Football talking points

First topic message reminder :

Rather than hijack the "which team do you support" thread where some of these are being talked about...

Some of the events of the weekend that are getting people talking

1) Mario Balotelli: plenty to say about him in general but specifically the alleged stamp on Scott Parker and his subsequent charge by the FA

2) Lescott's elbow on Kaboul(?) - FA say no charge to answer

3) Conspiracy theories in general about Man City!

4) Wenger's decision to take Chamberlain off and put Arshavin on - and Van Persie's reaction

5) Peter Crouch and the "eye-gouge"

6) Harry Redknapp and the tax-dodging allegations and court case

Discuss!

The way I understand it, when Harry was in the frame for the England job, Levy was talking big numbers in terms of compensation from England. When Harry went in for talks of contract extension, he apparently wanted money equivalent to the compensation Levy would have sought

Harry doesn't seem to understand that as he didn't get the job, he's not really worth that money after all

As much I like Harry and think he's done a great job at the Lane, just like everywhere else he's managed, I think he's a liability. He will always want to do things his way, which is old school, and loves wheeling and dealing etc. But the money today involved in football is massive, especially when nearly all clubs run at a loss. Harry has history of bungs and think it's well known that he's got away with a hell of a lot in his career.

I also think Levi was really hoping the FA would come calling so that he could claim a few million in compensation and get rid. I think the FA were aware of the rumours about Harry and stayed clear, so they didn't have to go through the venables thing again. But Levi has been disengenious to say the least, as he will now be paying Harry money to end his contract early instead of being paid to get rid of him.

Harry will no doubt be back, but can't think where as RDM has now got Chelsea. Who do we think will be the first in line for the sack race from the prem this coming season. Harry would love Liverpool, but thats sorted and the board there need to back Rodgers or look stupid. Too old for man Utd but can you see City sacking the Italian or indeed him leaving? How about West Ham sacking big Sam and Harry going home? (Can't see Gold working with him) I would say massive money to work in the Gulf for his retirement.

1GrumpyGolfer wrote:Maybe he's got the England job after all

LOL - I think that's what he thought when he didn't sign a new contract earlier in the season. Heard on the radio that he had now asked for a new 3 year deal and to be the highest paid manager in the premiership. Bye Bye Harry.

Apparently Harry has said to the press "What happened is that I met with the chairman and the club decided to go in a different direction."

By that I assume the club want to go up, not down

I feel for Levy in truth as he is getting a lot of stick.

Word is that when the England job became available and Harry was a shoe in, Levy offered him a new and improved 3 year contract to stay and Harry 'no i think i'll wait to see if i'm offered the England job'.
As we all know he wasn't offered it and susequently went on to blow a 13 point lead over Arsenal and miss out on Champions League (albeit a little unfortunately with Chelsea winning it).
Now he apparently has gone back and asked for a new 3 year contract (current contract finishes at the end of the coming season) and a pay rise, to which Levy said 'i think we'll see how we do this year first', in response to which Harry has walked.

How much of that is 100% accurate i'm not sure but it's what i'm hearing from a couple of guys i know at Spurs.

All that being true, i can see where Levy is coming from. Yes Harry did a great job at Spurs and had a good 1st half of season last year, but he did also blow a 13 point lead having possibly had his head turned by England.
If i came into the office tomorrow and worked really hard in the morning that doesn't mean it would be ok to do buggar all in the afternoon and then expect a pay rise.

MPB - I think your sources are good, as that's pretty much what Graham Roberts said, and I guess he has a few connections! Whatever people may think of Spurs, it does seem that Levy tries to run the club in the correct manner re. the finances. Apparently he will not break the £75K per week salary ceiling, which put paid to Harry's request to sign Tevez last season.

It sounds as though Ally McCoist has/will be parting company with Rangers anytime now. Wonder if he would be looking to move into management in England, or if he's had a bellyful of football at the moment.

Another quote from 'Arry - he apparently said that he expected that Spurs would have won the Premier league in the next year or two

The hidden implication in his words was that now he doesn't as he isn't there

I think that Harry is letting his imagination run away with him there with that quote...

Yes!!

Interesting approach to ticket prices from Derby County. Buy early and get a bargain, and prices will also depend on how well the team is doing.

Ticket prices will be cheap at the Rovers this year Mary, if they depend on how well the team is doing...

Probably not as cheap as at Col U though!

Away from the Euros...

I see JT's legal team are considering forming a "pot calling kettle" strategy in his upcoming trial over the Anton Ferdinand affair...

They are considering making a "bad character application against Anton Ferdinand" ... how ironic!

As expected, SPL team vote against accepting Rangers Newco into the SPL - shooting themselves in the foot in grand style seems to be their forté

As I'm mostly only familiar with the wranglings of off-season maneuverings for U.S. based professional sport teams, what are the usual considerations and actions for Premier League and Championship League teams during this time?

Not sure what you mean Venice - do you mean in terms of transfer action? Or how they prepare for the new season?

