Hi Folks,
Our latest podcast is online now. We discuss:
Results: Copa America, U21 Final, Gold Cup and Copa Del Rey
Pub Talk: Henry, Eriksson, Suazo, Bayern, Dowie, Ince and more.
Hate: Stefan Effenberg, former Bayern and Fiorentina man
Fixtures and a review of the the Official Chelsea magazine...
Download it here:
http://libsyn.com/media/okeydokefootball/odf28Jun07.mp3
As promised on the show, some links:
Barca youth team player Bojan Krkic: http://video.aol.com/video-detail/id/2460321805
And his team mate Dos Santos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W28o4RgRxXY
And some links on Effenberg:
http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2007/03/02/trinka-lowe-takes-page-out-of-ex-husband-derek-lowes-book/
http://www.uglyfootballers.com/genpage.asp?DocumentID=218
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=267136&root=europe&cc=5739
His new woman: http://tinyurl.com/23z7ln
His old woman: http://tinyurl.com/yscbxm
Hope you enjoy the show,
Mark,
http://www.okeydokefootball.com
http://feeds.feedburner.com/okeyDokeFootball
Thursday, 28 June 2007
Wednesday, 27 June 2007
Perpetual Transition
So, Henry is gone, and we're mightily glad to see the back of him too.
Despite Arsenal losing one of the best players in the past 15 years in England, some say the 'best foreign import' of all, Arsenal still have a bright future.
It was only 4 months ago that everybody was raving about the Arsenal youth team's demolition job on Liverpool in the Carling Cup and nothing has changed since in that regard. The first team squad is still exceptionally strong, top class players such as Toure, Gallas, Eboue, Rosicky, Fabregas and Van Persie are proof that things are not bleak. Also, Adebeyor is improving by the month, he has great skill, good pace, intelligence on the ball, he only needs to improve his shooting to become a great addition for the Arse. He's only 23 and that will come with time.
Realistically, Wenger has the same problems as he did before the Ego left - he needs to sign quality right and left wingers. Hleb is simply not good enough, too often great moves break down because of his ineptness. Rosicky has been filling in on the left, to little effect, and perhaps Walcott can show more as an outside left, but Wenger needs an immediate solution. Wenger will also hope Diaby can come through properly to add steel in midfield. Gilberto is sure to be named club captain but over the past few years he hasn't shown enough to me that he commands the team and drives them forward.
So, upfront then - a striker is needed, talks of Anelka and Owen would seem to be an easy link to make for the press. More likely is that Wenger will look outside England for a solution. Darren Bent would be ideal, but at 17m pounds, is priced out of the market. Jermaine Defoe, a player who I'm still not convinced about, would surely respond well to a regular run of games, and the manager's skill, but his Spurs association will cost him that chance. Owen needs to prove his fitness this season before a move. Anelka seems most likely to move but Arsenal will surely want someone to rely on for more than a season.
Arsenal don't need any sort of overhaul, they have been 'in transition' for the past seasons, which basically means that Wenger got away with bad signings and players who were too young. They will claim another transition next season, but the correct signings could propel them ahead of Chelsea and Liverpool to battle with United.
Will Wenger buy correctly? Only Arsene knows so far...
Mark,
http://www.okeydokefootball.com
Despite Arsenal losing one of the best players in the past 15 years in England, some say the 'best foreign import' of all, Arsenal still have a bright future.
It was only 4 months ago that everybody was raving about the Arsenal youth team's demolition job on Liverpool in the Carling Cup and nothing has changed since in that regard. The first team squad is still exceptionally strong, top class players such as Toure, Gallas, Eboue, Rosicky, Fabregas and Van Persie are proof that things are not bleak. Also, Adebeyor is improving by the month, he has great skill, good pace, intelligence on the ball, he only needs to improve his shooting to become a great addition for the Arse. He's only 23 and that will come with time.
