Now that we are reaching the mid-point of July, we can
finally whisper to ourselves that yes, the new season is approaching.
The rumour mill is well into full swing, as Andy Carroll
gets whored out to anyone who will listen. The £35m Liverpool misfit is inevitably
set to leave Anfield in some shape or form, with Newcastle already ruling
themselves out, and ‘big man’ fetishist Sam Allardyce understood to be hovering
over his club’s chequebook licking his lips.
Sorry about that last sentence. Anyway, is it really wise to
let Carroll go? As every sensible football enthusiast knows, it is wise to keep
a variety of options open. While Brendan Rodgers’ commitment to Barca-esque
football is admirable, what about those last ten minutes when all you need is
to throw balls into the box? You turn to Carroll of course. (I should probably
note at this point that I rate the striker a lot more highly than that, and
feel he can play a competent role in an eye-catching unit). While it is very
nice of him to not want to reduce Carroll to a bench-warming role, the new boss
maybe needs a bit more selfishness. But then I only write about the football
(and my Football Manager record needs some severe brushing up..)
Keeping things Northern Irish, Linfield and Portadown continued
their unstoppable march to Wembley with Champions League victories this week.
Speaking of unrealistic expectations, Andre Villas-Boas is
settling into life at White Hart Lane, as he tries to build his side’s (and
perhaps his own) self-confidence ahead of the new season. He has his sights set
squarely on title success, which let’s not forget didn’t seem out of the
question to Spurs around six months ago. However, this was after three years of
incredible consistency under Harry Redknapp. He had Gareth Bale, Luka Modric,
Kyle Walker, among others, playing the best football of their careers. While
this bubble of course burst and carried Redknapp in its wake, that side had a
very distinct style. AVB also has a very distinct style. He appears to be
planning for life without Modric, and has earmarked his old midfield maestro Joao
Moutinho as a replacement. Jan Vertonghen has also been confirmed as a signing
from Ajax to boost the previously glass-like central defence of Dawson and King.
While this recruitment drive will surely continue, I hope AVB isn’t expecting
immediate results with his title challenge. Most sane Spurs fans will surely
bite his beard off for a return to the Champions League.
In a move that is surely a coincidence, Man United have
responded to the sale of Ji Sung Park to QPR with a move for 23-year-old Shinji
Kagawa from Borussia Dortmund. Gotta keep those Asian shirt sales ticking over…
On a more politically correct note, Steve Cotterill has been
sacked by Nottingham Forest’s new Kuwait-based owners. I hear Sven-Goran
Eriksson is out of work. Watch this space.
And follow my blog!
I leave you with a nugget from everyone’s favourite FIFA
sound-tracking retirement-taking Englishmen. That’s Chumbawamba to you and me.
Cheerio.
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