Transfer stories and links seem to never cease, and no sooner than the January transfer window slams shut, talk of summer moves set into motion. Whether it be players looking to escape their surroundings, make the next step up in their career or simply looking to remain employed, rumours surround men from almost every club.
It may be an exciting time for the fans, but for managers and their back-room staff the transfer window presents much worry and stress, with the pressure of finding the right player at the right price to secure pre-season aims and keep the chairman off of their back. Beginning preparation early ensures that the targets are identified with lots of time to thrash out the deal before the end of the window, because as we all know, panic buying can often work out as the worst strategy possible.
Here is a list of ten players who, for various reasons, will most likely be the subject of interest and bids this summer, as clubs across the league look to build for the 2012/13 season.
Click on Moussa Dembele to unveil the top 10
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After Manchester City had beaten Manchester United in the FA Cup semi-final, I was keen to soak up any footage I could of the day, and stumbled onto youtube. On there, the FA had uploaded a video showing a tunnel-cam throughout the day, a look behind the scenes. It was strangely hypnotic, devoid as it was of commentary. Players arriving, managers chatting, Robbie Savage chatting to Micah Richards for some reason, and then Paul Scholes being led to the dressing room by an official after being sent off.
It was that moment that an old thought popped back into my head. It’s always the little things that I spend too long dwelling on, the banal details behind the action, and there is one utterly insignificant thing that has always intrigued me (and probably no one else).
What does a player do when he is sent off?
Does he sit there in full kit, awaiting the arrival of the other players so that he can apologise? Does he wait by the door ready with a spirited invective about how hard done to he was? Does he get the bath running? Does he get changed and go and sit on the coach? Or just hide from the “gaffer”?
It must be a lonely place to be. Imagine being sent off after 5 minutes, and having to sit there for 40 minutes stewing on what you have done and how it has probably cost your team. Take Neil Taylor of Swansea, who as I type has been sent off for after 90 seconds in a crucial play-off semi-final game. He’s got a long 45 minutes ahead of him in the dressing room. Maybe red-carded players dig out their massive headphones and listen to yet more music – footballers seem so obsessed with listening to music that they are usually still doing it when they get off the coach, when they wander into the dressing room, and no doubt when they are putting their kit on.
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I always thought that dressing rooms (of wealthy clubs at least) would have TVs, so that the match could be watched in there. But Manchester City put their own tunnel cam video on the official website this week showing the night of the Spurs match, and Wilson Palacios, off injured in the first half, could be seen loitering around the tunnel area in the 2nd half watching the game on a monitor. Couldn’t he have just gone back to the bench?
What struck me most about the video though was the friendliness between the players. I don’t expect them to blank the opposition, but as they lined up to go on the pitch, the scene was far more relaxed than I imagined. Harry Redknapp stopped for a chat with Mike Summerbee, Dzeko was catching up on old times with Modric and Corluka (I think it was them), and Shaun Wright Phillips and Defoe were reunited after what was clearly too long apart.
And am I overreacting to see a Spurs player smiling as he walked down the tunnel after the game? Probably.
There’s a famous clip, widely available on youtube, of the tunnel before a Manchester derby a good few years ago. Peter Schmeichel is by this time the City keeper, and he goes up the line of United players, shaking hands, meeting old friends. Then he gets to Gary Neville, the captain at the front, and Neville, sporting his hard-man face, totally blanks a rather bemused Schmeichel.
Just pumped up for the match perhaps, focused, a true professional. Because clearly shaking an opponent’s hand will destroy his focus and drain away his ability. And to him, Schemichel had done the unthinkable, and joined THEM. Neville reinforced what most think of him anyway, and his majestic levels of concentration didn’t work. City won.
