Here’s where we think teams will finish in 2008/09, based on their signings so far
[click table to enlarge]
As the only big four club to sign a truly big name, Chelsea take the lead in The Spoiler’s inaugural transfer prediction league.
Tottenham climb ahead of Liverpool after moving quickly to make three big signings, and reports that Lukas Podolski could be on his way help strengthen their position. It’s vital they keep hold of Robbie Keane though who is being linked with a move to Liverpool.
Rafa Benitez has signed Philipp Degen and Andrea Dossena but Liverpool still look
‘Marcus’ embraces the blogging spirit, and then some
Aside from a nice cold beer on a hot Christmas morning, nothing makes The Spoiler staff happier than a well thought-out constructive comment on a story. So imagine our delight when we saw this lengthy effort from Villa fan Marcus, expressing his utter dismay over the current Gareth Barry transfer saga. We may or may not agree with you, but you are a credit to the blogosphere, chap:
Dear Gareth & your agent,
Before you confuse your career needs with your emotional and irrational desire to play with your mate Stevie in the odd Champions League game, you might like to consider this.
Hicks and Gillett hate each other. The club has their debt incurred acquiring the club. They have already refinanced and the club pays interest of £30m a year. Accounts of Kop Holdings Ltd (set up to run the club) show a loss of £32.3m in the last year, despite reaching the Champions League final. The duo had to draw £1.5m to cover their ‘personal expenses’, hardly something rich men need to do. The duo have still not obtained finance for the new stadium. If they have not got it now, they will not get it. They have no capital worth talking about, the world is already suffering the ‘credit crunch’ and is about to go into recession.
Villa is totally stable and improving.
If the Reds have to sell to buy, they will have to do it again next season. Does any other Champions League club have to do that? Eventually they will run out of players. Are Man U, Chelsea or Arsenal interested in Milner? How long before
While the football season ended about a week ago, Rafa Benitez had built up so much talking momentum that his mouth has failed to stop, and the last few days have seen him overheard by passers-by droning about how he wants more money, and Wenger’s an idiot, and he’s the boss of the best team ever, and the world is cruel. He wants money! More money! Arrrrrggggghhhhh!…. shut up, Rafa. Shut up and read.
Samuel Eto’o to Chelsea
Having previously failed to sign Luka Modric, it really looks like Chelsea are keen to lose all of Tottenham’s transfer targets. At this rate Spurs might start thinking they’re a big club. What’s that? They do already? Very funny.
The Spoiler Truth-o-meter: This one could depend on Frank Rijkaard
Frank Lampard to Inter Milan…again The Daily Mirror seem to be on top form again. On the very same day that every other paper leads with the story that Roberto Mancini will reject Chelsea and stay at Inter, the Mirror report that Jose Mourinho is definitely off to Italy and Lampard will be joining him. Those people are either way ahead of the game, or stuck in April.
The Spoiler Truth-o-meter: Hmmmmmmmm
The eagle-eyed news monkeys at Football365 have noticed that Steven Gerrard tends to impart similar sounding words of encouragement on a yearly basis, yet they have thus far failed to help his side bring home the domestic title.
But could his expectation-raising comments spur the Reds to trouble the top of the table this year? Is Rafa’s head shaped a bit like an old fashioned kettle? Do I look good in pastel colours because they bring out my eyes? So many questions, so little time…
“Most of the lads in this squad have won every trophy except the Premier League so that is the aim this year. If not, improve again and do it next year, but we feel a title challenge is around the corner…” Steven Gerrard, December 26, 2005
“I’ve liked the way we’ve done business this summer. I’m not going to start making any unnecessary predictions about what’s going to happen this season and the last thing any of us need to do is
While Wenger has spent years convincing the world that his eagle eyes can spot potential a mile off, Rafa Benitez sees the Arsenal man’s methods in a totally different light - he said this to liverpoolfc.tv:
“I think we are signing fantastic young players but not spending big, big money. I think that is the massive difference between Arsenal and us. They have spent big money on young players for a long time.
Look at the more successful managers in the league at the moment (Ferguson, Wenger, even O’Neill) and they appear to have one thing in common - they build their teams, slowly introducing players, always maintaining a good balance of old and new.
At United, wise old heads like Scholes and Giggs know that they won’t play every game, but their importance to the team is never underestimated. Other newer faces like Nani, Hargreaves and Anderson are happy to wait their turn. Likewise, Wenger manages to keep his bench pretty happy, and it’s rare that you’ll see a thunderous face fidgeting in the dugout.
Pneumatic beauty cruelly snatched from these shores
When Rafa Benitez let Mark Gonzalez move to Real Betis last year, the city of Liverpool didn’t just lose a tricky winger, but a splendid example of Waggery. Gonzalez’s fiancé Gisela Molinero battled for months to quit Chile for Merseyside, but she was denied by the Home Office. By the time she made it over to Blighty, she barely had a chance to pose in the Liverpool strip before being carted off to Spain. So sad.
Champions League semi comes down to bad fortune and a worse haircut
If it weren’t for Riise’s unfortunate error, Chelsea fans would be calling for The Toad’s head this morning - his tactically-confused side were all over the place and clearly not very well motivated. Considering the fact that a Benitez-managed side has never scored at Stamford Bridge, Grant could become the most clueless man to ever end up in a Champions league final.
Someone will go, but will they be from the boardroom or the dressing room?
The Liverpool boardroom soap opera continued today as George Gillett told his former buddy Tom Hicks to zip it, following his outburst at Rick Parry last week:
“I am saddened at this latest outburst from Tom. If he wanted a serious discussion on the issues to help the club move forwardhe should bring his views to the board and not to Sky Sports.”
While it seems that Hicks and Parry will not part with their 50 per cent stake in the club until the other is cold in the ground, something will clearly have to give soon. So who will be forced out first? Will it be a member of the board who gives in and packs up his desk, or will a member of the coaching staff or squad be forced out by the squabbling and politics? Votes and comments below, please.