Realistically, Wenger has the same problems as he did before the Ego left - he needs to sign quality right and left wingers. Hleb is simply not good enough, too often great moves break down because of his ineptness. Rosicky has been filling in on the left, to little effect, and perhaps Walcott can show more as an outside left, but Wenger needs an immediate solution. Wenger will also hope Diaby can come through properly to add steel in midfield. Gilberto is sure to be named club captain but over the past few years he hasn't shown enough to me that he commands the team and drives them forward.
So, upfront then - a striker is needed, talks of Anelka and Owen would seem to be an easy link to make for the press. More likely is that Wenger will look outside England for a solution. Darren Bent would be ideal, but at 17m pounds, is priced out of the market. Jermaine Defoe, a player who I'm still not convinced about, would surely respond well to a regular run of games, and the manager's skill, but his Spurs association will cost him that chance. Owen needs to prove his fitness this season before a move. Anelka seems most likely to move but Arsenal will surely want someone to rely on for more than a season.
Arsenal don't need any sort of overhaul, they have been 'in transition' for the past seasons, which basically means that Wenger got away with bad signings and players who were too young. They will claim another transition next season, but the correct signings could propel them ahead of Chelsea and Liverpool to battle with United.
Will Wenger buy correctly? Only Arsene knows so far...
Mark,
http://www.okeydokefootball.com
Tuesday, 26 June 2007
The Resurrection of Sven
JJ here,
Well eh… he’s back. Sven Urine Eriksson is back in football management (according to about 20 football sites anyway) with Man City and could a greater combination have come about. A manager who adores trophy players paired with a side that craves mediocrity, a decent winger and the odd point against United. You can imagine the ‘social networking’ site where they hooked up…
MC: Say it one more time…
Svennis: First half guud…
MC: He’s still got it…
Svennis: Secund half, not so guud…
MC: What do you need?
Svennis: Three million a year, a nice secretary and an LA Galaxy season ticket.
MC: Get onboard!
Sorry about that, but anyway…
Will he attract top players?
Is he still the tactical cripple he was with England?
What will his budget be?
Will he continue to develop City’s quality Academy players?
Will he stay for the full three years?
In many ways it’s a no lose situation for Sven; if he succeeds and rebuilds his reputation then he’ll move on and get a job at a club he actually wants to work with. If he fails, most likely City will have to pay out yet another compensation package to him and his Mr 10 Per Cent, Atole Still.
Eriksson’s record in club management is still decent enough…
Well eh… he’s back. Sven Urine Eriksson is back in football management (according to about 20 football sites anyway) with Man City and could a greater combination have come about. A manager who adores trophy players paired with a side that craves mediocrity, a decent winger and the odd point against United. You can imagine the ‘social networking’ site where they hooked up…
MC: Say it one more time…
Svennis: First half guud…
MC: He’s still got it…
Svennis: Secund half, not so guud…
MC: What do you need?
Svennis: Three million a year, a nice secretary and an LA Galaxy season ticket.
MC: Get onboard!
Sorry about that, but anyway…
Will he attract top players?
Is he still the tactical cripple he was with England?
What will his budget be?
Will he continue to develop City’s quality Academy players?
Will he stay for the full three years?
In many ways it’s a no lose situation for Sven; if he succeeds and rebuilds his reputation then he’ll move on and get a job at a club he actually wants to work with. If he fails, most likely City will have to pay out yet another compensation package to him and his Mr 10 Per Cent, Atole Still.
