For as long as I can remember the goal poaching No.9 has been a staple of English football and has spawned some of it’s biggest stars.
The goalscoring exploits of players like Robbie Fowler, Ian Wright, Andy Cole and Michael Owen have given them legendary status at club and international level.
These players weren’t the best in possession and they certainly didn’t care too much about chasing back but give them any sort of space in the box and more often than not they would punish you.
They flourished in the classic 4-4-2 formation which gave them a strike partner to play off, often in the shape of a big target man.
However, sadly, i feel this may be a dying breed.
Nowadays almost every team in the Premier League plays a variation of the 4-2-3-1 or 4-5-1 formation which puts a premium on high tempo, possession based football.
Because of this strikers are expected to offer a more well-rounded skill set and are needed to contribute in other areas of the pitch.
A casing point in this change is Jermaine Defoe.
Defoe possesses an abundance of predatory instinct and finishing ability but is limited to Europa League and domestic cup appearances at Tottenham, due to his one dimensional nature.
It just makes me think how Ian Wright or Andy Cole would have got on in today’s football if they were forced to play without a Dennis Bergkamp or Dwight Yorke beside them.
My suspicion is that if forced to play as a solo striker they would have the same struggles that Defoe currently faces.
This may mean that any budding goal poachers of the future may need ply their trade away from the big clubs or perform a super sub role, à la Defoe or Javier Hernandez.
After watching Crystal Palace’s 4-1 defeat to Fulham on Monday, you couldn’t help but feel a little bit sympathetic towards the club’s plight.
The south London club started the game brightly, going 1-0 up through Adrian Mariappa, but went in 2-1 down at the break after two of the best goals you are ever likely to see.
Two more Fulham goals in the second half handed The Eagles their seventh defeat in eight Premier League games and a worrying five points adrift from the pack in the table.
Despite their poor start, it still comes as a shock to many that Ian Holloway would leave the club by mutual consent, so early in the season.
Today’s press conference to announce the news was bizarre, with both Chairman, Steve Parish, and Ian Holloway sitting both sitting side-by-side and and openly admitting to mistakes they have made.
Holloway claimed that he had lost the spirit of dressing room, whereas, Parish declared he had not provided and adequate infrastructure for top flight football.
This kind of openness and honesty is extremely rare in professional football and for that they both deserve credit.
However in my opinion, the root of their problems was not recognised and comes down to one simple fact.
Their playing staff merely lack the quality to compete at this level and it will be a tough task to find a better man manager and motivator than the one they already had.
I think it’s fair to say us England fans are not always known for our positive outlook.
In the last year, all I seem to hear is talk about a supposed “dearth of young talent” or a “lack of elite coaching and facilities” from any Tom, Dick and Harry wanting to get their face on the TV.
However, now we have our sights firmly set on Brazil 2014, I feel it’s time to draw a line under that chapter and concentrate on things of a far more upbeat nature.
First and foremost, I think Roy Hodgson deserves big credit for the tactics used in the two, all important close out games.
Time and time again the England boss has been critcised for his negative formations but this time around he got it spot on with a more attacking look to the side.
He was not afraid to throw relative novices, Daniel Sturridge and Andros Townsend, into the fray and that resulted in far more proactive and, dare i say it, easy on the eye performances.
Secondly i feel this qualifying campaign should be seen as an overwhelming success rather than one of mediocrity.
In a tricky group with some daunting away trips, England remained unbeaten with six wins and four draws.
To add to this we had the European qualifying section’s joint best defensive record – baring Spain who played two less games – with only four goals conceded and the third best attacking tally of 31 goals, behind only Germany and Holland.
Thirdly, to anyone bemoaning the lack of young stars, i would point you in the direction of our U21’s stunning 5-0 demolition of Lithuania, last night.
Ravel Morrison was the star of the show with two goals and a dazzling display as the West Ham midfielders reputation continues to grow.
West Brom’s, Saido Berahino, and Southampton’s, James Ward-Prowse, also stood out with both players getting on the scoresheet.
New Manager, Gareth Southgate, has instilled a new possession based ethos on the Young Lions and it looked very effective against the Eastern European opposition.
When you also see that 10 players from the senior side were 24-years-old or younger, maybe the future doesn’t look so grim after all.
All things considered i feel now is a fairly good time to be an England supporter, not the best in my lifetime but certainly not the worst.