But back to that City v Spurs match, and briefly away from the hectic tunnel. This week saw another bug-bear of mine. Why oh why to some fans is virtually every other match now a “must-win” game?! This is especially true near the end of the season of course. This week I heard endless times how Manchester City v Spurs was a must-win game for City. It was nothing of the sort. If they had lost, they still would have been 4th. If they had lost at home the following week, they would still have been 4th. Even if they had failed to beat Bolton on the last day of the season, it was conceivable that other results would mean they would still finish in 4th. Must-win games are just that – games that, without any doubt, HAVE to be won, MUST be won. As I said, it’s the banal things that get to me.
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On Saturday, you could perhaps argue that the FA Cup final for City (and City) is a “must-win” game. The big question is this though: how will Tony Pulis pull off a baseball cap/suit combo for the FA Cup Final? And while I am on the subject of suits –how pathetic are managers who wear a nice suit on match-days just when the big boys are in town? It’s like getting the expensive china and cutlery out when your wealthiest friends are coming round for dinner. Your other friends can eat out of a bowl.
Anyway, whatever happens in the FA Cup final, the tunnel-cam video will again be a must-see. It’s the future of entertainment, trust me. I just look forward to the day they do dugout-cam and manager’s office-cam.
FootballFanCast.com WORLD Exclusive, Robbie Savage’s Face in a Baby Scan
Whenever an important player leaves a club and a new one arrives, there is generally a rule in the footballing world were people must compare that player to the outgoing hero, or a previous star. Can they fill his boots? Will he rise to the challenge? But equally, newly arriving managers face the exact same scrutiny – a task made all the more daunting if sitting in the hot-seat of those who have achieved success and had a legendary status bestowed upon them. So can managers truly succeed, when directly following a ‘great’, in the modern era were results and success needs to be instant? Or is it virtually mission impossible?
It seems a catch-22 situation to be placed in from the start. Attempting to replace a legend is a thankless task. Win, and it’s expected – the norm. Lose, and the accolades of the former manager are thrust into full view, with negative headlines splashed across the papers. You could never just be ‘your own man’. Every decision, tactic, signing and substitution is scrutinised with unfair comparisons being made. Catch-22.
The recent intense pressure placed on Arsene Wenger in the media (maybe not helped by himself in some small part by the apparent, early stinginess in the transfer market) led to talk of him possibly walking out of Arsenal, or being shown the door. If that scenario was to occur, who would replace him? He has been an absolutely legendary figure at the Gunners since he arrived back in the 90’s, transforming the club’s playing identity, whilst also bringing it into the new century with his training, dietary and psychological methods that were virtually unheard of in the English game at the time. The success that followed only added to his adulation, thus ensuring a near-impossible task for whoever replaces him, whenever that time comes.
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It’s the same at Manchester United, though even more daunting. Talk of Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement has been around for years. As to who his eventually replacement may be has been discussed many times with various names thrown into the hat. With United’s success, it has been safe to say that whoever is attaining similar success, or hype (or both) at the time, would have been named as Ferguson’s definite heir. But whoever sits in that hot-seat faces an almighty task. How do you replace the man who has guided a team through the most successful period in their history – by far!?? Who lasted over a quarter of a century, collecting the biggest trophies for much of that period? It will be a brave man who sits in that seat. Win, and it’s the norm – but they would also have to win playing a certain style. Lose? Well losing won’t be an option.
One man who is many people’s favourite to succeed Ferguson is a coach who himself attained legendary status at not one, but three successful clubs, thus ensuring his successors a tough time even before they began work; Jose Mourinho. Directly after leaving Porto having won the European Cup, the club burnt through four managers in little under two years as none could live up to what Mourinho achieved. At Chelsea, he (along with the help of a certain Russian’s bank account) won the league title instantly; a feat the club hadn’t achieved for 50-years. More silverware followed but success in Europe was never realised and after a fallout with the owner, the Portuguese moved to Italy. Chelsea, have had five managers since he left. At Inter, Mourinho walked in to a pressure situation; Inter, fresh from being winners of Serie A, were in the ascendancy. Not winning the Scudetto for Inter in the wake of Calciopoli would be seen as a massive catastrophe, bordering on embarrassment. However Mourinho’s remit was clear: deliver the European Cup. He duly obliged, cementing his status as Inter legend and ensuring his replacement would have an impossible task. That man was Rafa Benitez, and he lasted six months.
