He comes from Senegal, he plays for Arsenal…

Patrick_Vieira_280x_856165aThe Sun and other media outlets are reporting today that Patrick Viera is about to make a shock return to Arsenal. I couldn’t believe it when I read the headline. I think this could be more shocking than Michael Owen going to Manchester United. Don’t you think so? Nobody was expecting this were they?

The truth is Arsenal have never filled the void left by Viera when he joined Juventus in 2005. He was a great captain. He was a phenomenal leader. He was Arsenal’s rock and he became a legend. Now he could be making one of the most dramatic returns in Premier League history. The questions is, does Viera still have the legs to play and compete at the top level?

Let’s face it, he has not had a huge impact since leaving Arsenal and he can’t hold down a regular starting spot under Jose Mourinho at Inter Milan. So what makes Arsene Wenger think he can still play? Is this a desperate move having lost Adebayor, Toure and possibly Eboue too this summer?

Generally people say when a relationship ends you should never go back. They say it’s never the same second time around. Even Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor couldn’t make it work after a second chance. But could Arsenal and Viera fall in love all over again? Could they re-ignite their love affair and live together happily ever after? If Viera can still play with the best of them, anything is possible.

There’s no question the French star is unhappy playing in Italy and he wants a move to another club. Tottenham, Birmingham and Fulham are also after his signature, but who do you think he will sign for? Can you see Viera going back to the Gunners? Will Arsenal fans be happy? Do you think Arsenal would rather buy him back than watch him play for their arch rivals Spurs?!!

He does look good in red and white. I need another drink…

Talk around the pub is…

42-17021668John Terry a.k.a JT and Mr.Chelsea is staying at the Bridge. This could mean he’ll be on his way to Manchester City in a week or so!!! Stranger things have happened but it does look like the Chelsea faithful got luckier than a lottery winner this summer. Their boy has vowed to fight on for the Blues. Could be one of their best signings this summer! What do you guys think?

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has sealed his switch from Inter Milan to Barcelona. Eto’o is supposedly going from Barcelona to Inter Milan. I think we’ll go larger on these two stories once we see the lads in their new pin stripes! Who would you prefer on your team…Zlatan or Eto’o?

Peter Crouch is on the verge of moving from Portsmouth to Tottenham. I guess he misses his old boss Harry Redknapp. What is it about ‘Arry the lads love so much? I’d play for ‘Arry. But will he partner Keane or Defoe or will he come off he bench?

Looks like Arsenal might lose yet another player. Kolo Toure is close to joining Manchester City. Adebayor desperately wants his dancing pal to join the City revolution. Will Toure leave Arsenal for the megabucks of the North? Should Arsenal be worried about losing another player? Can Nicklas Bendtner, Carlos Vela, Eduardo, Djourou, Kieran Gibbs & Co step in to save Wenger if he doesn’t splash the cash a little this summer?

Darren Bent, the 17 million pound Spurs flop could be bound for the North of England and a place in the Sunderland starting line-up. Crouch leaving…Bent arriving…makes sense to me, how about you?

Stuart Downing joined Aston Villa from Middlesborough even though he’s injured and won’t be able to kick a ball until October! Never saw the fuss about this player and don’t rate him as an international at all. Lots to prove as far as I’m concerned. Do you guys rate Downing?

Honorable mentions…Zat Knight joins Bolton from Aston Villa. Sam Ricketts joins Bolton from Hull City. Dean Whitehead leaves Sunderland for Stoke City.

Legend David Ginola…

David_Ginola_CaricatureDavid Ginola played for four Premier League clubs including Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa and Everton. He undoubtedly showcased his best football at Newcastle United and Spurs. The Frenchman loved being on the big stage and fans loved him. Especially women! He had flare, pizazz and personality. But he was also a great footballer.

Ginola had beautiful feet and he scored some really tasty goals when he was in his prime. He also played the game with a lot of passion and in 1999 was voted PFA Footballer of the Year while playing for Spurs. Ginola also won his only English domestic trophy with Spurs in 1999, the League Cup. Outside of English football he won the French league and cup with Paris St-Germain.

David Ginola must be one of the only footballers to have ever appeared in a shampoo commercial. The Frenchman was a legend for his looks as much as he was for playing the beautiful game. He glided up and down that wing with the wind blowing through his hair for 90 minutes every Saturday. When L’Oreal came calling, Ginola and his locks answered!