Lets just pray we avoid the group of death when the draw is made on 6 December and that we don’t see the words “Wayne Rooney” and “Metatarsal” in the same news story between now and the kick-off in June.
Now i know the title of this blog is a bold statement, but the body of proof is overwhelming.
Obviously this is merely coincidence, but there is a growing list of sporting superstars whose careers have taken a downturn after endorsing the market-leading, anti-dandruff shampoo.
Take a look for yourself.
Joe Hart
After seeing the England goalkeepers cringe worthy ad campaign, every football fan in the country thought the same two things. “Why does he bother?” And “i bet he got a lot of stick at training”.
When Joe Hart first joined forces with Head and Shoulders he was seemingly on top of the world. A Premier League champion, England’s undisputed No.1 and universally recognised as one of the worlds top keepers.
However, two years down the line, the boy from Shrewsbury is in a very different predicament. A string of high profile and costly errors means he can no longer count himself untouchable for club or country.
Iker Casillas
To coincide with Joe Hart’s campaign, Head and Shoulders signed up another world-famous stopper, in the form of Spain’s Iker Casillas. Casillas’ advert was almost identical to Hart’s and was used to appeal to the Spanish market.
Casillas is a national icon in Spain having lifted two European championships and one World Cup as the national teams captain. He has also been involved in countless triumphs with the countries most supported club, Real Madrid.
However, this status now seems to be under threat, as former Villarreal star Diego Lopez appears to be new Manager Carlo Ancelotti’s preferred choice.
There are numerous explanations for this fall from grace but many feel it is a political decision by club President Florentino Perez.
Perez feels Casillas has too much power over the dressing room and how the club is run.
Jenson Button
In 2009 Things were looking good for Jenson Button.
He had just won his first Formula 1 World Drivers Championship and then got his dream seat in a Maclaren to race alongside fellow Brit, Lewis Hamilton. This lead to yet another painstaking set of adverts with the shampoo giants.
Unfortunately for Button, this move corresponded with the Sebastien Vettel and Red Bull takeover of the sport.
Whilst his performances have stayed respectable, he has yet to launch a serious World Championship bid in his three years with the Woking based team. He finished fifth in 2010, second in 2011 – although he was a massive 122 points behind Vettel – and fifth again in 2012.
2013 looks to be one of his most disappointing to date as his car seems well off the pace of the top teams.
This has left him ninth in the Drivers championship and his team fifth in the Constructors, with four races to go.
Mark Cavendish
Mark Cavendish’s adverts were surprisingly understated and followed years of great success for the Manx born cyclist.
He is a superstar of the sport and is widely considered to be the fastest sprint cyclist of all time, having won 25 individual stages at the Tour De France.
His best year on the tour came in 2011 when he won the points classification and then went on to be named BBC Sports Personality of the Tear.
However, Cavendish has suffered repeated heart ache at the Olympics, where he is yet to win a medal.
At Beijing 2008 Cavendish had the unenviable feat of being the only British cyclist to leave the games without a medal.
However, his biggest disappointment came at London 2012 where he was an overwhelming favourite for the Men’s road race.
It was one of the first events on the Olympic calender and Cavendish was all set to get Team GB of to a winning start and become one of the standout stars of the games.
It did not work out this way though, as he finished in a lowly 29th.
With the recent news of Michael Bisping withdrawing from UFC Fight Night 30, in Manchester, and David Haye pulling out of his domestic grudge match against Tyson Fury at the o2 Arena, UK fight fans have twice been left disappointed by unavoidable injuries.
Although injuries – Bisping, Detached retina and Haye, deep cut above the eye – are a frequent occupational hazard, the way in which the respective governing bodies dealt with these crises struck me as a big reason as to why Mixed Martial Arts is rapidly overtaking boxing as the worlds premiere fight sport.
The Hayemaker’s ailment lead to the whole card being scrapped and whilst ticket prices were refunded, the cost of travel and accommodation could potentially lead to substantial losses for spectators.
The UFC, on the other hand, were quick to replace ‘The Count’ with former Light Heavyweight champion, Lyoto ‘The Dragon’ Machida to ensure the card went ahead. To some this may not fully make up for the frustration of missing Bisping fight in front of a home crowd but the chance to see one of the sport’s greats make his Middleweight debut should be more than adequate compensation.
Here are three more ways in which boxing could learn from their UFC counterparts.
