Wooden Newcastle star fronts incredibly cheesy promo video
When Dubai property investment group The First Group were looking for a high profile football personality to feature in their latest promotional video, they could have picked any of a number of charismatic stars with television presenting experience. Instead, they chose Michael Owen. It’s literally the most boring thing The Spoiler has seen since we went to the Epcot Center.
Spoiler bonus: Andriy Shevchenko has also demeaned himself with one these helicopter videos - see it here.
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
Bolton chairman and FA board member Phil Gartside has revealed that he wants the Premier League’s format to be changed to a two-tier system featuring two divisions of eighteen teams and has suggested abolishing relegation to the Football League.
While it would all prove very handy for his team, who escaped relegation by one point last season and are one point above the drop zone in this campaign, it’s hard to understand his logic on how it would benefit football:
“We have already got to the situation where the three clubs that go down from the Premier League are usually the three that come up, although a couple of others might sneak in.
Boro and B’ham head honchos inspire debate via slanging match
The powers-that-be at Middlesbrough and Birmingham have been having a bit of a ding-dong of late. First, Birmingham chairman David Gold said that it was better to experience constant promotion and relegation than to float around mid-table like Middlesbrough. Yet now, Boro’s chief executive Keith Lamb has responded.
“I seriously doubt Boro fans would swap our recent histories. Since moving to the Riverside in 1995, we have achieved five major cup finals, are the only English side outside of the so-called big four to have played in a European final, have enjoyed successive seasons of UEFA Cup football, won our first major trophy and enjoyed 11 consecutive years in the Premier League.”
Rumours that he added that his daddy was tougher than Gold’s are unsubstantiated, but nevertheless Lamb raises an important issue for football fans: would you rather enjoy the financial benefits and consistency of mid-table obscurity, or experience the highs and lows of alternating promotion/ relegation campaigns.
Let us know what you think with a vote and comment below…
Appearing in the Premier League for one season only…
Only once in Premier League history have all three promoted sides gone straight back down (Barnsley, Bolton and Palace in 1997/98) and for that reason it’s unlikely that West Brom, Stoke and Hull will all make a swift return to the Championship. Then again, looking at our team comprising the three newcomers’ best players, they’ll have their work cut out. Even Bolton wouldn’t touch most of these guys…
[Now including eleventh man George Boateng, a player who always slips under the radar, which might explain how we managed to leave him out of our initial list! - Ed.]
Scott Carson (West Brom)
A season away from the spotlight will benefit the 22-year-old whose form last season was clearly affected by the scrutiny that followed his England error. Carson’s last relegation battle was with Charlton two years ago and their fans voted him Player of the Year.
Marek Cech (West Brom)
The Slovakian left-back scored the equaliser that killed off Ireland’s slim Euro 2008 qualification hopes once and for all. He ended three seasons at Porto with three league titles and arrives with Champions League experience - not that the Baggies will be needing that!
Leon Cort (Stoke)
Neil Warnock’s decision to offload Carl Cort’s younger bro couldn’t have worked out better for the centre-back, with Stoke coming to his rescue and then taking him to the Premier League. Cort has
It looks as if Bolton and Fulham will be getting some away games at the likes of Norwich and Blackpool next year, but who will be joining the big boys next year? The Championship is to tight it makes the Prem look like a foregone conclusion (although some would argue it is already), and tonight Stoke can climb to the top of the pile. It won’t be easy though, as a Crystal Palace win will see them back in the play-off pack. The bookies fancy Stoke, and there’s some great value to be had in the half-time/full-time market - check it out here.
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