronaldo has to offer. It won't be coming back after it went missing last season. £80m is great money for what he can longer give the fans. This will probably open the door for Ribery to make his way to Man U in my opinion. 

Good luck to the Portu-girl, and Good Ridance.

England VS Andorra

Just a quick note on this one... 

England are really shaping up to be a good team now, which is good to see. They seem to be playing with a lot of patience around the pitch and at the edge of the box. 6-0 against a team that were happy to defend for 90 minutes is good going. Every player put in a good performance, except for Rob Green who as David Pleat said 'We could've won today without a goalkeeper'. A sentiment that I echo.

There are several articles as follow-ons to this, I hope you enjoy them :)

Michael still g-Owen nowhere.....

Argentina's wasn't the only defence torn apart(World Cup '98) by a young Michael Owen. The then Liverpool man was feared by every opposition defence, with his blinding pace and exquisite finishing. Fast forward 2 clubs and about 10 years.....

He has played 70 games in 4 seasons now at Newcastle. At a reported £120k a week, he sincerely hasn't proven his worth. The majority of the reason has been his inability to stay fit. His hamstring, knees, groin and metatarsal have been operated on so many times, I wonder if he is planning a acting career to become the new '6 Million Dollar Man'. On second thoughts, I dont think anyone would even pay that for him. He has no pace left, and although the service was lacking, so was his ability to take the chances that were presented to him.

I personally feel that his agent will have hard work trying to shift him to another club, as I think although clubs will have to spend money, there are better players available. Ones with better assurances of playing and staying fit. I really wish this wasn't the outcome for him at the toon, afterall I was optimistic about the black and white future that Newcastle had. But I find it highly unlikely that they will renew his contract this summer, which a huge trimming of the wage bill required. Two Birds, One Stone springs to mind. 

As to whether anyone will step in for his services remains to be seen. I imagine, a club like Portsmouth may be a good destination for him. New owner, big name needed but they can't be overly fussy over who they bring in. He'd be a worthwhile punt, this considered with my impression that none of the top 7 or 8 clubs will want to be drawn into tabloid speculation with him. 

Verdict: Will leave Newcastle at some point this summer, but only for a bottom half Premiership club, as he doesn't have anything to offer a top half team.

So Kaka finally left...

Kaka exited stage left this morning for the all whites of Madrid...

Firstly let me say. that when I said yesterday that he can't be mentioned in the same breath as Zidane, I wasn't implying that he isn't a great player. I feel in time he will be, just not yet. ZZ did it from day one to the last day of his career, albeit that sending off at the World Cup. I've seen many great players not live upto their price tags and at £59m + bonuses, he's going to have to play hard and sell a large number of shirts. I think he'll do both and I wish him all the best at the Bernabeu.

Pato is now rumoured to be leaving the Rossineri to link up with Carlo at the Bridge. His 'father figure and role model' will no doubt have an influencing factor on him joining if Milan choose to sell. It does leave to the imagination how hard hit Milan have been by the financial downturn, selling 2 of their higher valued assets in what could be the space of a week! I wonder what this could now mean for either Anelka or Drogba if the brazilian makes his way to the Blues. There surely isn't room for 3 expectant starters, is there?

ETO'O will NOT leave Barcelona for the Eastlands! So will Man City please stop exciting their fans with players who clearly will not come. Eto'o just seems a bit too happy there to change dwellings. This is starting to remind of era, when a team called Newcastle were linked with everyone under the sun and the fans got all excited for nothing...and we all know where that story goes...

Have a nice day y'all...

Kaka to Madrid..?

This morning's breaking news is that Kaka is apparently having a medical at Real Madrid today. £56 million pound deal. I don't dispute that he is a great player with age seemingly on his side, but I'm not sure he's worth that amount of money.

Let's look at this comparitively. Would you mention Kaka in the same breath as Zinedine Zidane, Figo at his height? Both of these two were sold in the £40m bracket and were truly great and definately ZZ will be amongst the footballers who can be used to finished to debates of 'Was there ever a player who could make and change the game like....?'

I honestly do not think he is worth £56m, but a pat on the back to Madrid and Mr Perez for finally doing something to revive the Galaticos, who in recent seasons have really struggled to find consistency in their play and have been living in the glorious shadows of their Catalan rivals. 

It will definately be interesting to see who else they bring in, especially if yet another Red Devil no.7 heads to the spanish plains....

England Prevail....

England beating Kazakhstan yesterday was surely no surprise to anyone. They played some decent football at times, which is show with 6 wins from 6 now in the qualifiers! Surely a mark of great side is that now fans and critics are no longer looking to individual players who can change or make the game. Recently everybody has been focused on the England TEAM. Finally we're playing the way we should be, although we have yet to face some major opposition. I find it unlikely that Andorra will step up to that plate come Wednesday night...I imagine England will make it 7 from 7...

So far this week...

Manchester City's spending power will determine a lot of the happpenings in this transfer window. Having just spent £12 million on Gareth Barry, a player worth that money on his day, when he only had a year left on his Villa contract shows their financial muscle. Harry Redknapp revealed that Spurs had tabled an offer for him but they could not compete. Samuel Eto'o has also been linked with a move to the Eastlands, but i fail to see that materialising. Why would he leave a club that has just won everything, to join a club who have yet to win anything? Pep Guardiola has proven he will take a team further than old Sparky!

I wonder how must it feel for a new manager to know that he wasn't first choice? Cue Manuel Pellegrini. Just days after his appointment as Real Madrid manager, Florentino Perez declares that he originally wanted Arsene Wenger to take the helm at the Bernabeu. Thanks for that! The reasons cited for not being able to capture the Frenchman were that he felt he still had a job to do at Arsenal.

What is actually going on at the Emirates? They've not won anything in four seasons and some of their football last season simply was upto standards. In my opinion some experience is needed very quickly in the form of a new centre back, a defensive midfielder and another attacker. If this morning's papers are anything to go by, Wolfsburg's  stiker Dzeko is heading to the red side of north London. From what I've seen, he looks to be a good finisher. This would a good opportunity to offload Adebayor!

Carlo Ancelotti took over on Monday at the Chelsea. I think he was allowed to go only with the promise that wouldn't take Kaka with him. This is my reasoning behind the Rossineri's statement that the Brazilian will only be permitted a move to Real should the situation arise. I think Ancelotti will do a great job at Stamford Bridge, and hopefully he will be given the time to stabilise a team and squad, which could be the missing factor for a future consistent title challenge.

Quick Notes...

I am GUTTED Brendan Rodgers has left Watford to join Reading, but best of luck to him...Will somebody please sign up Carlos Tevez????.... Man U have a new sponsorship deal with AON....

Thanks for reading guys...comment away....

The Closed Season....

Another fantastic season is over and the dust has finally settled on a very one sided Champions League final. Who would have thought that a team that Sir Alex has called his best, would be outplayed so much by FC Barcelona. Afterall, had it not been for some questionable decisions at the bridge, they might not have been in Rome at all! Some would call it fate, as on the night the better team won. If I was a betting man, I would put my house on Iniesta or Xavi lifting the Ballon D'or or World Player awards this year. Simply Class....