Congratulations to Birmingham City and their fans on that stunning Carling Cup win over much-fancied Arsenal.
Also to Alex McLeish for masterminding the victory - he has now staked his claim to be seen as a top manager in England as well as Scotland.
Just a word to the wise though, Alex, old chum...it is not a good way to endear yourself to Birmingham supporters by describing their football club as 'a small club' towards 'big club Arsenal'!
Check the history books - Brum haven't always been struggling at the bottom of the league, Alex. In England they are considered more than a small club - they are a club with a big history and good support!
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Dalglish Carroll Torres Adam
Why the big deal over yesterday's spending spree in the football world?
I see people shaking their heads and moaning that it is a disgrace, that it is inappropriate in the current econmic climate.
My view is the exact opposite - that it is great news and a real boost to the game. It is the stuff of fantasy football - and isn't that what football is, after all?
Fantasy - an escape from the doldrums and harshness of reality?
I am very proud that the English league is the biggest spender in all of Europe - it shows we are still tops, still thriving and not on our knees as some would have had you believe.
And as for the deals? All excellent in my humble opinion. All beneficial to the clubs involved and all have given a major lift to those clubs.
Liverpool get rid of a disgruntled employee who now becomes non disgruntled as he heads for a fantasy strike force that could win Chelsea the Champions League - yes, Torres and Drogba.
Liverpool then bring in the best homegrown forward since Shearer to lift their spirits and put some fire into the belly of their team and their fans. Andy Carroll is not overpriced if he fires Liverpool into the top four and he could link up well with the more subtle Luis Suarez.
My only quibble if I were a Liverpool fan would be that they did not buy Charlie Adam. All the talk is of how Liverpool's new owners have splashed out millions, which proves they are not like the old owners. But do the math as those very same Yank owners might say - have they actually splashed out that much? Torres went for £48million while Carroll cost £35.5million and Suarez cost £22.5m - a total of £58million. So the new owners have actually invested £10million. Is that big bucks these days? Surely they could have upped their bid for Adam from £10m to the £12.5m which would have secured him? That would have made their investment a total of £22.5m.
Liverpool now have the firepower with the two new men up front, but do they have the man to supply them with the ammunition? Debatable. Adam is that man - he has all the makings of a new Paul Scholes and I believe Kenny may have dropped a clanger by not signing him. My information is that Adam will now end up replacing Scholes at Old Trafford come July.
Also, why would he have gone to Tottenham? And why would Redknapp have bought him? His urgent need is for a top-class centre forward, he has quality midfielders aplenty.
Perhaps the best deal was the one that has claimed the least number of column inches...David Luiz. The Brazilian centre half is just what Chelsea need as they still to struggle to cope with the loss of Carvalho, the absence through injury of Alex and the rocky form of Terry. Luiz is young, strong and can, along with Alex when fit, become the new bedrock from which the Blues can build anew.
It all makes for a much more interesting, exciting season...
I see people shaking their heads and moaning that it is a disgrace, that it is inappropriate in the current econmic climate.
My view is the exact opposite - that it is great news and a real boost to the game. It is the stuff of fantasy football - and isn't that what football is, after all?
Fantasy - an escape from the doldrums and harshness of reality?
I am very proud that the English league is the biggest spender in all of Europe - it shows we are still tops, still thriving and not on our knees as some would have had you believe.
And as for the deals? All excellent in my humble opinion. All beneficial to the clubs involved and all have given a major lift to those clubs.
Liverpool get rid of a disgruntled employee who now becomes non disgruntled as he heads for a fantasy strike force that could win Chelsea the Champions League - yes, Torres and Drogba.
Liverpool then bring in the best homegrown forward since Shearer to lift their spirits and put some fire into the belly of their team and their fans. Andy Carroll is not overpriced if he fires Liverpool into the top four and he could link up well with the more subtle Luis Suarez.
My only quibble if I were a Liverpool fan would be that they did not buy Charlie Adam. All the talk is of how Liverpool's new owners have splashed out millions, which proves they are not like the old owners. But do the math as those very same Yank owners might say - have they actually splashed out that much? Torres went for £48million while Carroll cost £35.5million and Suarez cost £22.5m - a total of £58million. So the new owners have actually invested £10million. Is that big bucks these days? Surely they could have upped their bid for Adam from £10m to the £12.5m which would have secured him? That would have made their investment a total of £22.5m.