Some people may not put Ginola in the same category as a Cantona, Zola or a Bergkamp, but when you think of the great entertainers that have played in the Premier League, Ginola is top of the list. If Newcastle United had won the league in the 1995-96 season when they collapsed after leading by 10 points, then perhaps Ginola would be in the elite player discussion a lot more. For me, he is a Premier League legend…

Transfer news in a nutshell…

nutshell400There are some crazy transfer stories out there right now. It’s been an interesting summer so far and there’s still time for a few more headlines to be written…

John Terry moving to Manchester City from Chelsea? I’ll believe that when I see it. And Cesc Fabregas is being hunted like a wolf again by Barcelona. Don’t think that will happen this season, but it could definitely happen next! Here is some solid transfer news…

Robin van Persie signs a new Arsenal deal. Joe Cole is set to sign a new 4 year deal with Chelsea. Daniel Sturridge signs for Chelsea from Manchester City. Yuri Zhirkov finally moves to Chelsea from CSKA Moscow (could be a fantastic signing for them). Jermaine Pennant has finally left Liverpool for Real Zaragoza. Sean Davis leaves Portsmouth for Bolton. Goalkeeper Joe Hart signs for Birmingham on loan from Manchester City. Antonio Valencia signs for Manchester United from Wigan (watch out for this guy). Didier Zokora leaves Tottenham for Sevilla. Patrick Viera says no to Birmingham. Jo extends his loan move from Manchester City to Everton.

Transfer talk and moves on the bubble…

Peter Crouch to Sunderland from Portsmouth. Frazier Campbell to Sunderland from Manchester United. Eto’o to Manchester City from Barcelona or he could well stay in Barcelona. Former Liverpool player Boudewijn Zenden could possibly make a return to English football at Fulham. 

We’ll keep you posted about what will happen with Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano of Liverpool. Will keep tabs on Franck Ribery of Bayern Munich. Plus I’m sure Manchester United have a joker hidden up their sleeve…

What about your team? How are they doing in the summer transfer market?

Goal of the season…

fernandoIt’s that time of year where we harp on about the greatness of players, teams and managers. Us fans like to have our say in who wins what.

First-up is a fan favourite – Goal of the Season. With so many great games and performances, it really was difficult to pick the best goal. There were great individual goals and also incredible team goals scored in the Premier League this term. But who ranked in the top 3? Do you agree with the choices? Have your say… 

1. {Fernando Torres} vs Blackburn. A great ball from Jamie Carragher and then the beautification of football personified by the sheer brilliance of Torres. Check it out here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypmpc1dUls4&feature=related.

2. {David Bentley} vs Arsenal. Who knows if Bentley will even be at Tottenham next season. He will always leave Spurs fans with one of their greatest memories against Arsenal. Rough quality, but you can still see this amazing goal very clearly.       http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1941068/david_bentley_goal_for_tottenham_vs_arsenal_on_29_10_08/

3. {Paul Konchesky} vs West Ham. Against his former club, Konchesky takes the ball himself and blasts the back of the net with a stunning shot. Take a peek and remind yourselves http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_IOJhE0fgI

Honorable mentions also go to Andrei Arshavin’s goal against Blackburn, Glen Johnson’s goal against Hull City and Carlton Cole’s goal against Wigan.

Harry Redknapp Houdini strikes again…

re_delle_manette2-761666The smartest thing Spurs have done in years is to hire Harry Redknapp. A strong character in the dressing room and an experienced Premiership manager, Harry knows how to rebuild bottom up! He is one of those characters that galvanizes people and gets them to believe in what he’s trying to do. Evidently, the cockney rebel’s influence is already working its magic down at the Lane.

Like a fine wine, Harry seems to get better with age. He took good players to Portsmouth and turned most into great Premier League players. He created a team. He saved Portsmouth from relegation and then in the very next year won them the F.A. Cup, his first major trophy as a manager.

Harry knows what it takes to survive in the Premier League and he knows what it takes to try and be competitive to win the title. And he knows how to instill that bullish spirit in his team when it comes to a London derby battle. Arsenal were shocking last night. Their defense was a mess and Alumnia’s display was comparable to a Sunday league goalkeeper suffering from a Saturday night hangover. Credit to Spurs for fighting on and believing they could get the win and a slice of London derby pride. That was Harry’s influence. He gave the players belief and Spurs looked like a completely different team.

If Harry adds the likes of Teddy Sheringham to his coaching staff, Spurs will really be building a solid foundation for future management. Before they appointed Harry Redknapp as their new boss, things were looking gloomy for their fans and their so-called revolution of new signings. Now they have Houdini in their corner, anything is possible…

Phil Brown and his Tigers are grrreat…

tony-the-tiger-frosties-756942Hull City’s start to Premier League life has been like a fairy tale. After 104 years of lower league existence, the Tigers are out to prove they are worthy of their promotion from the Championship. Their thirst for success is evident and they play with huge confidence and belief.

It also appears as though they have developed a lust for beating London teams. And not just any London teams. They beat Arsenal, Tottenham and West Ham convincingly. What are the odds on Hull City beating Chelsea at Stamford Bridge? That home record has to go sometime, doesn’t it?

