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.
Dave Whelan might be a bit of an egomaniac and have an unhealthy obsession with Sir Alex, but he definitely knows how to give supporters value for money. Attention-seeking research by ING Direct has revealed Wigan fans have most reason to smile ‘in the current climate’ after paying out a relative pittance on season tickets to see their team triumph (well, they were fighting for 7th until a few weeks ago) in the Premiership.
Second in the value league are Blackburn, who charge just £200 for their cheaper annual passes. In contrast, some Spurs fans will have shelled out near to £2k for the privilege of watching their beloved team being given a shoeing by Hull, Stoke and West Brom at various points in the season.
Has your team’s performance been worth your hard earned coin this season? Thoughts below and see the list after the jump…
Unbeaten table-toppers win again ahead of next week’s collision
Chelsea and Liverpool remain the top two teams in the country after the Blues thumped Middlesbrough 5-0 while the Reds again came from behind to beat Wigan 3-2. So ahead of their clash at Stamford Bridge next Sunday, The Spoiler wants to know which one has impressed you the most?
In the blue corner, Luiz Felipe Scolari has instantly got his team playing exciting, attacking football and has accompanied that with results. They’ve won all four of their away games this season, comfortably have the league’s best goal difference (+16) and have conceded just three goals. Despite numerous injuries, they have continued to shine.
In the red corner, Liverpool haven’t dominated games like Chelsea and have only won by more than one goal once. However, they have already faced three of last season’s top six and whereas Chelsea were expected to start strongly, Liverpool’s form has been more of a surprise. With Fernando Torres out injured today, Dirk Kuyt stepped in with two goals and the Dutchman has already equalled his league total from last season.
Five of Liverpool’s six league wins have come courtesy of goals scored in the final fifteen minutes: does this show a never-say-die spirit that can take them all the way to the title or are they just getting lucky at the moment? Equally, five of Chelsea’s six have been by a margin of two goals or more: is this a worrying sign of things to come or is there a danger of them running out of steam like Arsenal last season?
With all that in mind, let us know which side’s start has impressed you the most with a vote and a comment below.
With the big names at Newcastle (Given, Owen, Duff, um, Butt) likely to demand relocation once the transfer window inches open again, it seems that The Spoiler might have inadvertently predicted the future for dinky little Michael Owen. Only a week ago the big talk was that Benitez was going to wage war on Villa in a bid for Wigan tough guy Emile Heskey, and now the loud clamour in all of the football gossip salons is that Owen is a target too - we joked about that, but it seems that Rafa was reading with a very straight face.
In which case, Benitez, for your next challenge: Ian Rush?
Oh dear, it was all looking so promising. The young Dos Santos chap, that Modric bloke - these guys were world beaters, damn it! But now Spurs are languishing at the bottom of the table, and after an in-depth gander at things like facts and statistics, The Spoiler has been shocked to find fourteen stonewall reasons why they won’t win before Santa Claus’ next visit. Perhaps they will never win again?
Spurs fans, we are so sorry… only read on if you must.
Spurs/Wigan, 21 September 2008
Prophecy of doom: Wigan have scored six goals in their last two away games
Portsmouth/Spurs, 28 September 2008
Prophecy of doom: Tottenham have never won two away in a row against Portsmouth. They won the last one.
Spurs/Hull, 5 October 2008
Prophecy of doom: Hull are yet to lose away from home (YET!), and Spurs are yet to win at home.
Stoke/Spurs, 19 October 2008
Prophecy of doom: Stoke have scored five goals in their first two home games, while Spurs have only scored more than one three times in twenty-one games.
Spurs/Bolton, 25 October 2008
Dear Chelsea Chief Exec Peter Kenyon, saw you doing your bit for China by running with the Olympic torch the other day – thought you looked pretty cool protected by those scary Chinese guys ready to Jackie Chan the life out of any student with a problem. Anyway, how’s that plan to turn Chelsea into an international superbrand going? I’ve been asking the kids what Chelsea means to them and they’re telling me the players get right up in the coach’s face when they get substituted, which they all copy at school, of course, and they moan about money and “respect” a lot, which, to be honest, the kids were already doing anyway. Not quite sure where all this leaves your brand-building – attitude’s not so easy to export nowadays, but let me know if you’ve got any centenaries or anything coming up. We’ve got a warehouse full of great “memorabilia”, much of it “signed”, and I love the way you guys know how to “monetise” your “fanbase”. It’s great! They’ll buy any old crap!
Headline Trends
» Chelsea have won all five league matches against Wigan.
» Wigan have won just one of seventeen away league games this season - 1-0 at Derby.
» Only Derby (16) have scored less league goals than Wigan (30).
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