Eriksson’s record in club management is still decent enough…
1979-82: IFK Gothenburg
Swedish Cup Winners 1979
Swedish Cup Winners 1982
Swedish League Champions 1981
Swedish League Champions 1982
UEFA Cup Winners 1982
1982-84: SL Benfica
Portuguese League Champions 1983
Portuguese League Champions 1984
Portuguese Cup Winners 1983
Portuguese League Champions 1983
Portuguese League Champions 1984
Portuguese Cup Winners 1983
1984-87: AS Roma
Italian Cup Winners 1986
Italian Cup Winners 1986
1989-92: SL Benfica
European Cup Runners Up 1990
Portuguese League Champions 1991
European Cup Runners Up 1990
Portuguese League Champions 1991
1992-97: Sampdoria
Italian Cup Winners 1994
Italian Cup Winners 1994
1997-2000: SS Lazio
Italian Cup Winners 1998
Italian Cup Winners 2000
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Winners 1999
Italian League Champions 2000
Italian Cup Winners 1998
Italian Cup Winners 2000
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Winners 1999
Italian League Champions 2000
… however, there are a lot of honours that are over 20 years old as well as several in Portugal where three teams dominate to a ridiculous degree. Looking at the amount of cup competitions won though, he could be just the man for City. They don’t expect to be top four; they barely expect to be top ten! A Carling Cup and more home goals than last season should have them dancing in the streets of Moss Side.
Despite the noises at the weekend about his “good relationship” with England players, I can’t see many jumping at the chance of teaming up with him again. Indeed, it’s probably only the fact that his inside man McClaren got the England post that has prevented many players from doing a complete hatchet job on him in their autobiographies.
He’ll buy foreign and he’ll buy flair players. Just what City want really. I’ve already said that I think Thaksin Shinawatra could be an absolute disaster but I’ve also said that watching City stumble from disaster to disaster could be some of the best entertainment seen next season.
Good move? Bad move? Well eh…
Monday, 25 June 2007
Apologies but...
Alright people,
JJ here,
I’ve started this blog on around six different occasions before realising I had little to write about… I’ve gone through subjects like Masters Football, watching boxing and drinking absinthe with little success before deleting everything I put down. So here goes the obvious:
It’s over, it’s done, he’s gone. H***y (he’s a bad word round these parts) has got on that plane to Barcelona where he will, I’m confidently predicting, spend half the season on the sidelines with injury and be blamed for Barca blowing the title. Maybe that’s just a crazy dream but I can’t see it going as well as the whining Frenchman hopes… he went a year too late for one thing.
We covered H***y in our hate section a few weeks back on the podcast (see here: http://www.okeydokefootball.com/showPodcast.asp?PodcastID=33) so our opinions on him are well known and the word ‘cunt’ (not a bad word round these parts) appears on numerous occasions.
But how do you think he will do? Include as much bad luck as you like. Although those who predict he’ll win the league for them and spur the Catalan ‘nation’ to victory over the Spanish oppressors will just be plain wrong.
At the very least, it will mean this story has been put to bed and this will, I promise, be the one post that has anything to do with the subject. Now back to that absinthe...
JJ here,
I’ve started this blog on around six different occasions before realising I had little to write about… I’ve gone through subjects like Masters Football, watching boxing and drinking absinthe with little success before deleting everything I put down. So here goes the obvious:
It’s over, it’s done, he’s gone. H***y (he’s a bad word round these parts) has got on that plane to Barcelona where he will, I’m confidently predicting, spend half the season on the sidelines with injury and be blamed for Barca blowing the title. Maybe that’s just a crazy dream but I can’t see it going as well as the whining Frenchman hopes… he went a year too late for one thing.
We covered H***y in our hate section a few weeks back on the podcast (see here: http://www.okeydokefootball.com/showPodcast.asp?PodcastID=33) so our opinions on him are well known and the word ‘cunt’ (not a bad word round these parts) appears on numerous occasions.
But how do you think he will do? Include as much bad luck as you like. Although those who predict he’ll win the league for them and spur the Catalan ‘nation’ to victory over the Spanish oppressors will just be plain wrong.
At the very least, it will mean this story has been put to bed and this will, I promise, be the one post that has anything to do with the subject. Now back to that absinthe...
Friday, 22 June 2007
As the Fresh Prince once said... Tick, tick, tick, tick, BOOOOOOM
JJ here
Well now that Thaksin Shinawatra is set to take over at Man City, the team may be a little anxious when getting on the team bus. You see, wherever Thaksin goes, things being blown to shit will follow (as my image of the City of Manchester Stadium circa 2010 shows).