The best fight the best
You don’t get any of the Mayweather vs Pacquiao styled political nonsense in the UFC, where two top fighters avoid each other in order to protect their record. In The UFC the champ fights the next most deserving fighter from the division. Simple as that. This leads to contests of an epic proportion on an almost monthly basis. Take the upcoming UFC 166 on October the 19th for example. The two best Heavyweights in the world, Cain Velasquez and Junior Dos Santos, battle it out for the title for the third time in three years. It’s what the fans want so it gets made, everyone’s satisfied.
Clearly identifiable champions and contenders
In the UFC there are eight weight divisions each with 1 champion and an officially ranked top ten. If you go on a prolonged winning streak or convincingly beat a fellow contender chances are your next in line for a shot at the belt. This makes for a far more fan-friendly experience where it’s easier to follow your favourite fighters progress. Alternatively, boxing has 17 weight divisions and each weight has five different championship belts and ranking systems. This can become very confusing and off putting to the casual fan.
Fans feel appreciated
I was lucky enough to go to the UFC expo in London in 2010 and this really added to my love of the sport. These events are put on all over the world on a regular basis and really help to draw in new interest and reward existing fans. Here i was able to spend one-on-one time and take photos with great champions such as Jon Jones, Randy Couture and Wanderlei Silva. Whilst boxers go on huge promotional tours for big fights, they always feel like a transparent ploy to sell more pay-per-views rather than a way of valuing fans.
After a long summer hiatus from Premiership football, this weekend sees the world’s greatest league return for its 22nd incarnation. So now it’s time to fill out your accumulator forms, stay in on Saturday nights and get ready to shed a tear of happiness to the Match of the Day theme.
Here is a rundown of each teams expectations for the season and Key transfer dealings.
Arsenal
Significant Signing – Yaya Sanogo free transfer from Auxerre. Sanogo takes this spot by default as Arsenal’s only summer signing to date. At only 20-years-old and with very little top level experience he is unlikely to play a big part this season.
Significant Departure – Gervinho £8m to Roma. Gervinho’s Arsenal career never really got going and Arsene Wenger appears to have lost patience with his inconsistent play. Arsenal also managed to clear other deadwood from the squad such as, Andrei Arshavin, Andre Santos, Sebastien Squillaci and Johan Djourou.
Key Man – Jack Wilshere. After a couple of injury disturbed seasons, the England International, still only 21, now has a full preseason under his belt and is raring to prove his doubters wrong. Arsenal will need his creativity and midfield drive in order to succeed this season.
My prediction – 4th
Aston Villa
Significant Signing – Jores Okore £4m from Nordsjaelland. Aston Villa conceded the most goals of all the teams who survived last season. This made shoring up the defence a top priority and in Okore they have a 20-year-old, Danish international who has bags of potential and is known for his pace and strength.
Significant Departure – Richard Dunne free transfer to QPR. After some admirable years of service, Villa have decided to let the Irish international defender leave for pastures new at QPR. Dunne has had a long battle with injury and failed to make a single appearance last season.
Key Man – Christain Benteke. Benteke’s 19 league goals, last season, made the Belgian target man one of the years break out stars. After convincing him to stay, long-term over the summer, Villa will be keen to ensure he doesn’t suffer the second season blues.
My prediction – 15th
Cardiff City
Significant Signing – Steven Caulker £8m from Tottenham Hotspur. Many were surprised to see Tottenham let the young England international leave so early in his career. Although Caulker failed to hold down a regular starting position with the North Londoners, he showed great potential whilst on loan at Cardiff’s fierce rivals Swansea City in the 2011/2012 season.
Significant Departure – Stephen Mcphail released. Cardiff have kept the majority of the squad that achieved promotion together, with Mcphail the only noteworthy exit. Mcphail was a loyal servant to the club, racking up over 200 appearances in a seven year spell, but fell out of favour under Malky Mackay last season.
Key Man – Frazier Campbell. The former Man Utd and Sunderland forward is one of the few Cardiff players to have Premier League experience. Campbell played a big part in Cardiff’s promotion push last season scoring seven goals in 12 appearances, following his January transfer.
My prediction – 17th
Chelsea
Significant Signing – Andre Schurrle £18m from Bayer Leverkusen. Schurrle brings great versatility to Chelsea’s attack as he can play as the main striker, in the hole or on either wing. However, the German international may at times have to sit out as Chelsea have a wealth of talent in Attack.