Liverpool now have the firepower with the two new men up front, but do they have the man to supply them with the ammunition? Debatable. Adam is that man - he has all the makings of a new Paul Scholes and I believe Kenny may have dropped a clanger by not signing him. My information is that Adam will now end up replacing Scholes at Old Trafford come July.
Also, why would he have gone to Tottenham? And why would Redknapp have bought him? His urgent need is for a top-class centre forward, he has quality midfielders aplenty.
Perhaps the best deal was the one that has claimed the least number of column inches...David Luiz. The Brazilian centre half is just what Chelsea need as they still to struggle to cope with the loss of Carvalho, the absence through injury of Alex and the rocky form of Terry. Luiz is young, strong and can, along with Alex when fit, become the new bedrock from which the Blues can build anew.
It all makes for a much more interesting, exciting season...
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Am now (as of yesterday) on Twitter if you want to keep up with instant gossip/news etc...eg I said yesterday that Kenny Dalglish should sign Charlie Adam - he obviously reads my stuff, he is now in the chase for him!
Monday, January 10, 2011
DALGLISH SHOULD BUY CHARLIE ADAM
..and one wee tip, Kenny boy - why don't you spend the best £2.5million you will ever spend and sign Charlie Adam from Blackpool if you want to add some creativity to that struggling midfield? He is a good lad, Scottish like you and could be the buy of the season (and this is from a Manchester lad genuinely trying to help you out for old time's sake!!)
DALGLEEESH! THE RETURN OF KENNY DALGLISH
Welcome back Kenny...it has been a long time since I last saw you - and many things have changed.
You have made a good move in appointing Steve Clarke as head coach, he was after all the man behind the throne with Mourinho at Chelsea...
Also good to see you getting all stressed and angry when decisions went against you. A big club like Liverpool needs a man of passion. Good luck - you may need it...but remember, in your favour, is the fact that probably only the aforementioned Mourinho could steal your limelight, and he is heading for Man United next...
You have made a good move in appointing Steve Clarke as head coach, he was after all the man behind the throne with Mourinho at Chelsea...
Also good to see you getting all stressed and angry when decisions went against you. A big club like Liverpool needs a man of passion. Good luck - you may need it...but remember, in your favour, is the fact that probably only the aforementioned Mourinho could steal your limelight, and he is heading for Man United next...
ROY HODGSON PAUL JEWELL IPSWICH TOWN
It strikes me that Ipswich Town have dropped a major blunder by appointing Paul Jewell as their new manager.
Jewell is a renowned firefighter but can he take the club forward - is he not a Roy Keane without the stardust?
Surely the board should have seen that the very man to take them on a step or two has just become available - in fact, he is headline news - yes, Mr Roy Hodgson.
Hodgson and Ipswich were made for each other. He always does his best work at family style clubs (think Fulham) and could have 'done a Bobby Robson' at Portman Road.
It is a big chance missed for Town. Shame.
Jewell is a renowned firefighter but can he take the club forward - is he not a Roy Keane without the stardust?
Surely the board should have seen that the very man to take them on a step or two has just become available - in fact, he is headline news - yes, Mr Roy Hodgson.
Hodgson and Ipswich were made for each other. He always does his best work at family style clubs (think Fulham) and could have 'done a Bobby Robson' at Portman Road.
It is a big chance missed for Town. Shame.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
JOOLS HOLLAND
Is it me - or is the Jools Holland hootenanny no longer any good?
Watched a bit of it on NYE but turned it off. It has never been the same since I learned it was not live, but taped a while before NYE.
It feels as if we are being taken the piss out of when a load of bloated, freeloading 'celebs' are seen knocking back the wine etc and pretending it is NYE, when it is probably actually Dec 10.
The solution? Holland needs to live up to his 'man of principle' persona and insist that from next NYE the show goes out live. Jeez, if the stars of Corrie can do it, why can't Jools?
Watched a bit of it on NYE but turned it off. It has never been the same since I learned it was not live, but taped a while before NYE.
It feels as if we are being taken the piss out of when a load of bloated, freeloading 'celebs' are seen knocking back the wine etc and pretending it is NYE, when it is probably actually Dec 10.
The solution? Holland needs to live up to his 'man of principle' persona and insist that from next NYE the show goes out live. Jeez, if the stars of Corrie can do it, why can't Jools?
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