Well now that Thaksin Shinawatra is set to take over at Man City, the team may be a little anxious when getting on the team bus. You see, wherever Thaksin goes, things being blown to shit will follow (as my image of the City of Manchester Stadium circa 2010 shows).
Want some proof, well here's some info on two of the (apparently hundreds) of attempts on his life.
March 2001 aeroplane bomb
On 3 March 2001, a semtex/white phosphorus bomb exploded on a Thai Airways International 737 jet minutes before new Thaksin was scheduled to board. The explosion caused a firestorm which consumed nearly the entire airplane on the ground, killing one member of airline staff.
At the time of the blast, Thaksin was walking with about 150 other passengers toward the plane at the start of a trip to attend a narcotics conference in Chiang Mai. Officials initially tried to attribute the explosion to a spontaneous explosion in the gas tank of
the plane (great excuse, bet they couldn’t wait to get the next flight), but most observers saw it as an attempt to assassinate Thaksin. Ya think?
August 2006 car bomb
On 24 August 2006, a car containing 67 kilograms of explosives was stopped near Thaksin's residence in Thonburi. Metropolitan Police Bureau Commissioner Lt-General Wiroj Jantharangsee noted that the explosives in the car were completely assembled, equipped with a remote unit sensor and ready to be detonated, and would have a blast radius of around one kilometre.
Pol Major Kamthorn Ooycharoen, head of the police bomb-disposal squad at the scene, also noted that the bomb was live and ready for detonation. The bomb was composed of sticks TNT, M-8 military fuses, TNT, C4 plastic explosives, a remote control unit, and nine plastic containers containing ammonium nitrate fuel oil (all of which sounds like something from Die Hard… on a side note I can’t wait for that fourth movie to come out. Utter rubbish, but I’m there… anyway back to this slimy bastard Thaksin)
The car was driven by Lieutenant Thawatchai Klinchana, former personal chauffeur of Pallop Pinmanee, Deputy Director of Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC). Police found that the car had left ISOC headquarters earlier that morning. Thawatchai was immediately arrested and Pallop was released from his position.
Pallop denied all involvement, noting (quite brilliantly) that "If had wanted to do it, I
would have done it more subtly...In my career, I have lead death squads. If I had wanted to kill him, the Prime Minister would not have escaped." He also claimed that "the explosives were being transported; they were not assembled to be detonated". Government critics claimed that the car bomb was a government conspiracy. Five army officers were later arrested for their role in the plot. Three officers, including Thawatchai, were released after the military overthrew the Thaksin government.
Alrighty then…. “I have lead death squads”, now there’s a conversation opener at a dinner party. All in all, this guy is bad news but as the Guardian report today “The timing of yesterday's announcement, that Manchester City's ‘custodians’ are to sell the club to Thaksin Shinawatra and bank millions of pounds of his money on the same day he was charged with criminal corruption in his home country, served to underline Thaksin's advisers' view all along: the fans won't protest.”
I predict that Thaksin and, most likely, Sven will turn City into the English version of Hearts, with an insane chairman trying to run every facet of the club – it will be entertaining and I suppose after the rubbish that City served up last season, I’d prefer a despot and a sex addict in charge to the previous board and manager.
Thaksin also once managed a Burger King which may come in handy as, like City fans, no matter what shite his old customers were served they’d come back for more.
Let the games begin.
PS: Another safety message for Man City - look out for suspicious objects in the directors’ box as well next year lads. Then again that may just be one of the cuddly toys that Stuart Pearce left behind. Bless him.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New Podcast up today! Ever wondered what happened to Paul McGregor? Did Mark really see Jody Morris puking? Is ‘AOB’ a shambles? All these questions and so much more answered at: http://www.okeydokefootball.com/
March 2001 aeroplane bomb
On 3 March 2001, a semtex/white phosphorus bomb exploded on a Thai Airways International 737 jet minutes before new Thaksin was scheduled to board. The explosion caused a firestorm which consumed nearly the entire airplane on the ground, killing one member of airline staff.
