As the transfer window slammed shut on what was a rather eventful deadline day, clubs are left to reflect on whether they have done enough to secure their club’s passage to success or ensure their safety. Supporters will be debating whether their respective clubs did enough in the January window, or if they have missed a golden opportunity.
I have to confess that I am not a great lover of the transfer window and will be championing the call of Richard Bevan and the LMA in having the process scrapped. The current transfer set-up, especially the January window, creates a state of panic among football clubs who on some occasions buy players simply for the sake of it, despite the added premium that is added to the price tag.
The problem is when there is a set time frame like the January window, it is the selling club that holds all the cards. That is why so many chairmen leave it so late to conduct all their business as the final few hours sees the guard generally slip and suddenly move into a buyer’s market. Unfortunately it doesn’t leave much time for deals to be completed and ultimately clubs are left disappointed. It is a vicious circle that chairmen find themselves in and in my view will always be the same while we continue with the current set-up. Scrapping the window will stop these acts of brinkmanship from club chairmen and bring a lot more common sense back to the game.
One of the key aspects to provide a sane transfer window is for every club to be sensible. Unfortunately that is never the case and Aston Villa ensured that there will be fun and games this January with a £24m deal for Darren Bent. While that fee could now be seen as a relative bargain in comparison to yesterday’s sales of Fernando Torres and Andy Carroll, it initiated the proceedings as clubs reviewed their own pricing policy and used Bent’s fee as a reason to justify it. Would Newcastle ever have got any offers close to £35m for Andy Carroll at the start of January? I think you know that particular answer.
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There is no doubting that what the transfer window does bring is an element of excitement to the proceedings and I am sure that there were many who spent all day listening to the radio or watching Sky Sports News in the hope that your club was linked with a big move. Like all windows there were plenty of rumours and hot air about, but ultimately very few transfers actually took place as clubs ran out of time to secure deals, leaving managers frustrated and no doubt supporters alike. Unfortunately I fear it will always remain that way as the selling club holds all the cards and that is why the sooner football authorities look to scrap the window the better. Deadline day may provide a good day of entertainment, but ultimately it doesn’t do football clubs any favours.
After Spurs clinched the signing of promising full-back duo Kyle Naughton and Kyle Walker from Sheffield United back in 2009, it seemed the only way was up for the pair, but in the intervening seasons, one has fared a damn sight better than the other in what really is a tale of the two Kyles.
Kyle Naughton looked all but set to clinch a move to Everton in the summer of 2009, before an £11m joint bid for both him and Walker galumphed the Toffees and they sealed their respective moves to Spurs – a switch Naughton may regret now.
Naughton forced his way into the Blades starting line-up in the 2008/9 season and displayed a maturity to his play that surprised many observers. His excellent form throughout the campaign meant he sealed a place in the Championship PFA Team of the Year at the end of the season. Capable of playing at right midfield as well as right back, Naughton was shifted to left back upon the younger Walker’s emergence to the Blades first-team squad in their eye-catching play-off run.
However, Naughton found his route into the starting eleven at White Hart Lane blocked after his move, with the likes of Alan Hutton and Vedran Corluka the preffered choices.
Sensibly, for a young player biding his time, he was farmed out on loan to Middlesbrough in the January transfer window last season, making 15 league appearances and so far this term, he’s been a regular at Leicester since his loan switch with 17 league appearances to his name. But, having just turned 22 years old, it’s fair to say that Naughton wouldn’t have envisaged himself plying his trade back in the Championship by this point in his career.
Contrast Naughton’s story with that of fellow former Blade Kyle Walker, and the difference is startling. Walker was relatively unknown compared to Naughton when they completed their moves to Spurs, having only forced his way into the Blades starting line up due to injuries in their run to the Playoff Final in 2009.
A loan move back to Sheffield United immediately upon completing his permanent switch to Spurs was secured and with little competition for the right back berth now with Naughton out of the picture, he started 26 league games last season for Sheffield United.
Powerfully built and with a great turn of pace, Walker is a completely different player to Naughton, and some would say, more suited to the rigours of the Premier League. While he may not be as versatile as Naughton, that may have been to his benefit so far in his fledgling career.
A loan move to Championship pacesetters QPR was sealed this season after impressing at his hometown club Sheffield United last term and fans of English football’s second tier were regularly treated to his rampaging runs down the right hand flank as Walker began to catch the eye with a string of man-of-the-match performances.