Significant Departure – Jeffrey Bruma £2.5m to PSV. Chelsea let a lot of fringe players move on this summer, the most noteworthy being young centre-back Jeffrey Bruma. Whilst he never made a big impact with his parent club, he did blossom into a full Holland international whilst on loan at HSV, over the last two seasons. He now returns to his native country to play for PSV and boost his World Cup chances.
Key Man – Eden Hazard. After a very promising, yet at times underwhelming debut season, Hazard is due for a big boost in productivity this time out. This comes after new manager, Jose Mourinho, claimed he wants to make him one of the worlds most feared players.
My Prediction – 2nd
Crystal Palace
Significant Signing – Dwight Gayle £6m from Peterbrough. After spells at Stansted, Dagenahm and Redbridge, Bishop’s Stortford and Peterbrough, Dwight Gayle now get his chance to play in the big league. His pace and energy could be vital to The Eagles survival hopes but £6m does seem like a big gamble for someone with no top flight experience.
Significant Departure – Wilfried Zaha £15m to Man Utd. Although Zaha’s exit was confirmed in January, it is now that Palace will begin to feel the effects of his departure, following his loan move back to the club, last season. Zaha was the match winner and driving force behind this team and will be almost impossible to replace on Palace’s budget
Key Man – Jonathan Williams. Whilst at times overshadowed by Zaha, the Welsh teenager was a creative force in Ian Holloway’s side last season. Already a full international, the attacking midfielder has a very bright future in the game and now gets the chance to prove that at the highest level.
My Prediction – 20th
Everton
Significant Signing – Arouna Kone £6m from Wigan. New manager, Roberto Martinez, knows Kone well from his time at Wigan and will hoping that he can get the goals Everton’s forwards lacked last season. Everton scored the least goals out of any team in the top seven.
Significant Departure – Phil Neville retired. The younger Neville brother was a mainstay of David Moyes’ Everton side for eight years and they will undoubtedly miss his versatility and experience.
Key Man – Phil Jagielka. Phil Jagielka has been one the most consistently good performers in the league over the past five years and his defensive prowess and leadership will once again be key to Everton’s success.
My Prediction – 7th
Fulham
Significant Signing – Maarten Stekelenburg £4.76m. The towering Dutchman brings great pedigree to the side, having played at big clubs such as Ajax and Roma and earning 54 caps for his national side. The signing should cushion the blow of losing long-serving keeper Mark Schwarzer.
Significant Departure – Mark Schwarzer free transfer. The Aussie stopper has quietly gone about putting together an extremely impressive career. In a 17 year career in England, Schwarzer has amassed over 550 league appearances and has rarely put a foot wrong wherever he’s been.
Key Man – Dimitar Berbatov. Fulham pulled of one of the transfer coups of the summer, last season, when they convinced the Bulgarian to come to Craven Cottage. Whilst his work rate does leave a lot to be desired, he did produce moments of genius that were key to The Cottagers mid-table finish last season.
My Prediction – 13th
Hull City
Significant Signing – Curtis Davies £2.25m. It was not so long ago that Curtis Davies was on the fringes of the England squad and during his time at West Brom he was thought to be a star of the future. He now gets a second crack at the Premiership in a Hull side that had one of the Championship’s best defenses last season.
Significant Departure – Cory Evans £750, 000. The younger brother of Man Utd defender, Jonny, was a key member of Hull’s squad over the past two seasons, but was deemed surplus to requirements in the Premier League.
Key Man – Tom Huddlestone. Another highly significant signing for Hull this summer, the former Tottenham man has one of the most expansive passing ranges in the league. However at times his work rate and toughness have been called in to question.
My Prediction – 19th
Liverpool
Significant Signing – Simon Mignolet £9m from Sunderland. Mignolet shone in an underachieving Sunderland side last season and proved himself to be one of the leagues top keepers. However, he does have big boots to fill in the shape of long-serving, fans’ favourite, Pepe Reina.
Significant Departure – Andy Carroll £15m to West Ham. The Andy Carroll project was a resounding failure on Liverpool’s part and moving him on was probably best for all involved. Although it is not a patch on what they paid for him, £15m is a decent fee for the Newcastle born, target man.
Key Man – Steven Gerrard. Despite being 33-years-old, Stevie G is still the heart beat behind Liverpool Football Club. Liverpool still very much depend on his Leadership, creativity and goal scoring touch from midfield.