At the time of the blast, Thaksin was walking with about 150 other passengers toward the plane at the start of a trip to attend a narcotics conference in Chiang Mai. Officials initially tried to attribute the explosion to a spontaneous explosion in the gas tank of
the plane (great excuse, bet they couldn’t wait to get the next flight), but most observers saw it as an attempt to assassinate Thaksin. Ya think?
August 2006 car bomb
On 24 August 2006, a car containing 67 kilograms of explosives was stopped near Thaksin's residence in Thonburi. Metropolitan Police Bureau Commissioner Lt-General Wiroj Jantharangsee noted that the explosives in the car were completely assembled, equipped with a remote unit sensor and ready to be detonated, and would have a blast radius of around one kilometre.
Pol Major Kamthorn Ooycharoen, head of the police bomb-disposal squad at the scene, also noted that the bomb was live and ready for detonation. The bomb was composed of sticks TNT, M-8 military fuses, TNT, C4 plastic explosives, a remote control unit, and nine plastic containers containing ammonium nitrate fuel oil (all of which sounds like something from Die Hard… on a side note I can’t wait for that fourth movie to come out. Utter rubbish, but I’m there… anyway back to this slimy bastard Thaksin)
The car was driven by Lieutenant Thawatchai Klinchana, former personal chauffeur of Pallop Pinmanee, Deputy Director of Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC). Police found that the car had left ISOC headquarters earlier that morning. Thawatchai was immediately arrested and Pallop was released from his position.
Pallop denied all involvement, noting (quite brilliantly) that "If had wanted to do it, I
would have done it more subtly...In my career, I have lead death squads. If I had wanted to kill him, the Prime Minister would not have escaped." He also claimed that "the explosives were being transported; they were not assembled to be detonated". Government critics claimed that the car bomb was a government conspiracy. Five army officers were later arrested for their role in the plot. Three officers, including Thawatchai, were released after the military overthrew the Thaksin government.
Alrighty then…. “I have lead death squads”, now there’s a conversation opener at a dinner party. All in all, this guy is bad news but as the Guardian report today “The timing of yesterday's announcement, that Manchester City's ‘custodians’ are to sell the club to Thaksin Shinawatra and bank millions of pounds of his money on the same day he was charged with criminal corruption in his home country, served to underline Thaksin's advisers' view all along: the fans won't protest.”
I predict that Thaksin and, most likely, Sven will turn City into the English version of Hearts, with an insane chairman trying to run every facet of the club – it will be entertaining and I suppose after the rubbish that City served up last season, I’d prefer a despot and a sex addict in charge to the previous board and manager.
Thaksin also once managed a Burger King which may come in handy as, like City fans, no matter what shite his old customers were served they’d come back for more.
Let the games begin.
PS: Another safety message for Man City - look out for suspicious objects in the directors’ box as well next year lads. Then again that may just be one of the cuddly toys that Stuart Pearce left behind. Bless him.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New Podcast up today! Ever wondered what happened to Paul McGregor? Did Mark really see Jody Morris puking? Is ‘AOB’ a shambles? All these questions and so much more answered at: http://www.okeydokefootball.com/
Thursday, 21 June 2007
What. A. Match.
JJ here,
Around about seven last night I began to watch a game of football. By eight o’clock I was in the middle of watching one of the most exciting, utterly brilliant and controversial games in international history. It even had Englishmen actually scoring penalties. What happened???
England u-21s and Holland u-21s drew one-all. Holland won on penalties. They are the facts but they don’t tell anything even remotely like the full story.
There’s so much to go over and my grain of sympathy of England stayed intact for a while – though that’s probably due to not watching the post-match punditry where the words ‘indefatigable’, ‘lions’, ‘heroes’, ‘it just frustrates’ and ‘where was David Bentley’ made several appearances I’m sure.
In no particular order here’s what we now know. Even though I only started watching at the 60-minute mark.