When his spell at QPR expired, under-pressure Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier sprang a surprise by signing Walker on loan until the end of the season from Spurs. His top flight experience is so far minimal, but he’s already scored a goal on his debut against his former club Sheffield United in the FA Cup third round and a fantastic strike in the Premier League against Fulham.
He’s taken to the top flight like a duck to water so far and was named in Fabio Capello’s England squad for the recent friendly against Denmark. At just 20 years of age, Walker appears to be held in higher esteem at Spurs and in the wider footballing community than Naughton is at the moment.
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A lot of this comes down to the success of their respective loan moves. Naughton missed the first full six months of last season sat on the bench or featuring for the reserves at Spurs. It was only after clinching a move to Middlesbrough in January, a team that has rather surprisingly struggled to come to terms with life in the Championship over past 12 months or so after former manager Gordon Strachan‘s Old Firm experiment went terribly wrong, that Naughton was able to start playing week in week out once more.
Leicester have also undergone a rapid turnaround from last season, and although both of the sides that Naughton has joined are big sides expected to trouble the playoffs at the end of the season, both have collectively under performed ensuring that he’s been kept out of the limelight up until now.
Walker has been fortuitous enough to have enjoyed a fantastic loan spell at Championship leaders QPR, managed by former Sheffield United boss Neil Warnock. QPR have fostered a great team spirit so far this campaign, built around the exploits of mercurial midfielder Adel Taraabt and they look all but certain to achieve promotion to the top tier this season.
The success of his QPR spell has snowballed into recognition from the top flight, which in turn has brought recognition from England too. Of course, Naughton is still a regular with the Stuart Pearce’s under 21 side, but unfortunately they do not garner the same media attention.
The difference in age between the pair is around 18 months, and in the last 18 months both players’ careers have taken strikingly diverging paths. Walker’s career appears to be on the up and he could well be starting for Spurs at right back next term if he keeps up his form at Aston Villa, with many Spurs fans remaining unconvinced about Alan Hutton’s pedigree for the position in the long-term.
Naughton’s career has stalled somewhat over the past year or so, but the resurgence at his current club Leicester under former England coach Sven Goran Eriksson is worth looking at. Their steady climb up the table now sees them occupy 8th place in the league, just four points from sixth placed Leeds in the playoff positions, with Naughton’s form excellent along the way.
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Naughton’s deal has been extended until the end of the season by Sven and Naughton could yet be toasting a triumphant return to the top flight with promotion with loan club Leicester, but for now, Walker remains in pole position for a starting place at Spurs in the future. The irony that the senior Kyle’s route into the first-team at his parent club could be blocked by his Sheffield United understudy won’t be lost on Naughton and the tale of the two Kyles looks set to turn into the battle of the two Kyles at Spurs next season.
What does everyone else think – Will Walker and Naughton be given a far shot at Spurs next season? Who will win the battle for the right back slot at Spurs assuming Redknapp will seek to replace Alan Hutton?
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson praised surprise starter Javier Hernandez for his eye for goal in their 4-0 rout of Wigan on Saturday.
The Scot gave the Mexican striker a chance to impress at the DW Stadium, opting to bench Golden Boot leader Dimitar Berbatov, but Hernandez vindicated his manager’s decision by scoring United’s first two goals to increase their lead at the top of the table to four points.
The brace earned Hernandez his eighth and ninth goals of the league season, and Ferguson praised the efficiency of the 22-year-old.
“He is very, very good. You’re hoping he gets those chances and he does put them away, his percentage is very high and we’re very pleased with his performance today,” Ferguson said.
Wigan had several decent chances of their own early in the first half, and it was only in the final 10 minutes that United were able to establish a comfortable buffer.
“The first 20 minutes it was all Wigan, (they had) some great attempts. We’ll have to thank our goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar who was terrific, he stood up very well and made two or three very good saves,” Ferguson said.
“We got the goal from a little breakaway, it was a terrific finish from Chicharito (Hernandez), of course, that’s what he’s good at.”
“Second half I thought we played really well. Excellent performance in the second half – we could’ve scored a few more goals.”
Wigan coach Roberto Martinez said the scoreline, which included three goals in the final 20 minutes, flattered the league leaders.