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Back to Chelsea, who had their brief dominance under Mourinho interrupted by Manchester United, and have now turned to the ‘new Mourinho’ in order to reclaim glory; Andre Villas-Boas. The comparisons are immense. Dubbed ‘mini-Mourinho’ by the press, Villas-Boas served under Mourinho, whilst at Chelsea and Inter, and that has also brought the instant pressure and hype of being compared with Chelsea’s most iconic former manager. But there is a difference this time that will put Villas-Boas in good stead; he’s done it before. Yes, at Porto he was finally the manager who filled Mourinho’s shoes, even surpassing some of his former mentor’s records at the club.
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An immense pressure is sat on Villas-Boas’ young shoulders, as it is for any manager who chooses to sit in the seat once occupied by a club legend. Can he succeed in ‘mission impossible’?
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Tottenham Hotspur have tabled a £22 million bid for Valencia’s left wing starlet Juan Mata. Should the diminutive winger for some reason choose Tottenham over Arsenal, what would this mean for Gareth Bale? And what would Mata bring to the north London club?
Finally, Tottenham have dared to do something. This bid is the first exciting move that Spurs have made in this transfer window. Not only does chasing Mata signal the ambition of the club. The attempt to hijack Arsenal’s pursuit of the player adds spice to the offer.
Juan Mata is a player with a growing reputation and no doubt a growing price tag. He was an outstanding performer for Spain at the European Under 21 Championships this summer and has cemented himself a first team slot in the Valencia side after three very impressive seasons there. Last season he provided 12 assists and scored 8 goals in La Liga, he is quick and creative with an eye for goal. He is small, only 2 inches taller than Aaron Lennon, but does not shirk from the physical side of the game and should be perfectly capable of playing on a cold night at the Britannia stadium. It is easy to see how he could cause problems and sharpen Spur’s attack.
Redknapp has consistently talked of his intentions to push Gareth Bale deeper, into the left back position and Tottenham’s interest in Mata suggests that Redknapp could be ready to make that step. When the Welshman’s terrific vein of form last season catapulted him into the limelight, the Spurs manager astutely noted that Bale’s successes came when running from deep and using his pace and stride and overall speed over distance to rip apart defences. When his concentration improved, Redknapp said, he could be pushed back and then he could get a really good head of steam up.
With Bale charging past Mata on the overlap the potential for goals from the left hand side would be greatly increased, although defensively Bale is definitely not the finished article. As a combination though, it could work. Mata likes to cut inside, vacating the space for Bale to surge into and both are more than capable of scoring goals whilst Mata’s record for providing was second only to Barcelona’s Xavi Hernandez last season.
Even though the likelihood is that Mata will choose Arsenal over Spurs, does Tottenham’s bid indicate that Redknapp is willing to make the tactical leap of pushing Bale back to left back? It would be a progressive and attacking decision irrespective of who plays in front of him.
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Where would you play Bale and could VDV be a success on the left of midfield? http://twitter.com/#!/philipwroe
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has hit out at the "kamikaze" spending which has occurred in the Premier League in recent years.
Ferguson has revealed his amazement at the transfer market following a summer where neighbours Manchester City are poised to take their spending past the £125million mark.
England midfielder James Milner is poised to join from Aston Villa for a fee of around £30million.
City have already landed Mario Balotelli, Yaya Toure, David Silva, Aleksandar Kolarov and Jerome Boateng during a record-breaking summer.
"It's amazing the amount of money that is being bandied about," said Ferguson, who declined to mention the clubs in question by name.
"Over the last two or three years we have seen very wealthy owners become part of football clubs and therefore go on this kamikaze effort to spend their money.