There will be lots of contract wrangling going on - the highest profile (and not just for confirmed Gooners such as me and Grumps) is Robin Van Persie - talk tonight is that he only has one year left on his contract and is rumoured to not want to renew it so Arsenal are having to decide if they keep him for one more year then let him go on a free transfer, or try to sell him now for maybe £20m. Personally, I'd keep him for one more year in the hope that he keeps his fitness (and his professionalism) to play one more season, then let him go - admittedly at a financial loss. But a player wth his history of injuries is always going to be a risk so if Arsene Wenger gets a bid of £20m+ then he may decide to let him go now

As far as pre-season is concerned, most of the clubs are starting to get back now - particularly those who have Euro league prelims to go through. I heard on the radio yesterday that Liverpool are back in training as they have a Europa leave qualifier to play on something like the 2nd August. All the players who played in the Euro 2012 tournament will get another couple of weeks off, and of course there are players who are in the Olympic squad - but the regular pros are starting to get back to pre-season training now. After all it's only something like 6 or 7 weeks to the start of the new season!

BlueCoverman wrote:Ticket prices will be cheap at the Rovers this year Mary, if they depend on how well the team is doing...

Hmmm - that one slipped under my radar! I have faith that we will put up a good show, now that Mark McGhee has had time to settle in - Scottish managers seem to do quite well across the border.

Davie - re. RVP, I wonder if it would be worth the gamble of keeping him for one more season in pursuit of the elusive Champions League title, balanced against the loss of transfer money now.

Thought I had got away with that one Mary!

Meanwhile things are looking up at Col U...we signed West Ham's Freddie Sears today on a three year deal, he's got to be worth at least - what shall we say - 6 goals a season?

BlueCoverman wrote:I know what will happen...we will get knocked out on penalties as usual!

That slipped under my radar as well! Just a shame I am nowhere near as accurate in the Fantasy League!

With regards to RVP it is difficult for any team to continue to keep a player once he has publicly stated that he is not going to sign a new contract and I don't think Arsenal will be any different. Man City will be getting the cheque book out again no doubt.

Andy Carroll to AC Milan? My guess any sort of reasonable offer will be accepted, can't see Brendan Rodgers changing his style of play to accommodate Carroll anyway.

Carroll shipped out to West Ham on loan with a view to a permanent move for 17 million. Pretty humiliating for him and for Liverpool spending 35 million on him.
Got to be honest, Carlton Cole is probably a better player anyway, though both him and Carroll lack application. Could potentially be a handful together though you rarely see 2 big guys up front thee days.
See Sunderland have bid 10 million for Fletcher....I'm suitably underwhelmed by that one really.

Fletcher is a good striker, holds the ball up well and good in the air too... but a little one sided, he is all left foot. He'll put a goos shift in and weigh in with a few goals too. 12 goals for Wolves side that was relegated last season is a decent haul.

diggers wrote:Carroll shipped out to West Ham on loan with a view to a permanent move for 17 million. Pretty humiliating for him and for Liverpool spending 35 million on him.

Humiliating for Liverpool perhaps but I think that's a bit harsh on Carroll - after all, it wasn't his fault Liverpool were prepared to pay that much for him - and £17m is still a pretty healthy price tag. I can imagine plenty of other strikers who would feel anything but hummiliated by having a price tag like that around their neck

I don't think Carroll has the brains to be humiliated, but Liverpool should be... £35m on a battering ram? It was madness from the start. They paid half of that for a proper and proven talent like Saurez.

Davie wrote:

diggers wrote:Carroll shipped out to West Ham on loan with a view to a permanent move for 17 million. Pretty humiliating for him and for Liverpool spending 35 million on him.

Humiliating for Liverpool perhaps but I think that's a bit harsh on Carroll - after all, it wasn't his fault Liverpool were prepared to pay that much for him - and £17m is still a pretty healthy price tag. I can imagine plenty of other strikers who would feel anything but hummiliated by having a price tag like that around their neck

I doubt very much they will be paying 17 mill after he has another crap season. Carroll in London, a recipe for disaster I'd say.

Looks like big Sam is going to show the world that he's capable of running Barcelona or Real Madrid. Yes Carrol means more hoofball for the purists

Sounds as though Big Andy doesn't fancy the bright lights of London town.

Would it have been possible for Rangers to completley bin the Scottish leagues and play in League 1 down here. I say this because I believe the club have been shat on and although their past owners are the cause, feel its unfair for the new owners and team to take the blame. I think Rangers have handled themselves with dignity but are still being caned every week. The SPL and SFA are going to be the big losers as TV money walks away and it will effect the whole of scottish football.

It is a bit of a boring story, Doc but I think the short answer is no... you need be in England to join now. There was talk of some historic membership existing, that Rangers joined the FA in the late 1800's. I would like nothing more than us to have dumped the dodo league here (the whole game is ****ed), I would have been happy for us to start in the regional leagues and work our way up like AFC Wimbledon and FC United of Manchester etc but if it were possible then I am sure it would have been explored further.