Hull City may not continue on this run of form, but they’ve lit up the league and given us all something to talk about. It’s as though they’ve been invited to the world’s most exclusive football party and they’ve decided to just let their hair go and have a good time. Let’s hope they don’t get too drunk on their current success. Phil Brown seems to be a good manager. Eye of the tiger baby, eye of the tiger…

Finally. A deal is done…

340x-790417The summer transfer market is officially open. With the signature of Robbie Keane, Liverpool have surely pulled off the surprise of the season so far. Yes the Deco deal was exciting, but he’s long been a target for Chelsea so there was no real surprise there. Jo, Nasri, Modric and Dos Santos could all well be good captures, but these are “wait and see” transfers. Peter Crouch, Steve Sidwell, Paul Robinson, Claude Makelele, Brad Friedel, Gilberto Silva, Sully Muntari and El-Hadji Diouf deserve honorable mentions as they move to pastures new. But…

Liverpool acquiring Keane is almost genius. Tottenham fans around the globe are feeling sick. Trust me. I know a few and they are not happy. They know Liverpool have bought quality. An exquisite striker, Keane has been one of the most overlooked players in the Premier League. His touch, his finishing and his ability to see beyond the next pass is impressive. His equalizer against Chelsea in last season’s 4-4 extravaganza is exactly the type of strike Spurs fans have enjoyed for 6 years. Oh how they will miss him.

Keane’s overall play and leadership will be very difficult to replace. In the absence of Ledley King and other key players, he stood-up and took the team on his shoulders. If Tottenham had Ramos sooner, would Keane still be leaving? Were they being held back by average coaches and bad signings? If they had qualified for the Champions League a couple of seasons ago, would things be different now? It doesn’t matter, it’s too late. Their Irish Prince has gone.

Now he teams up with another Prince. Perhaps the new Prince of Europe. Fernando Torres and Robbie Keane upfront. Imagine it. What a mouth-watering encounter. Plus alongside them will be Liverpool’s legend in the making and captain fantastic, Steven Gerrard. Ferry across the Mersey Batman! Could this be the year Liverpool win the Premier League? One thing is for sure, Keane is the type of signing that can elevate a team to another level. He will contribute immediately. He’s a seasoned player with big game experience. He’s hungry to win and he wants to play Champions League football. He was ready to go. Welcome to Anfield son.

There are players like Flamini and Hleb who leave for another club because they are chasing fortunes. Sure Keane was tempted by the money, but if he’d have asked, Tottenham would have given him what he wanted to stay. He is following a boyhood dream. He wants to play for Liverpool. For some reason, his transfer to Liverpool seems genuine on his behalf. Despite how it may have happened, he was motivated by his dream and not the money.

Liverpool and Keane have definitely wet the transfer whistle. After so much speculation, finally a huge deal happens. It’s what we’ve been waiting. And one thing’s for sure, Keane is not a “wait and see” transfer. He’s more of a “here and now” deal.

Transfer season so far…

CB018788The Ronaldo saga is not over. The race for Adebayor’s signature continues. Will Drogba be a Chelsea player this season? Is Lampard going to join Mourinho at Inter Milan? Has Wenger found replacements for Flamini and Hleb? Is it true Robbie Keane is leaving Tottenham for Liverpool? Would Tottenham really let Berbatov and Keane go? Is Gareth Barry ever going to leave Villa? Is Robinho really thinking of hanging out at the King’s Road?

All of the abovementioned questions have yet to be answered. I’m going to noodle on how some of these transfers might work out. Nothing major is going to happen until August. It’s always the case. Now I’ve said that, something big will happen tomorrow! Lampard to Milan! Berbatov to United! Keane to Liverpool! Barry to Arsenal! Whoops…did I say that out loud. Let’s hope we get some news soon…the wait slows down the pre-season prep work…

What to do on a Saturday morning…

tivo_logo_lg_rgbThere’s nothing quite like preparing for a Premiership football game on Saturday. The only difference now is that I don’t go to the games, I watch them all on TV. Even though I have TIVO, I still get up to watch the 4.30am games live. You feel more involved when you watch it live. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t believe I ever got out of bed at that hour for Bolton vs Reading! That’s the kind of fixture where TIVO comes in very handy. Which teams would drag you out of bed at 4.30am? Who is deserving of your attention at that ridiculous hour? How much of a soccer tart are you?

For me it would be Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool. There are other teams flirting on the threshold of the early bird rise, but I’ll need to see them play in this coming season to think differently. For now though, I would place these teams in a second category for the games that start around 7am. Tottenham, Newcastle, Aston Villa, Everton and Manchester City would entice me with one eye open. Portsmouth have snuck in there too, since Harry Redknapp has made them an attractive team to watch. The rest of the league fall into the 9am time slot.

The one thing all these teams have in common is that no matter what time they are playing, I will TIVO every game. I’m just choosy about who gets me as a punter when they are playing live at an early hour. Does this still make me a soccer tart? I hope so…