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"Some people may think it could be dangerous and I don't see it abating. The kind of spending we are seeing at the moment will be here for two or three years, until such time as they understand you can't necessarily achieve all the time by spending."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier has refused to rule out a return to the Premier League with Aston Villa.
Houllier, who left Anfield in 2004 following six seasons in England, has been linked with a director of football role at Villa Park.
The Frenchman would reportedly oversee a new-look coaching system at the Midlands club which would include current caretaker manager Kevin MacDonald remaining in charge of first-team affairs.
MacDonald has been in interim control since Martin O'Neill resigned on the eve of the new season.
Houllier was back in England on Saturday after helping manage the Reds during Jamie Carragher's testimonial game against an Everton XI at Anfield.
Speaking afterwards, the current technical director for the French Football Federation refused to rule out a possible move to Villa Park.
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"Never and always are two words you can't use in football," he said.
During Houllier's six-year reign on Merseyside, Liverpool won a UEFA Cup, FA Cup and League Cup treble in 2001.Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Mauro Zarate could make a return to the Premier League following interest from QPR, says the Daily Star.
Zarate has thus far failed to make an impression at Inter Milan, who have loaned the striker from Lazio for the season.
It’s reported that Zarate would like to get games under his belt away from the San Siro and would welcome a chance to return to England.
Mark Hughes is eager to establish QPR as a Premier League club and could use the combined efforts of Zarate and fellow South American target Henrique to fulfil those ambitions.
Zarate scored four goals during his time at Birmingham in 2008, but the Argentine is yet to score in the league for Inter and limited playing time could add weight to speculation of a move away.
Zarate was linked with a move to Arsenal last summer and is also being tracked by Bolton and Newcastle.
With a number of Premier League suitors watching his situation, Lazio will be keen to drive his price up as much as possible.
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Thierry Henry has completed his expected move to Major League Soccer with New York Red Bulls.
The 32-year-old former Barcelona and Arsenal striker has agreed a 'multi-year' contract and could now make his debut against Tottenham in a pre-season friendly for the Premier League club on July 22.
Henry was released by Barcelona last month and had been heavily linked with a move to New York.
"It is without question that Thierry Henry is one of the most successful and recognisable players over the past 15 years," said the club's head of global soccer Dietmar Beiersdorfer.
"We are thrilled that Thierry has decided to come to New York to help the Red Bulls compete for championships this year and for years to come.
"His international pedigree is second to none and he is a proven winner."
Henry, who was a member of France's World Cup squad in South Africa, scored 49 goals during three seasons with Barca after arriving in Spain as Arsenal's 226-goal all-time leading scorer.
"This marks an exciting new chapter in my career and life," he said.
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"It is an honour to play for the New York Red Bulls. I am fully aware of the team's history and my sole goal during my time here is to help win the club its first championship.
"Knowing Red Bull's significant commitment to soccer locally and internationally, I am confident that my teammates and I will succeed."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
The Easter schedule may not be as hectic as the Christmas period but rest assured, due to its proximity to the end of the season, it retains plenty of importance. What’s more there are valuable points on offer in Fantasy Football. Which players though should you be looking to include?
The Captaincy Debate
One player in fine form is Newcastle’s Papiss Demba Cissé. The Senegalese forward, signed from Freiburg in January, has been on a terrific goal scoring run for the Magpies. In his first seven performances in the Premier League, he’s netted seven times, including a double against Liverpool last Sunday. Over the next five days, Cissé faces Swansea and Bolton and he’s likely to extend his good start to life with the Toon.
Cissé isn’t the only January signing from the Bundesliga who has flourished since arriving in the Premier League. Gylfi Sigurdsson’s loan move to Swansea is proving to be very successful. The Icelandic international has scored six times and laid on three for teammates during his time with the Swans. He was even named the Barclays Player of the Month for March further showcasing his credentials. Newcastle will by no means be an easy encounter nor will QPR with the way they’re scrapping for survival. However, it’s hard not to fancy Sigurdsson making some sort of impact in both games such is the form he’s in.