- Steven Taylor is the new John Terry except likeable. He was phenomenal last night and when he stuck away his spot kick I’m not ashamed to say I was delighted for him. A decent defender alongside him at Newcastle and Fat Sam could be in business.
- Scott Carson is a fine goalkeeper but needs MAJOR work on his penalty strategy. Obviously Pepe Reina likes to keep some things to himself. During the game though, Carson was excellent, could do little about Holland’s goal as well.
- England footballers at any level still don’t know how to keep the ball. I know they were down to ten men with Onuoha limping off at the start of extra time (and yes Taylor was also injured) but even at that, when they had 11 men it was hoof after hoof. Holland were bound to score. It’s a huge problem that England will need some time to fix.
I’m sorry, but it’s no good giving excuses about “lionhearts” etc. If this is what they’re happy with then they will fail for generations to come. When Holland equalised, Taylor may have been on one leg but there was plenty of opportunity in the run up to the goal for other players to calm things down and see out the remaining minutes. Instead, they hoofed. England’s best players – defenders to a man.
- I love penalties. This was the greatest shoot out I’ve ever seen.
- Anton Ferdinand can defend! Well we knew that anyway but it’s good to see he still has some of the talent he showed off in the 05/06 season. The final spot kick miss was unlucky, particularly after sticking away his first one.
- When will referees stop letting keepers coming off their line to narrow the angle on penalties? The Dutch keeper did it every time; though the English bench should take some flak for not bringing this up with the fourth official.
- Martin Tyler talks some shite. At one point he said Carson’s positioning was “exceptionally extravagant”. Anybody know what this means? Anybody?
- The Dutch are nothing special. Drenthe is decent but not a world beater and, from much of what I saw, they resorted to pot shots from 30 yards instead of keeping it on the ground. Babel looks a decent player but it was mainly a game of ‘defence versus attack’ (as any English game always is in the latter stages of a tournament); no one can judge the attacking side on that alone…
Oh and if you didn't see all this, check this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1Lq1mSIzmY
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Podcasting tonight where we'll have results from Spain and the U-21s, Pub Talk, and 'Where are they now' featuring stars, wasters, charlatans and bald Frenchman. Also, plenty of slander, drinking and witty asides as per usual. All will be online tomorrow morning.
Til then folks.
Around about seven last night I began to watch a game of football. By eight o’clock I was in the middle of watching one of the most exciting, utterly brilliant and controversial games in international history. It even had Englishmen actually scoring penalties. What happened???
England u-21s and Holland u-21s drew one-all. Holland won on penalties. They are the facts but they don’t tell anything even remotely like the full story.
There’s so much to go over and my grain of sympathy of England stayed intact for a while – though that’s probably due to not watching the post-match punditry where the words ‘indefatigable’, ‘lions’, ‘heroes’, ‘it just frustrates’ and ‘where was David Bentley’ made several appearances I’m sure.
In no particular order here’s what we now know. Even though I only started watching at the 60-minute mark.
- Steven Taylor is the new John Terry except likeable. He was phenomenal last night and when he stuck away his spot kick I’m not ashamed to say I was delighted for him. A decent defender alongside him at Newcastle and Fat Sam could be in business.
- Scott Carson is a fine goalkeeper but needs MAJOR work on his penalty strategy. Obviously Pepe Reina likes to keep some things to himself. During the game though, Carson was excellent, could do little about Holland’s goal as well.
- England footballers at any level still don’t know how to keep the ball. I know they were down to ten men with Onuoha limping off at the start of extra time (and yes Taylor was also injured) but even at that, when they had 11 men it was hoof after hoof. Holland were bound to score. It’s a huge problem that England will need some time to fix.
I’m sorry, but it’s no good giving excuses about “lionhearts” etc. If this is what they’re happy with then they will fail for generations to come. When Holland equalised, Taylor may have been on one leg but there was plenty of opportunity in the run up to the goal for other players to calm things down and see out the remaining minutes. Instead, they hoofed. England’s best players – defenders to a man.