My Prediction – 6th
Manchester City
Significant Signing – Jesus Navas £17m from Sevilla. Not much has been made of the Navas transfer but this could prove to be City’s most significant signing in years. Under Mancini City played very narrow last season with players more used to playing centrally, such as Samir Nasri and David Silva, forced to play out wide. Navas is an old school winger who will hug the touchline and bring great pace and crossing ability to the side.
Significant Departure – Carlos Tevez £10m to Juventus. Tevez made a lot of headlines at City, mostly bad but a lot of important ones too. It is undeniable that he provided the spark City needed to get over the line and win their first Premier League title in 2011/2012. The less spoken about mid-season golfing trips the better.
Key Man – Vincent Kompany. The big Belgian joined just before City’s Arab takeover and it took him a while to settle. However, over the last three season he has transformed himself into one of the games premier defenders and the inspirational leader behind the Citizens recent success.
My Prediction – 1st
MAnchester United
Significant Signing – Guillermo Varela – £2.4m from Penarol. Like Sanogo at Arsenal, Varela takes this by default. The young Uruguayan full back is one for the future and will likely have to pay his dues in the Development squad this season. It’s been a surprisingly quite window for United so far but with big names like Christiano Ronaldo and Cesc Fabregas being linked, expect plenty of action in the last couple of weeks.
Significant Deprture – Paul Scholes retired. Although Paul Scholes was not much of a factor on the pitch last season, United will surely miss his presence on the training ground. Scholes had a glittering career for the club winning, 25 major honours and will go down as one of United’s all time greats.
Key Man – Robin Van Persie. The Duthcman does bring guaranteed goals to the side but his influence stretches further than that. He also has great link play and creates countless chances for his teammates, which makes him one of the game’s most complete forward players in the world.
My Prediction – 3rd
Norwich
Significant Signing – Ricky van Wolfswinkel £8.5m from Sporting Lisbon. The Dutchman has a very respectable goal scoring record in Dutch and Portuguese football and has previously been linked with big clubs, like Man Utd. The signing shows great ambition from Norwich and proves they’re not afraid to spend the increased amount of TV revenue this season.
Significant Departure – Grant Holt £2m to Wigan. Grant Holt had some great years at Norwich and will be fondly remembered by the fans. However, with the signings of van Wolfswinkel and Celtic’s Gary Hooper, Manager Chris Houghton clearly thought it was time for a change at the club.
Key Man – Robert Snodgrass. The Scotsman was key to Norwich’s safe mid table finish last season and provided important goals form midfield. He also proved to be a set-piece specialist.
My Prediction – 10th
Southampton
Significant Signing – Victor Wanyama £12m from Celtic. Many Saints fans didn’t think centre-midfield was a priority this summer as current incumbents Jack Cork and Morgan Schneiderlin both performed admirably last season. However, his athleticism and physicality does bring a different dimension to the squad.
Significant Departure – Vegard Forren £1.8m to Molde. Forren was seen as something of a coup for the south coast club, when they signed him in January. The Norwegian defender was heavily linked with a move to Liverpool but instead chose to join Southampton. But now after six months at the club and no senior appearances he has been sold back to his original club with no explanation as to why.
Key Man – Ricky Lambert. Ricky Lambert has a habit of proving his doubters wrong. He has been Southampton’s main source of goals for the past four seasons and has seamlessly made the step up in class through each of their promotions. This recently culminated in a goalscoring England debut at Wembley, versus Scotland.
My Prediction – 9th
Stoke City
Significant Signing – Erik Pieters £3m from PSV. The former PSV man is a regular in the Dutch national team, at left-back, and should improve an already solid defence. Stoke’s real problem is going forward as they were the second lowest scorers in the last league season. A striker must be their priority in the last two weeks of the window.
Significant Departure – Rory Delap free transfer to Burton Albion. Whilst not the most gifted player to play in the Premier League, Delap’s legendary long throws have been a huge part of Stoke’s impressive run in the top division. His exit, along with manager Tony Pulis, signals the end of an era at the club as Mark Hughes will surely look to evolve the playing style.
Key Man – Ryan Shawcross. Stoke’s defensive record is what kept them in the league last season and captain Ryan Shawcross was the key cog. The former Man Utd man is a natural leader and earned his first England cap last season.
My Prediction – 18th
Sunderland
Significant Signing – Emanuele Giacherini £6.5m fro Juventus. This could end up being the transfer coup of the season as Sunderland get a an established Italian international who was a big part of Juve’s back-to-back title winning sides. He is a versatile midfielder who can play on either wing or through the middle.