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“If you watch the game I don’t think it (the scoreline) reflected the performance at all, but when you play against a Manchester United side and you want to win the game you need to take the chances and create,” he told Sky Sports.
“I felt the first-half performance was very, very good. You go into the half-time 1-0 down and sometimes it’s really hard to take, (but) Man United today were clinical in their counter-attacks and they took advantage of it.”
Gent missed a chance to close the gap on Belgian First Division leaders Genk and Anderlecht when they were held 1-1 at Mechelen on Saturday.The third-placed side could have drawn within five points of both teams, who are split by goal difference at the top of the league table, with victory.But they were forced to settle for a point when David de Storme nabbed an injury-time equaliser for the hosts.Senegalese striker Elimane Coulibaly had earlier put Gent into the lead with his eighth goal of the season, finding the net in the 77th minute.Elsewhere, Kortrijk ended a run of four straight league losses thanks to a visit from bottom-placed Charleroi, running out 3-0 winners to climb to ninth on the table.Davy De Beule scored a first-half brace for the hosts, interrupted by a rare goal from defender Sven Kums.Lokeren consolidated their place in the top six with a 2-1 win at home over 10-man Zulte-Waregem.Alfredh Finnbogason and Benjamin de Ceulaer scored within the first 10 minutes for the hosts, before Zulte-Waregem threatened a second-half comeback with Thomas Matton’s 49th-minute goal.But the danger quickly passed as defender Miguel Dachelet was sent off for a second caution in the 56th minute.Finally, Sint-Truiden defeated fellow relegation battlers Germinal Beerschot 1-0 on Gregory Dufer’s 61st-minute winner, and Westerlo triumphed 1-0 at Cercle Brugge courtesy of Dieter Dekelver.
It’s 1:43am and I’m struggling to conceive one positive sentence about either of Arsenal’s fit goalkeepers – Jens Lehmann and Manuel Almunia. I suppose the idea is to weigh up the facts and decide which is least awful but the mere fact that both ‘keepers are yet again competing against each other for Arsenal’s number 1 jersey, at a time when the Gunners’ Premier League campaign hangs unnervingly in the balance, is keeping me awake.
Don’t get me wrong, seeing Lehmann push an opposition striker for the crime of lingering near the German brings me far greater pleasure than the wet, apologetic look Almunia wears on his face each time he mopes back to the dressing room following a game of dropped balls and dropped points. Especially, that is, when the irritant striker is Robbie Keane (2004) or Didier Drogba (2006).
It’s pretty obvious that Lehmann, when he eventually hangs up his gloves for the last time, will be able to revisit his career with more fond memories than his Spanish counterpart. That’s not to say Lehmann hasn’t been privy to as many glaring errors as Almunia, but the current holder of squad-number 1 will strain to recall any significant contribution made during seven seasons with Arsenal. Lehmann has recently admitted that the decision to bring down Samuel Eto’o in the 2006 Champions League Final, a prerequisite for his early dismissal, is his biggest regret in football. Despite this oversight, it was Lehamann who in stoppage-time of Arsenal’s semi-final second leg against Villarreal saved Juan Roman Riquelme’s penalty to send his team to the Stade de France.
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In spite of the disappointment in Paris, Lehmann was awarded the UEFA Club Goalkeeper of Year, helped Germany to third place at his home nation’s World Cup and was selected in the FIFA World Cup All-Star Team later that summer. Almost five years have passed since his halcyon days and the German is now 41.
‘Mad Jens’ marked his first return to the Arsenal side he left in 2008, playing for a reserve XI against Wigan, with a less than inspiring goalkeeping demonstration. Arsene Wenger did not attend the match at the Robin Park Arena in Wigan but will do well to avoid the widespread criticism Lehmann faces for his farcical performance. The former Stuttgart ‘keeper confessed he was surprised to receive a call from Wenger, but the 200-strong audience which included Arsenal goalkeeping coach, Gerry Payton, will not have been shocked by Lehmann’s erratic and error-laden display.
Wenger’s alternative is to re-promote Almunia to the position of Arsenal’s number 1, but the Spaniard has spent most of the current campaign injured or playing up-front for West Brom, so represents an uncertain option. One diminutive spec of encouragement for Wenger is the solidity Almunia exhibited when called upon to replace the injured Wojciech Szczesny at the Nou Camp earlier this month. The Gunners were sent inauspiciously back to London following a 3-1 defeat but their stand-in goalkeeper didn’t put a foot, or hand, wrong.
