West Ham striker’s career finally succumbs to ankle injury…
Could Dean Ashton be joining Eric Cantona, apocalyptist goalkeeper Carlos Roa, and, to a lesser extent, Dean Richards, amongst the ranks of footballing heroes whose careers were prematurely cut short? Today’s papers are buzzing with news the West Ham striker is close to quitting the beautiful game, after being ruled out for over a year with a persistent ankle injury. Ashton has only featured in four matches in the past 18 months, altogether making just 42 appearances in four years at Upton Park:
West Ham will be making an insurance claim, believed to be about £7 million, for the loss of Ashton. However, any claim by the club against the FA could become complex, with Ashton having appeared to recover from the initial injury
He was injured in a collision with Shaun Wright-Phillips, the Manchester City winger who was playing for Chelsea at the time. Ashton could consider making an insurance claim against the FA and/or Wright-Phillips.
West Ham sources have confirmed that, despite no definitive decision having been made yet, it doesn’t look good for the 25-year-old.
Pick your favourite player who wears the revered squad number
Calendar enthusiasts will be aware that today is 09/09/09, which is easily the most significant day in the Gregorian system since 07/08/09. In celebration of this tremendous occasion, we’re asking you to pick the best current number nine in the Premier League.
It’s a fairly mixed bunch - which sees no representatives from nine-haters Fulham and Everton - and we suspect one of two names will dominate…
Spoiler promotion: Fancy a free punt? Of course you do, silly billy! Check out hundreds of pounds worth of free football bets at OLBG Sports
The latest transfer gossip, rumours and damned lies
David Villa to Manchester United The Daily Mirror are reporting that Sir Alex Ferguson wants Valencia striker David Villa “above all other options” to replace Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez and claim that he is willing to match whatever Barcelona offer for the Spanish international.
The Spoiler Truth-o-meter: Villa is reluctant to test himself abroad and said recently: ”Next season I will play in Spain because it is the league that is best for me. I will not go abroad.” If he leaves the Mestalla this summer, it will almost certainly be for either Barcelona or Real Madrid.
Samuel Eto’o to Manchester City
Barcelona’s attempts to sign Villa are good news for Manchester City, with the Telegraph claiming that Pep Guardiola will let Samuel Eto’o go if the Spain
The latest transfer gossip, rumours and damned lies
Emmanuel Adebayor to AC Milan
Manu has been touting himself to the Rossoneri for bloody ages, and has moved a step closer to his Beyonce-inspired dream following comments from Milan club administrator Adriano Galliani. The Uncle fester-alike could go for the Togo hitman if a move for Bundesliga top scorer Edin Dzeko falls through:
“If we fail to get Dzeko then (Sevilla striker) Luis Fabiano could be an alternative - as could Adebayor.”
The Spoiler truth-o-meter: Wolfsburg will be very reluctant to part with Dzeko, and Arsenal fans won’t exactly cry themselves to sleep if Adebayor leaves, so this move could be on.
Sebastien Bassong to Arsenal. Or maybe Tottenham. The Newcastle Evening Chronicle claim the Toon defender has been flattered by interest from Arsene Wenger. Confusingly, Goal.com reference the report in the local paper, but instead claim that Harry Redknapp is ahead of the pack in chasing the Cameroonian.
The latest transfer gossip, rumours and damned lies…
Maicon to Chelsea
The tabloids have grown tired of linking every current AC Milan player - minus David Beckham - with a move to Chelsea should Carlo Ancelotti takes over. Instead, they have started identifying players at other Italian clubs, with 27-year-old Inter Milan’s right-back Maicon reportedly a £22 million target.
The Spoiler truth-o-meter: Maicon is one of the best right-backs in the world but with the Blues’ ageing squad in need of an overhaul, they can’t really afford to spend that much on a position where they have three options under the age of 26 (Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Mancienne).
Brede Hangeland to Arsenal
Arsene Wenger has identified Hangeland as the standout performer in the Fulham defence that have conceded less goals than Arsenal this season and is
The two bosses have now shown a similar taste in enemies
Those who have noted similarities between Alan Pardew and Phil Brown were provided with even more ammunition last night when the Hull boss followed in Pardew’s footsteps by falling out with Arsene Wenger.
Obvious comparisons between the two include that both enjoyed an initial period of fantastic overachievement after winning promotion to the Premier League and went on strong FA Cup runs. Both managers made their clubs’ record signing in their first January in the top-flight (Dean Ashton and Jimmy Bullard) and both men suffered long-term injuries at a crucial time.
Negatively, both managers have received criticism for some of their methods: Pardew for his sloganed T-shirts and training complex revamps and Brown for
There could be a lot of goalscorers up for grabs next month
Benni McCarthy and Jason Roberts combined for three goals in 27 minutes for Blackburn yesterday while Roque Santa Cruz watched on, meaning the Paraguayan striker now has a worse goal-to-start league ratio than every Rovers striker bar Robbie Fowler this season.
New boss Sam Allardyce has promised to act on Santa Cruz’s comments earlier this week about joining a bigger club so Blackburn may for the first time give serious consideration to the possibility of selling him to raise funds.
With Michael Owen, Robbie Keane, Jermain Defoe, Craig Bellamy and Dean Ashton’s futures also up in the air, there could be a lot of strikers moving next month and The Spoiler wants to know which one you would most like to see at your club. Tell us what you think with a vote and comment below:
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