Significant Departure – Simon Mignolet £9m to Liverpool. As previously mentioned, Mignolet was Sunderland’s best player last season and will be sorely missed. The Black Cats will will now be hoping ex-Arsenal backup, Vito Mannone can make the step up to first choice.
Key Man – Stephan Sessegnon. On his day, Sessegnon is capable of being a match winner but far too often he goes missing. If he can find some consistency he could make make the difference in a rather threadbare attack.
My Prediction – 16th
Swansea
Significant Signing – Wilfried Bony £12m from Vitesse Arnhem. The Ivorian target man was one of Europe’s most prolific goalscorers last season with 31 goals in 30 league appearances. This move also means star man, Michu is free to play in his favoured role in behind the striker.
Significant Departure – Kyle Bartley loan to Birmingham. Swansea were able to keep all their stars intact, with Bartley the only recognisable name to leave. Bartley deputised well in the early rounds of Swansea’s glorious League Cup run.
Key Man – Michu. The Spaniard was a Revelation last season and one of the Premier League’s all time bargain signings. His goals and link play will once again be key to the Swans Success.
My Prediction – 8th
Tottenham Hotspur
Significant Signing – Roberto Soldado £26m from Valencia. Soldado’s goalscoring record speaks for itself with 88 goals in 161 league games over the past five seasons in Spain. This should ease the goalscoring load on Gareth Bales shoulders or replace his goals should he leave.
Significant Departure – Clint Dempsey £6m to Seattle Sounders – Whilst Dempsey did not set the world alight in his sole season at White Hart Lane, he did chip in with some important goals at important times. This slot could drastically change if Real Madrid’s world record move for Bale does go through
Key Man – Jan Vertonghen. Vertonghen was superb in his first season in English football. His composure on the ball and defensive versatility was one of Spurs’ main highlights in the 2012/2013 season.
My Prediction – 5th (If Bale stays possibly Higher)
West Brom
Significant Signing – Matej Vydra loan from Udinese. For the first two-thirds of last season Matej Vydra was head and shoulders above any other player in the Championship. He did go a little bit quiet towards the end of the season but at 21-years-old showed he does have the weapons to make an impact at the highest level. This goal against Leicester in playoffs was one of the strikes of the season, at any level.
Significant Departure – Marc Antoine Fortune free transfer to Wigan. Rarely a regular in his two spells at the club but the Baggies will miss his pace and power of the bench.
Key Man – Youssouf Mulumbu – The Congolese ball-winner brings a physical presence to West Brom’s midfield. Whilst his work often goes unnoticed by neutral fans, his work rate is what allows the likes of Chris Brunt and James Morrison to play with freedom.
My Prediction – 12th
West Ham
Significant Signing – Stewart Downing £6m from Liverpool. After a disappointing spell at Liverpool, Stewart Downing will feel he has something to prove this season. At his best he is one of the better wingers in the league, with his delivery from wide areas and deceptive speed.
Significant Departure – Carlton Cole released. Cole looks like he may never fulfill his potential. He possesses all the physical attributes needed for a top target man but too often his first touch and finishing seem to let him down.
Key Man – Andy Carroll. After an injury disrupted first season with The Hammers, Carroll will now look to push on and book his place in England’s World Cup squad – providing we qualify of course. Sam Allardyce’s direct style of play should suit the big man and with Downing and Matt Jarvis on the wing he should get plenty of deliveries from wide.
After today’s news that England winger Stewart Downing has signed for West Ham, it struck me that Liverpool have given a big lesson in how not to run a football club.
Most would agree that Downing does have good qualities, such as crossing, decent pace, and his ability to provide width but when Liverpool decided to pay £20m for the former Aston Villa and Middlesbrough man, the common perception was that the price was a tad excessive.
What followed was a hugely underwhelming 2011/2012 season under Kenny Dalglish, where Downing famously failed to tally a single goal or assist in 36 league appearances. The following year saw new boss Brendan Rodgers come in and, for the most part, saw Downing fall out of favour.
So now after two seasons of little or no productivity, Liverpool have decided to cut their loses and have shipped him to East London for an estimated £5m. Despite his heavy criticism, at 29-years-old and with 34 England caps under his belt, Downing still has plenty of football to play and this could be seen as below his market value.