The fact that Wenger attends training this morning unable to escape the deja-vu of his own making emphasises a wider issue that has frustrated Arsenal fans since the departure of David Seaman. It is truly remarkable that at this stage of ‘Wenger’s Young Guns’ development the Frenchman faces the prospect of choosing between the two goalkeepers who have both produced the extraordinary and held Arsenal back in equal measure over the last seven years. I would have thought Almunia provides the greater security heading in to the final few matches of Arsenal’s fading title campaign as the lesser of two evils, or rather the least comedic of the two clowns.
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Next month we have the small matter of the Manchester derby to look forward to. This is no ordinary Manchester derby (if such a thing exists), as Manchester United and City will be going head-to-head in the FA Cup semi final at Wembley, with the winners one step closer to climbing the steps at the home of English football. However, you don’t have to wait until April for a Manchester invasion of London…
On Tuesday 29th March, Manchester’s finest Elbow are heading down to the capital to play a gig at the O2 Arena. Like football in Manchester, Elbow are most definitely on the way up and the 2008 Mercury Music Prize winners, led by Guy Garvey, are not to be missed.
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Following the immense success of the double platinum selling ‘The Seldom Seen Kid’, Elbow are pleased to announce that the release of their fifth studio album will be on 7th March 2011 and massive UK Tour – the biggest in their history!
The band will be playing at Manchester Evening News Arena (25/03/2011), Brighton Centre (27/03/2011), O2 arena (29/03/2011).
To celebrate the band’s UK Tour in March, we have teamed up with Shoot Promotions for an almighty competition! We have 2 pairs of tickets to be won to see the band live at the O2 Arena on Tuesday 29th March 2011.
For a chance to win a pair of tickets to see Elbow all you have to do is answer this simple question…
What is the name of the band’s current single?
A. Neat Little Rows
B. Neat Little Floodlights
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C. Neat Little Pitch
Email your answer to [email protected] to be in with a chance of winning this fantastic prize!
The competition closes on Monday 28th March at 9am so make sure you get your answers in now!
For the FootballFanCast.com Competition Terms and Conditions click here. Please note that the competition prize is a pair of tickets only, no travel expenses incurred will be paid.
Aston Villa eased their relegation worries and jumped to 14th place in the English Premier League table with a 1-0 home win over Newcastle.A James Collins header in the first half won the game at Villa Park, but in truth there could have easily been more goals as the home side dominated proceedings.
The goal came in the 24th minute, with Ashley Young?s free kick finding Collins, who glanced past helpless United goalkeeper Steve Harper into the top corner.
Striker Darren Bent went close to extending Villa’s lead when he headed over winger Stewart Downing?s cross from close range, while Downing himself almost got on the score sheet with a decent strike from 20 yards out.
Bent thought he had doubled Villa?s lead on the stroke of half-time after he converted Jean Makoun?s pass, but the striker was ruled offside when the decision could have easily gone the other way.
Villa started the second half in similar fashion, with forward Gabby Agbonlahor creating a chance for himself that had Harper at full stretch.
Ashley Young then finished off a patient build up with a shot that flashed inches wide of the goal frame.
Newcastle were a shadow of the side that beat Wolves so convincingly last week, with Brad Friedel in the Villa goal only called upon in the final few minutes.
Striker Nile Ranger had a chance early in the game, but he chose to place rather than use power and Friedel easily saved.
Friedel needed to be aware to deny Peter Lovenkrands twice in the closing stages, firstly stopping a header with two minutes left and then being on hand to save with his feet in injury time.
The result will bring a welcome three points for Gerard Houllier?s side, which is now five points clear of the bottom three with six games remaining.
Stephen Ireland’s wretched 2010/11 campaign is over due to an ankle injury, Newcastle United announced on Wednesday.The on-loan midfielder sustained the injury during the Magpies’ 1-1 draw at Blackpool on Saturday, and scans have revealed the problem is serious enough to keep him sidelined for the remaining four matches of the season.
The news will come as a bitter blow to the former Republic of Ireland international, who was hoping to convince Toon manager Alan Pardew he was worthy of a long-term deal in the season run-in.