So.........Everton sell Pienaar to Spurs for 3 million and then buy him back, a year older after an average season , for 4.5 million ? No wonder they never have any money.

At first glance is is not the shrewdest business they have ever been involved in, but he had an excellent end to the season with them. He seems to fit in very well there. They got Jelavic at a snip and Naismith for a bigger snip, so they will probably be quite satisfied that it was £1.5m worth spending.

Tevez to return to West Ham seems to be the latest transfer rumour.

Digger/Red I believe Everton valued him at around £10m but as his contract was almost run down, £3m seemed decent money. So if this is true £4.5m is good business for both clubs because if he performs well again this coming season, his value will rocket back up.

Does seem a bit of a strange business for Everton but maybe he never settled in London. Could be a similar situation to David Unsworth (?) took a big money move, at the time, to a London club from up North and before the first month was over he was heading back up North to a new club.

Just seen a quote on the BBC from Barton, who played for the cod army in a freindly last night. "It's been hard as I've had to spend 5 or 6 weeks just sat on the beach, so I'm a bit behind these lads fitness levels yet".

Glad he can afford to sit on a beach for 6-weeks.

Carrol has also not travelled with Liverpool so looks like he's off. Colins leaves Villa and goes back to West Ham after leaving 5-years ago?

I'm taking a big dislike to Suarez after watching him last night. I kept an open mind about the racism thing last season, as I know different cultures treat this subject another way. But watching his demeanour last night really riled me. Claiming for a penalty (Handball) when he was behind the action and clearly couldn't see. His whole game and reaction to anything made him look like a little petulant, whinging, cheating git. Liverpool would do well to sell him on in my opinion.

The annoying thing Doc is that he is a very good player! But I know what you mean about his attitude - I feel the same

Suarez will do anything to win (remember his handball in the WC), it isn't unusual though all players do it to some extent... and some players more than others. Look at Chelsea for instance, their players are always harassing referees. If Suarez played for your team, you'd love that passion and drive... when it is against your side, you can't help but dislike in large amounts.

2 - 2 draw tonight for my team Col U v Derby County. First pre-season friendly I have been to this year, a decent enough performance from us against higher opposition, and two good goals from Freddie Sears. We have just bought Freddie from West Ham after we had him on loan towards the end of last season. He could do well at this level I think

Weren't you bemoaning the fact he was your big signing the other day Blue?

Glad to see the U's put in a good performance for you.

Sounds like it could be a good season for Colchester.

Bristol Rovers are travelling across town today to play a testimonial game against Bristol City. Apparently the City player wanted Liverpool or Rangers, but had to make do with us. Unfortunately the police insisted that the game was all ticket, with no pay on the day, and have demanded costs of around £70k for policing. This will mean there is not much money left over to donate to 2 charities designated by Louis Carey.

Any thoughts on RVP to Old Trafford?

As an Arsenal fan I'm nowhere near as gutted as the meeja would have us believe all the Arsenal fans are. Good business as far as I'm concerned, to get £24m for a 29 year old with a history of injuries and one 1 year left on his contract.

Yes, he had an outstanding season last year but how many of his 7(?) seasons at Arsenal has he really delivered? And could he really pull off another season like that? Im not sure he could

Now if only Arsene will put some of that money back into strengthening the squad further - although I suspect he'll argue that he's already spent around £40m this window and the sale of RVP is just recouping some of that outlay!

Davie, good riddance in my opinion. Thanks for all you've done but if you don't want to stay then the door's over there. Probably would have preferred him to go overseas but 24M is a good price, thank you very much.

Like you say one full season last year, normally he would play less than half of those games and not score as many goals. Wonder how much he will enjoy it at OT if he's not fit, not playing well etc.

He was a bit of a flop in the Euros too, and that was a side that were one of the hot favourites. Him as Skipper was probably some of the reasons why the squad broke apart. Not in the same league as henry I'm afraid and Wenger got a great deal there too, as Henry was on his way out/down when it happened.

Hat trick for RVP in Fergie's 1,000th game as a manager - couldn't have made it up if you were writing a script.

Just knew that once Man U had equalised, they would go on and get the winner. Feel gutted for Southampton, shame that they took Lambert off so early though.

What about Liverpool - is Brendan Rodgers out of his depth, or has he been let down with broken promises? Good time to be an Everton fan on Merseyside.

There's two great teams in the city of Liverpool: Everton and Everton reserves

Good performance from the Gunners today, would like to see them press the ball a little more but it worked today against a Liverpool side that wasn't sure where the goal was. There were some wild challenges flying around today's match too, luckily no one got caught by one.

Three actually Grumps...you forgot Tranmere

Wasn't going to go there Blue; not a good weekend for the U's but only 5 points out of the playoff places....

I like your optimism Grumps but I fear a long season ahead!

Well another way of looking at it Blue is you're 2 points from bottom!