After all, Buying high and selling low is certainly not what the economist’s hand book recommends.
This twisted logic was also evident in Andy Carroll’s career on Merseyside. A £35m layout, 6 goals in one and a half seasons, a season out on loan and then a £15m sale. That means a net loss of £35m on these two alone.
When you add in to the mix Jordan Henderson and Joe Allen, both squad rotation players at best and signed for around £35m combined, it appears Liverpool have fallen foul of the added premium you pay for British talent.
All this adds up to Liverpool being in the purgatory that is the battle for fifth or six sixth place, rather than the Champions League promised land to which they have become accustomed.
On the plus side for LIverpool the signings of Phillipe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge look to be very smart pieces of business and these two, along with teenager Raheem Sterling, could be the start of a potent attacking line for years to come.
(And yes that was a whole article about Liverpool without mention of a certain Uruguayan)
With the summer sales starting to heat up, each team’s squad and season ambitions are starting to take shape. Here is the sixth installment in my weekly series judging how the big deals will affect the clubs involved.
Roberto Soldado, 28, from Valencia to Tottenham Hotspur
Status – £26m done deal
Benefit to Tottenham – After patchy seasons from Jermaine Defoe and Emannuel Adebayor last year, the signing of a proven goalscorer was essential for spurs this summer and Soldado certainly fits that bill. The Spaniard scored 30 goals in 46 appearances for Valencia last season and has also notched up six goals in 11 caps for his national side. A record like this should more than justifies Tottenham’s decision to fork out a club record transfer fee. It now remains to be seen if Tottenham can hold onto Gareth Bale and potentially make one of the leagues most prolific duos.
Affect on Valencia – Spanish football is in dire financial straits – that is if your club is not called FC Barcelona or Real Madrid. This is due to a ludicrously unfair split in the TV revenue which means the rich get richer and poor get poorer. As a a result Valencia became very dependent on Champions League revenue which will not be there this season as Los Che were pipped to the post for fourth spot by Real Sociedad. Therefore big name departures were inevitable and Soldado was their prized asset. Although £26m was a large fee for a 28-year-old, they now face a tough task replacing his goals at a fraction of that amount.
Loic Remy, 26, From QPR to Newcastle United
Status – Season-long loan, done deal
Benefit to Newcastle – At times Remy looked very impressive for QPR last season, scoring 6 goals in 14 appearances following his January transfer. This included a goal of the season contender against Wigan but it was not enough to save his side from relegation. He now becomes the latest edition to Newcastle’s French revolution and Alan Pardew will be hoping he can replace the goals they missed when Demba Ba left for Chelsea. Remy will also be keen to put himself in the shop window for France’s World Cup squad next summer.
Affect on QPR – Despite QPR’s free spending nature, they were highly unlikely to keep such a high earner on their books in The Championship. The Hoops shouldn’t be too badly affected by the departure as they still boast an embarrassment of riches in the strike department with Bobby Zamora, Andy Johnson and new signing, Charlie Austin, all proven goal scorers in the second tier.
Bernard, 20, From Atletico Mineiro to Shakhtar Donetsk
Status – £21.5m done deal
Benefit to Shakhtar Donetsk – Bernard is the latest prodigious talent to come of the Brazilian conveyer belt. The creative winger shot to prominence playing alongside Ronaldinho in a Mineiro side that recently won the Copa Libertadores – the South American equivalent of the Champions League. Bernard was also heavily linked to a host of other leading European clubs, including Tottenham, Arsenal and Porto after scoring 22 goals in 100 appearances for his club and gaining five full intentional caps.
Affect on Atletico Mineiro – Mineiro lose a top talent and key member of their squad that has achieved great success in recent years. They will now be on the look out for the next young star to put alongside their experienced players like Ronaldinho and former Man City striker, Jo.
With the summer sales starting to heat up, each team’s squad and season ambitions are starting to take shape.Here is the fourth installment in my weekly series judging how the big deals will affect the clubs involved.
With the summer sales starting to heat up, each team’s squad and season ambitions are starting to take shape.Here is the fourth installment in my weekly series judging how the big deals will affect the clubs involved.