Form is something which Liverpool have struggled for of late. The Reds have lost six of their last seven games in the Premier league. Steven Gerrard will be looking to arrest this slump over Easter. The Liverpool Captain masterminded their only victory of late. He scored a hat-trick in a 3-0 success over Merseyside rivals Everton. Kenny Dalglish could do with similar heroics from his skipper against Aston Villa and Blackburn. He is the most likely player to lift the side from their recent run and facing two sides who are struggling might bring the best out of Gerrard, just when Liverpool need it.
However, do not discount the Ecuadorian genius that is Antonio Valencia. The winger has helped to give Manchester United an extra push since returning from injury in March. In three games against Wolves, Fulham and Blackburn, Valencia has scored two along with grabbing three assists. Considering that he’ll be playing QPR and his former club Wigan over the Easter period, Valencia looks a good pick for the Easter schedule.
The Captain: Antonio Valencia – The winger has been in fine form of late and Easter might well prove a prolific time for the Ecuadorian.
The Vice Captain: Papiss Demba Cissé – Cissé is a good player to have in reserve. Ensure at the very least you have the Senegalese in your team.
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There are a number of celebrities out there who follow Arsenal football club. The ten featured in this article ultimately made my list of the top 10 celebrity fans who are fully fledged Gooners, enjoy:
10. Jay Z
The 40-year-old rapper has been an Arsenal fan for a number of years, but many questioned his love for the club when he was photographed as a guest of Manchester City when they beat the Gunners 4-2 at the City of Manchester Stadium last season. However, last month Jay Z cleared up any allegations that he was nothing but a gooner. Speaking to Arsenal Magazine the hip-hop star said:
“After that game the press started reporting that I was a Manchester City fan, I am really glad all that has been cleared up and that everybody in the UK knows that I am an Arsenal fan.”
The lyricist was made aware of the Gunners and took a shine to them when Thierry Henry used to play for them, he goes on to say:
“It was about five years ago now, when Thierry Henry was at the club, I saw him play and I just thought he was an amazing player. Ever since then I have been a big fan of the club.”
Jay Z has stated that he would love to hook up with the Arsenal squad for lunch and has also openly invited them to attend his next gig in London, whenever this maybe. Beyonce’s other half has also hinted that he may invest some of his £500 million earnings in the club should the opportunity arise in the near future. 99 Problems but his love for Arsenal isn’t one of them.
9. Spike Lee
The American film director, producer, writer and actor is an Arsenal fan, and a big one at that. The 53-year-old is known to wear the Arsenal Jersey whilst on set and is a close and personal friend of former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry. Spike Lee has attended matches at Highbury in recent years as well as a few games at the Emirates Stadium last season, and has a very good knowledge of the game to say the very least. Spike is a Gooner.
8. Dara O’ Briain
The 38-year-old award winning Irish comedian and television presenter is a very keen and avid Gooner to say the very least. The ‘Mock the Week’ and ‘Have I Got News for you’ presenter is a season ticket holder at the Emirates and in his spare time does stand up comedy gigs around the nation. O’ Briain is also a columnist for the Guardian where, like Piers Morgan does for the Daily Mail, expresses his views on his team. He surely deserves to be in this list right?
7. Colin Firth
Reports in the past suggested that the British film and TV actor who starred in the most famous football film ever (in my opinion) ‘Fever Pitch’ was either a Southampton of Arsenal fan. His first and only match before making the hit movie was in fact Hull City against Southampton in 1976 which proposed he may have supported either one of the teams. However, since taking the role as crazed Gooner Paul Ainsworth in Fever Pitch, the 49-year-old hardly ever misses an Arsenal home game when he is in residence in his Hackney flat. Nick Hornby (director of Fever Pitch) is worth a mention for Firth being converted into Goonerdom as it seems as if his film turned the actor into a loyal Arsenal supporter since 1997 to this present day.