- I love penalties. This was the greatest shoot out I’ve ever seen.
- Anton Ferdinand can defend! Well we knew that anyway but it’s good to see he still has some of the talent he showed off in the 05/06 season. The final spot kick miss was unlucky, particularly after sticking away his first one.
- When will referees stop letting keepers coming off their line to narrow the angle on penalties? The Dutch keeper did it every time; though the English bench should take some flak for not bringing this up with the fourth official.
- Martin Tyler talks some shite. At one point he said Carson’s positioning was “exceptionally extravagant”. Anybody know what this means? Anybody?
- The Dutch are nothing special. Drenthe is decent but not a world beater and, from much of what I saw, they resorted to pot shots from 30 yards instead of keeping it on the ground. Babel looks a decent player but it was mainly a game of ‘defence versus attack’ (as any English game always is in the latter stages of a tournament); no one can judge the attacking side on that alone…
Oh and if you didn't see all this, check this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1Lq1mSIzmY
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Podcasting tonight where we'll have results from Spain and the U-21s, Pub Talk, and 'Where are they now' featuring stars, wasters, charlatans and bald Frenchman. Also, plenty of slander, drinking and witty asides as per usual. All will be online tomorrow morning.
Til then folks.
Wednesday, 20 June 2007
Are you serious?
Hi folks,
Mark here.
News that Diego Forlan may be on his way back to the Premiership confirms the theory that managers are a bunch of chancers. Martin O'Neill appears to be the latest manager interesting signing the player who is valued at £15m - his buy out clause. Forlan was proven to be an average player in England, fluffing an amazing number of chances for United, and famously went 27 games in 8 months before scoring his first goal. His record in Spain is quite good, 1 goal every 2 games approximately. But make no mistake - all that money for a waster who couldn't even score a few for United, there will hardly be a stampede for him (assuming the Liverpool rumours were as untrue as they sounded).
If you have been listening to the podcast the past season, you will know that we think the deification of O'Neill is a bit overboard, and it was proven with a totally uninspiring league campaign finishing in 11th with a whopping 10 victories. There were also some highly dodgy signings including Carew (good to get rid of Baros, but average nonetheless), Petrov (looked good in Scotland but average so far), Young (a striker who scores no goals) and Sutton (past it).
Villa fans, and indeed Randy Lerner, must wonder where the next pile of money will go. Their ambition is European qualification, but will O'Neill buy the right players?
So far there have been no moves, and their squad looks thin. O'Neill's fans will say he doesn't have the players, but he's spent the guts of £20m so far to finish 8 points better than O'Leary did the season before last.
Am I being too harsh?
Mark,
http://www.okeydokefootball.com
Mark here.
News that Diego Forlan may be on his way back to the Premiership confirms the theory that managers are a bunch of chancers. Martin O'Neill appears to be the latest manager interesting signing the player who is valued at £15m - his buy out clause. Forlan was proven to be an average player in England, fluffing an amazing number of chances for United, and famously went 27 games in 8 months before scoring his first goal. His record in Spain is quite good, 1 goal every 2 games approximately. But make no mistake - all that money for a waster who couldn't even score a few for United, there will hardly be a stampede for him (assuming the Liverpool rumours were as untrue as they sounded).
If you have been listening to the podcast the past season, you will know that we think the deification of O'Neill is a bit overboard, and it was proven with a totally uninspiring league campaign finishing in 11th with a whopping 10 victories. There were also some highly dodgy signings including Carew (good to get rid of Baros, but average nonetheless), Petrov (looked good in Scotland but average so far), Young (a striker who scores no goals) and Sutton (past it).
Villa fans, and indeed Randy Lerner, must wonder where the next pile of money will go. Their ambition is European qualification, but will O'Neill buy the right players?
So far there have been no moves, and their squad looks thin. O'Neill's fans will say he doesn't have the players, but he's spent the guts of £20m so far to finish 8 points better than O'Leary did the season before last.
Am I being too harsh?
Mark,
http://www.okeydokefootball.com
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