Here is how the media works. Withdrawn from their regular diet of Premier League football, the football press find themselves with swathes of blank pages to fill on international weeks. To help fill the space, the sports editor will select at random from a top hat containing a bulky collection of ‘old chestnuts.’ These consist of agenda-defining topics such as, ‘The England goalkeeping conundrum’, ‘Fabregas to Barca’, and most tiresome of all, ‘Should the Old Firm desert the SPL?’
Once selected, a journalist is challenged to find a new angle or even better, a new voice, to shed new light on the old chestnut. Hence Michael van Praag’s quotes appearing in the British media this morning, regarding the founding of a North Atlantic League. The Dutch FA chief said:
“There was no way we could push that through because Uefa at that time were conservative and full of fear. Now I am part of Uefa myself and, for this course, I can begin the lobby. It makes sense to start the lobbying now.”
Indeed the lobbying may well start now. And it will be heartily ignored until the next international break.
The boyhood teams of some the game’s biggest names
Generally speaking, Premier League footballers are well advised to be discreet about the team they truly support. Nowhere is this more evident than in the case of David Bentley, a supposed lifelong Arsenal fan who suddenly professed to be a boyhood Spurs fan upon switching to the north London side. With this imprudent declaration in mind, Spoiler correspondent Ben Baker has rounded up ten footballers whose loyalties don’t necessarily lay with their employers…
Andrei Arshavin
Despite only recently joining the Gunners, fan favourite Arshavin has never hidden the fact that Barcelona are and always have been his team of choice. He has said he was devastated when a move to the Catalan giants never fully materialised when he was at Zenit and has even stated that he would love to play for Barca since he has been at Arsenal. Now if that isn’t a ploy to gain a bigger contract…
John Terry
Mr. Chelsea didn’t make it to Manchester City in the end this summer. Many Chelsea fans will like to think that it is because he is Blue through and through. However, Terry was actually a Manchester Utd fan growing up. Could this be why he couldn’t bring himself to join the Citizens?
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
The baby faced assassin made a name for himself at Manchester Utd,
A team of fresh faces who represent excellent value for money
Although the transfer window isn’t locked shut until the end of the month, the brand new Premier League season is but a few hours away. With this in mind, Spoiler correspondent Ben Baker has considered the best buys of the summer so far, compiling a team of his favourites…
Joe Hart (Manchester City to Birmingham, Season Long Loan)
A transfer that suits both parties. Joe wants to win more senior England caps, and since he has been edged out of the number one spot at Manchester City by a certain Mr. Given, first team opportunities have been lacking. His search for regular football has led him to the Midlands and Birmingham are surely delighted that this promising young English goalkeeper will be between the sticks for the season. Also, you just have to love him for his mental attitude and abrasive shouting when facing a penalty - he’s like a loopier version of Bruce Grobbelaar.
Glen Johnson (Portsmouth to Liverpool, £17.5m)
Beating off Chelsea and Manchester City and getting one over his rivals would have made this deal extra sweet for the ever-irritated Rafa. Johnson had a superb season last year, both with club and country, epitomised by his man of the match performance against an (albeit woeful) Andorra side that saw him notch up four assists from full back, and will add a whole new dimension to Liverpool’s right side. A high price to pay, but as Rafa said, “Sometimes you have to spend a little bit more.”A sentiment that is particularly true for English players.
Yuri Zhirkov (CSKA Moscow to Chelsea, £18m)
A Russian at Chelsea? How did that happen? This versatile
The latest transfer gossip, rumours and damned lies
Ashley Young not going to Tottenham The Guardian say Martin O’Neill will definitely not sell his prized asset, particularly to a club “on a similar level”. He utterly refuses and will not be persuaded. Unless they stump up £30m, that is.
The Spoiler truth-o-meter: As much as ‘Arry admires the left-sided forward, £30m is a little steep.
Barry Ferguson to Birmingham Despite his infamous naughty drinking problems, Alex McLeish is keen to reacquaint himself with the former Scotland captain. The 31-year-old midfielder would cost around £1.5m.
Someone has managed to outdo to rubbish Emirates Cup line-up
The Spoiler has good news for Arsenal fans who are disappointed to be facing Rangers instead of Real Madrid this summer: the Emirates Cup is no longer the worst friendly tournament taking place.
It has been reported today that West Ham, Tottenham and Hull will all go to China to face Beijing Guoan in the Premier League Asia Trophy. The tournament has previously been attended by Chelsea and Liverpool but the apparent invitation to Hull, who may not even be in the Premier League next season, suggests that they are really having to scrape the barrel this year.
Our theory is that as Premier League clubs have won each of the previous three tournaments, the organisers are trying to give the Asian entrant a strong chance of winning for a change. It also means that West Ham’s next “cup final” against Tottenham (as fixtures between the sides are mockingly referred to by Spurs fans) could actually be a cup final.
England legend looks back on career highs and high jinx
In his latest interview with talkSPORT, we’re delighted to see Paul Gascoigne back to his usual chirpy self. At times we needed our Geordie translator to interpret, but his stories of Stan Collymore nudity and playful fire exstinguisher fights with Liam Gallagher are well worth hearing.
The video above is part two of the interview, check out part one (released last week) after the jump…
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