6. Frankie Dettori
Dettori is known to be a big follower of the North London club. The 5’ 4’’ Italian jockey who has won every British classic as well as countless amounts of races around the world is as much into Arsenal football club as he is in his own profession. In 1996 Dettori spoke to the Telegraph about his love for Arsenal:
“I’ve been an Arsenal fan since I came to England. I was interviewed by Julian Wilson for the BBC just after I had my seventh win in one afternoon at Ascot, and I asked how Arsenal had done. When I heard that they’d won, it made the day all the more special.”
Dettori arrived in England in 1985, which would make him a fan of the Gunners for 25 years now…a loyal fan indeed.
Click on page 2 to see the top 5
5. Piers Morgan
Mr. Morgan has not kept it a secret that he is in fact a Gooner. The Daily Mail columnist loves to express his views on what Wenger must do in order to get Arsenal going into the right direction. At times reading his work, you get the feeling that Morgan actually knows what he is talking about. The former Daily Mirror and News of the World editor also enjoys great TV success with ‘Pier’s Morgan’s Life Stories’ and acts as a judge for the popular talent show ‘Britain’s got talent’.
4. Bradley Walsh
For the 2002 F.A Cup final where Arsenal took on Chelsea at the Millennium Stadium, Sky Sports invited Walsh to take part in the infamous fan zone booth and commentate alongside Tim Lovejoy. Walsh represented his beloved Arsenal whilst Lovejoy was backing his Blues. Arsenal won 2-0 that day with goals by Ray Parlour and Freddie Ljungberg. The most memorable part of listening to the two was when Ray Parlour picked up the ball in the centre of the park and headed for goal. Lovejoy commentated ‘Oh no he’s put him through…oh It’s alright it’s only Ray Parlour’ and before he knew it the Arsenal man curled a 25-yard beauty into the top corner sparking Walsh to go absolutely bonkers and replied back to Lovejoy by saying ’that is Ray Parlour, that is the goal of the season, that is a goal’. It was one of the biggest clangers in the history of commentary by Tim Lovejoy, but a hilarious one at that which started an ‘it’s only Ray Parlour’ trend. The 50-year-old English comedian and actor is a legendary Gooner fan just for that.
Check out Walsh’s commentary, its hilarious:
3. Kevin Costner
The famous actor best known for his role in the 1991 hit movie Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, confessed his love and support to Arsenal football club when he was invited to watch the Gunners play during the making of the film:
“When I came over and made Robin Hood I got a chance to go see a football game and it happened to be Arsenal. They invited me as their guest and I didn’t know what to expect, and I was blown away. I didn’t realise how emotional it can be in the stands. I didn’t realise that people sang and did all that and I was moved by it.”
Kevin Costner remains a loyal fan to this day and a very famous one at that.
2. Alan Davies
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Alan Davies had to make the list for sure. The British comedian, writer and actor is best known for starring in the mystery series ‘Jonathan Creek,’ is an enormous Arsenal fan and merits this by being a season ticket holder at the Emirates Stadium. The 44-year-old Brit also hosts the greatly popular ‘It’s up for grabs now’ podcast, which takes a jocular look at what’s going on in the club. A definite top 10 celebrity Gooner.
1. Nick Hornby
Nick Hornby is a well known author who is particularly identified with his football novel ‘Fever Pitch’ which was released in 1992. It tells the story of the author’s relationship with football and his loveable Arsenal football club. The story behind the novel was converted into a movie which was produced and directed in 1997 By Hornby himself, and has been a major hit with many males up and down the country for several years now. A truly iconic Arsenal and football fan, who deserves a lot of praise for persuading many with his book and film to get involved with the beautiful game.
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Click on image below to see the BRAZILIAN babes at the World Cup