Archive for the ‘Premier League’ Category

Why Manchester United And Manchester City Are Finding It Easier To Sign Players Than Arsenal And Chelsea

Posted: September 6, 2017 in Arsenal, Chelsea, European Football, Football, Manchester City, Manchester United, Opinion, Premier League, Transfers
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We have always said that the “London” thing is overrated and used as an excuse far too often, usually by the press when they haven’t got the true answer as to why a player, such as Eden Hazard for example, chooses Chelsea over United or City.

The fact is that he didn’t.

At the time Hazard moved to Stamford Bridge, Chelsea were competing on all levels and were in the process of rebuilding having just won the Champions League. Manchester City had been favourites to sign him but grew frustrated at the protracted negotiations and ended up walking away. (more…)

Will Antoine Griezmann Miss Out On A Move To Manchester United In January? Meanwhile, The Inquest Begins At Stamford Bridge

Posted: September 5, 2017 in Arsenal, Chelsea, European Football, Football, Manchester City, Manchester United, Opinion, Premier League, Transfers
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Having initially chosen to stay with Atlético Madrid through a warped sense of loyalty, many people are of the opinion that Antoine Griezmann will move to Manchester United in the January transfer window.

Those opinions will have been strengthened by the recent news that his buy-out clause has been halved to €100 million. This is because, in January, Atlético Madrid will be able to buy players again and will also be in a position to be able to replace Griezmann.

There is no guarantee, however that the player will sign for Manchester United because, by then, Mourinho or his underworked and overpaid scouts, may have identified an alternative. (more…)

Which Wide Player Will Manchester United Be Buying In January?

Posted: September 4, 2017 in Arsenal, Chelsea, European Football, Football, Manchester United, Opinion, Premier League, Transfers
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One of two things can happen to United’s form between now and January. It can remain consistent whereby they stay at the top of the table, or it can tail off from the blistering start they have made and see them in one of the lower top four places.

If the former happens, then don’t expect a player to be signed in January unless Mourinho can get exactly who he wants. If it is the latter, then rigorous attempts will probably be made to fill the position he feels he has missed out on this time.

If Dithering Ed Woodward had gone the extra mile and signed Ivan Perisić, as he did with every other player he has bought to date, then there would, we assume, be no need to bring in a player in January. As he didn’t go the extra mile will this see José turn back to one of the original favourites in Antoine Griezmann? (more…)

Player Power Fails Spectacularly But Has It Changed Anything At All?

Posted: September 3, 2017 in Arsenal, Chelsea, European Football, Football, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Opinion, Premier League, Tottenham Hotspur, Transfers
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(The players may wear the shirts but the owners and chairmen are proving, for the moment at least, that THEY wear the trousers!)

Riyad Mahrez, Alexis Sánchez, Virgil van Dijk and Philippe Coutinho. All players who, in order to try and force a move away from their clubs, handed in a transfer request.

Also all world class players who would be welcome in most teams so why is it that, as the transfer window slid shut on Thursday night, they all remained at their clubs.

There are a few reasons but the overriding feeling is one that player power has been defeated, on this occasion at least. (more…)

Who Didn’t Get What They Wanted For Transfermas?

Posted: September 2, 2017 in Arsenal, Chelsea, European Football, Football, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Opinion, Premier League, Tottenham Hotspur, Transfers
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(All targets for top clubs who failed to sign any of them!)

In general the top six did some pretty reasonable transfer business. Manchester United and City both spent fortunes and got the majority of their signings in early. Liverpool also managed to bring in most of the players they wanted.

Tottenham Hotspur had a good final day and only Arsenal and Chelsea could be said to have failed abysmally at getting their targets through the door.

There were, however, some very good players who stayed exactly where they were, sometimes through good management from their clubs and sometimes through rank bad management from the club trying to buy them. Here’s some of the big names that the top six missed out on: (more…)

Who Did Your Team Get For Transfermas?

Posted: September 1, 2017 in Arsenal, Chelsea, European Football, Football, Manchester City, Manchester United, Opinion, Premier League, Transfers
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(Bald man looks at big screen, aided by big writing and big pictures as well as a tablet, for instructions on what to do next and still doesn’t know!)

So that’s it then! It’s over for another year. Football’s version of Christmas Day came and went with/without a bang depending upon which is your team of choice.

There is, of course, another minor present-giving period in January at which time delusional club owners and chairmen will get another opportunity to buy lavish gifts for their spoiled brat managers, but that is more akin to a birthday rather than the main event.

Sky Sports News had excited reporters at every Premier League ground from 6.00 am just in case anything happened. They were not looking quite so excited when the clock struck 11.00 pm. You do, however, have to admire their optimism if not the ridiculous amounts of taxpayers subscription fees that this exercise must have wasted! (more…)

What Would The Signings Of Gareth Bale And Alexis Sánchez Bring To Manchester United And Manchester City?

Posted: August 31, 2017 in Arsenal, Chelsea, European Football, Football, Manchester City, Manchester United, Opinion, Premier League
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José Mourinho has said all along that he wanted four players during this transfer window. He also said, all along, that he would be happy with three. Now we would never accuse Mourinho of anything so crass as lying but we do think he has been economical with the truth.

The, “three is OK” statement even sounds a little forced, as if designed to make Dithering Ed Woodward realise that he still hasn’t delivered on all of his manager’s requested signings. If Mourinho is genuinely happy with three then why does he keep reminding anyone who will listen that he originally asked for four. (more…)

Transfer Windows And International Breaks. Why Bother With A Premier League Season At All?

Posted: August 29, 2017 in Arsenal, Chelsea, European Football, Football, Manchester City, Manchester United, Opinion, Premier League
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Why don’t we extend the transfer window so that it covers the months in between August and May? The excitement produced by this innovative move would mean that we could scrap the Premier League entirely.

Every four years there would be a World Cup and in the alternate two years there would be the European Championships. Friendly internationals and qualifiers could then be played all year round without that pesky Premier League interfering.

There would still be a need for the clubs because they would have to produce players for the international teams, pay them and help them recover from injury, they just wouldn’t have to take part in any silly tournaments where they may also get injured or suspended. (more…)

Chelsea Win, Arsenal Are Thrashed, While Tottenham Can Only Manage A Draw At White Hart Wembley (So The Real Winners Reside In Manchester, As Usual)

Posted: August 28, 2017 in Arsenal, Chelsea, European Football, Football, Manchester City, Manchester United, Opinion, Premier League
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Following on from our article yesterday in which we implied that Manchester United and Manchester City were waiting for London to catch up as usual. Well, with the exception of Chelsea, they are still waiting.

Chelsea beat a lacklustre Everton who, having played away at Manchester City last Monday then away in Croatia on Thursday looked as though they were feeling the effects of a tiring week.

This would be no consolation to Manchester City fans who will bemoan the fact that they got them at the beginning of the week when they were fresh and motivated. So, a bit of luck there for Chelsea. (more…)

City And United Both Win As Manchester Waits For London To Catch Up, (As Usual)

Posted: August 27, 2017 in Arsenal, Chelsea, European Football, Football, Manchester City, Manchester United, Opinion, Premier League
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Mike Dean is recognised as a top referee. He is awarded many of the pivotal games in the Premier League. What is less well known is which team he actually supports.

Well, all can now be revealed because, on the evidence of the game at The Vitality stadium, he is a Bournemouth fan. Having spurned two very good, (and obvious), opportunities to send off Bournemouth players he eventually sent off Raheem Sterling for celebrating a goal!

It seems that, with Mike in charge, players are more likely to be sent off for a non-sending-off offence than for one which would merit that punishment. (more…)

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