Ireland, on loan from Aston Villa, has managed just two substitute appearances since moving to St James’ Park in January due to ongoing injury problems.
The 24-year-old carried a knee complaint to the North East in the January transfer window, and was struck down by a thigh injury on his return to training at St James’ Park in March.
Ireland had hoped to resurrect his career at Newcastle after an unhappy sojourn in the Midlands, which ended in January after he failed to impress Villa manager Gerard Houllier.
The former Manchester City man was shipped to Villa Park in the off-season as part of the deal which saw James Milner join the Sky Blues, but he managed just 12 appearances – five as a substitute – in the Villa shirt.
The age old debate, ‘club or country- who deserves the final say?’ has been reignited again this week with Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere being included in Stuart Pearce’s provisional 40 man squad for the U21s European Tournament this summer, despite Arsene Wenger warning against his inclusion fearing burnout (silly me thinking that 50 plus grand a week might now and then mean nearly a full calender year of football). Wilshere, however rightly or wrongly, has spoken out against his club manager, “I’ll never say no to England.” I’m sure you all proudly puff out your chests, let out a Three Lions’ roar and say ‘good on ya, Jack’, but surely Wilshere should consider that the team that pays his wages, Arsenal, along with Wenger, have helped mould Wilshere into the Young Player of the Year that he is, and that must warrant some appreciation of the Frenchman’s opinion.
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The last Arsenal player to be caught in the club v country saga was Theo Walcott, and this occasion Wenger was supportive of his player’s inclusion, “He is 19 and if he can contribute to the Under-21 team, why not?” But on returning from the Under 21 championships, Walcott then spent much of the next season accommodating himself with the treatment room at the Emirates; perhaps there is a case of once bitten twice shy for Wenger. With all due respect to Walcott, who has really come into his own (finally) this season, he isn’t as key to Arsenal as the feisty centre midfielder and Wenger’s reluctance to allow Wilshere to play in Denmark this summer is a manager protecting his own aspirations for Arsenal, to which Wilshere is key, and let’s be honest, why shouldn’t Wenger?
Obviously Wenger has previously thrown his toys out of the pram, so naturally there is another side to the story (even if Wenger doesn’t see it), and that is this: what 19 year old lad doesn’t want to represent his country at any level? I’m not just talking about Wilshere, I’m talking about me, I still dream of the day when Capello in his broken English says to me, “put down your pen and put on your boots”, so for Wenger to deny the young lad such a glorious opportunity is, well, narcissistic.
Wilshere has just about kept the door with the sign “England Matters” ajar, but with each ‘needed’ friendly that passes it closes just a little bit more.
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Nottingham Forest striker Rob Earnshaw will captain Wales for the first time in their Carling Nations Cup clash against Scotland.Earnshaw, 30, will win his 53rd cap in Dublin on Wednesday as manager Gary Speed has opted to rest his English Premier League stars, including regular captain Aaron Ramsey, after a long campaign.
Speed said it was important to look after the health of his players, despite losing his first two matches as national manager.
“With the close proximity of the games, it’s a bit too much to ask the players to play both at this stage of the season,” he said on Tuesday.
“The team will probably be 90 per cent lads who didn’t play on Sunday.”
“My top priority is not only to win the game but look after the health of the players.”
Earnshaw said it was an honour to be given the responsibility of captaining his country.
“I’ve always played in a way I will take whatever happens on the pitch in my stride,” he told BBC.
“It’s no different for me. It’s an extra boost more than anything. When a manager decides you’re captain it gives you an extra boost.”
“For me, it’s going to be a special night. Everything else will be the same because I’m going out there to enjoy it, but I’m going to enjoy it even more now.”
Aston Villa defender James Collins and Celtic midfielder Joe Ledley did not travel with the squad, while others who also completed their Premier League campaigns on Sunday – Wolverhampton’s Wayne Hennessey, West Ham’s Jack Collison, Stoke City’s Danny Collins, Blackpool’s Neal Eardley and David Vaughan – are unlikely to feature.
Defender Adam Matthews is the most recent addition to a squad that has also saw midfielder Owain Tudur Jones, defender Craig Morgan, Andy Dorman and striker Jermaine Easter included.
Arsenal midfielder Ramsey is likely to return to the squad for Friday’s clash against Northern Ireland.