The 2009 window deals that were absolutely inevitable
As the transfer window creaks shut for once more, Spoiler correspondent Andrew Brook has compiled a team of players who were always destined to change clubs this summer. And look, he’s done it in a 3-5-2 formation! How fun!
GK - Joe Hart (Manchester City to Birmingham)
As soon as Manchester City signed Shay Given in January, Hart was destined to leave. Every season a promoted team seems to get a new goalkeeper (Scott Carson to West Brom in 2008, Craig Gordon to Sunderland in 2007) so this was an obvious match.
DF - Joleon Lescott (Everton to Manchester City)
One of this season’s most painfully long sagas saw David Moyes over take Sir Alex Ferguson as the Premier League’s dourest Scot, and thus by extension its dourest person. Just be thankful that this inevitable deal didn’t drag on all the way to deadline day.
DF - Kyle Naughton (Sheffield United to Tottenham Hotspur)
Even before Sheffield United failed to secure Premier League promotion, everyone knew one of their ranks would be playing in the top flight this season. Harry Redknapp could not remember which of the Blades’ Kyles he wanted, so nabbed Naughton’s teammate Walker as well, but we all knew which one he meant.
At 54 years of age, Spanish actress and model Ana Obregón is precisely twice the age of the footballer to whom she has recently been romantically linked. Our besties at Kickette have informed us about the “special relationship” between Ana and Sheffield Utd striker Darius Henderson, which has been ongoing since the pair met in Ibiza.
Is it just us, or does she bare a striking resemblance to Stifler’s mum?
As The Spoiler’s end of season festivities get into full swing, today we look at the best signings of the 2008/09 Premier League campaign. Sorry Wisey, Xisco and Coloccini didn’t make the cut…
Jose Bosingwa (Porto to Chelsea, £16.3m)
Whether Jose Bosingwa (or ‘Boswinga’ if you’re Jamie Redknapp) was officially a Big Phil Scolari signing is a point of contention, but considering the four other members of his inspirational clutch of signings have only racked up 22 starts and three goals between them, we’ll give him the benefit of the doubt. However, what can’t be argued against is how seamlessly the full back has slotted into Chelsea’s defence this season, in a role the Blues have previously struggled to fill.
James Beattie (Sheffield Utd to Stoke, £2.5m)
It was fair to assume Beattie’s Premier League days were numbered after a pretty woeful spell at Everton earned him a move down to the Championship with Sheffield United last season. Yet after answering Stoke’s SOS call in the January transfer window, Beatts has signaled his return to the top flight by averaging nearly a goal every other game and contributing to 13 of the 24 points Stoke have picked up since his arrival. Such season-saving form might just be the best £2.5m Tony Pulis has ever spent.
Marouane Fellaini (Standard Liege to Everton, £15m)
Fellaini’s Premier League success isn’t too surprising considering the fact that 32 foreign scouts were in the crowd to watch him play in Liege’s title-winning league match last season. Still, the lanky afro cultivator was pretty much unknown to fans over here until making his mark as the driving force behind a Liege team that by all rights should’ve beaten Liverpool to Champions League qualification at the start of the season. Clocking in with an impressive nine goals and firmly establishing himself as a midfield battler, that £15m price tag everyone laughed at now looks a bit less ridiculous.
Wilson Palacios (Wigan to Tottenham, £12m)
Harry Redknapp’s transfer market dial
Tigers lose the right to ever complain about being unlucky again
The FA Cup Fifth Round replay between Hull and Sheffield Utd ended in controversy last night, thanks to the ropey decisions of referee Peter Walton.
Sheffield Utd manager Kevin Blackwell failed to ask why his defender Kyle Naughton was aiming a bullet header at his own net, but was outraged when the man in black awarded an own goal for an effort that clearly never crossed the line. His hyperbolic rant has been playing on Sky Sports News all morning:
“Managers can lose their jobs over things like this.
“If we had been struggling, this defeat could have cost me my job and I have a wife and kids to support.
“We knew the ball wasn’t over the line. Everybody did.
“That decision could have got someone promoted or relegated. If it was one of my players he would be dropped for the next game.”
Sheffield Utd chairman Kevin McCabe has confirmed that an independent tribunal ruled in favour of his club over the Carlos Tevez saga. Lord Griffiths was overseeing proceedings, and decided that West Ham would have earned at least three fewer points in 2006/07season if Carlos Tevez had not been playing for the club. Accordingly, a hefty sum has been demanded by Sheffield Utd:
The compensation figure has yet to be set but United are reported to be demanding £30,396,897. Of that amount, £21,788,795 is for lost television and marketing money, along with lost bonus payments for league positions. Also included is a claim of a loss of £4m on the sale of Phil Jagielka to Everton.
This compensation ruling will come as a huge blow to the Hammers, who already forked out £5.5m in 2007 for ‘transfer irregularities’ over Tevez’s and javier Mascherano’s registrations. Still, it’s a lot better than getting relegated, right Blades fans?
The odds on a Barcelona win in the Copa Del Rey tonight are a measly 1/2, but you may find a little more value from Blue Square who are offering a more plausible evens on Messi and co winning the competition outright. Elsewhere, you can get an impressive 12/1 on Middlesbrough to go through to the FA Cup quarters on penalties tonight, and 9/2 on an upset when Rangers visit Hearts. Hey, it could happen…
Scottish Premier League
Hearts/ Rangers (Setanta Sports 1, 7.45pm)
FA Cup fifth Round Replay
Middlesbrough/ Sheffield Utd (BBC1, 8.05pm) - betting guide and statistics here
Copa Del Rey Semi-Final First Leg
Barcelona/ Valencia (Sky Sports 1, 9pm)
Kevin Keegan’s latest stint at Newcastle will undoubtedly be the highlight of a packed weekend for armchair sportsfans – will his rejuvenated side be able to get the better of Bolton? Check out our preview here, then place your
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