Stevan Jovetic, 23, from Fiorentina to Man City
Status – £22m done deal
Benefit to Man City – Jovetic brings great versatility to City’s front line as he can play as the No.9, in the hole or on either wing. Jovetic scored a respectable 13 goals in 31 league appearances in a Fiorentina side that narrowly missed out on Champions League qualification last season. However, his real strengths are his creative flair and passing ability. City also beat Premier League rivals, Arsenal – for whom he had been a long term target – to his signature. Although, with City’s abundance of attacking talent such as Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko, Alvaro Negredo, David Silva, Samir Nasri and Jesus Navas, it’s hard to see where Jovetic fits in.
Affect on Fiorentina – La Viola’s failure to qualify for the Champions League meant that the departure of Jovetic was inevitable to balance the books. However the blow of losing the Montenegrin star is cushioned by the signing of prolific German forward, Mario Gomez, for the reasonable fee of £13m.
Nacer Chadli, 23, from FC Twente to Tottenham Hotspur
Status – £7m done deal
Benefit to Tottenham – After Gareth Bale’s mesmeric transformation in to a second striker last season, Tottenham were left short in numbers on the wing. Although Gylfi Sigurdsson and Clint Dempsey were able to do a job out wide, more cover and quality in these areas was a big need this season. This makes Chadli a great fit as he ticks a lot of Spurs’ boxes. He is a young, powerful runner who is able to play on both wings and has a very respectable goal scoring record in Holland with 25 goals in 84 league appearances. He is also a regular contributor in a very strong Belgian national side, having notched up 14 caps.
Affect on FC Twente – This is further evidence that the Eredivisie is a selling league as they do not generate enough revenue to hold onto their top stars. Twente missed out on Europa League Qualification after losing 3-2 on aggregate to FC Utrecht in the final of Holland’s unique Europa League Playoff system. This, similarly to Fiorentina, meant that the sale of their stars like Chadli was essential to cover the clubs running costs.
Gary Hooper, 25, from Celtic to Norwich City
Status – £5m done deal
Benefit to Norwich – Norwich get a striker who is a proven goal scorer at SPL and football league level, having scored 106 goals in 175 league games over the past five seasons for Scunthorpe and Celtic. However, everyone knows the step up in class to the Premier League is enormous, which makes the £5m fee something of a risk. New Manager Chris Houghton will be hoping this scoring touch will translate into goals at the highest level. Although Hooper had built up a great relationship with the Celtic fans, Hooper is now said to be relishing the chance to test himself in England’s top tier as he attempts to break into Roy Hodgson’s England squad.
Affect on Celtic – Celtic have now lost arguably lost their their two best player with Victor Wanyama already moving to Southampton. They did receive good money for both but it is unlikely manager, Neil Lennon, will see a great deal of it and he is now forced with the unenviable task of replacing both on a shoe string budget. Celtics dominance of Scottish football doesn’t look like ending any time soon however, with city rivals, Rangers, still languishing in the Scottish second division and other big clubs, like Hearts heading down the all to familiar, slippery financial slope.
With the summer sales starting to heat up, each team’s squad and season ambitions are starting to take shape.Here is the fourth installment in my weekly series judging how the big deals will affect the clubs involved.
Edinson Cavani, 26, from Napoli to PSG
Status – £55m done deal
Benefit to PSG – Cavani’s goalscoring record at Napoli speaks for itself. With 78 league goals in the last three seasons, the Uruguayan became one of the hottest properties in Europe, with PSG reportedly beating the likes of Real Madrid, Manchester City and Chelsea to his signature. PSG now have a decision to make over their current star striker, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, whose infamous ego will surely not be willing to play second fiddle to the new man in town.
Affect on Napoli – Napoli lose their talisman and main goal threat but did receive more than fair compensation. All reports suggest that new manager, Rafa Benitez, will be given a large majority of the money to reinvest in the playing squad. Napoli have been linked with a host of big name replacements, such as Gonzalo Higuain, Luis Suarez and Leandro Damiao.
Alvaro Negredo, 27, from Sevilla to Manchester City
Status – Done Deal undisclosed fee, reportedly around £24m
Benefit to Man City – Negredo has quietly gone about building a very impressive career in Spain having scored 70 goals in 139 appearances for Sevilla, as well as contibuting six goals in 14 caps for the national side. New manager, Manuel Pellegrini, will know all about Negredo’s strengths having coached against him in La Liga for many years. The move also sees the target man link up with former Sevilla teammate, Jesus Navas, with whom he formed a fantastic understanding in Andalusia.
Affect on Sevilla – Sevilla, like many top Spanish clubs, are in a time of financial uncertainty and the sale of their top stars was inevitable. Negredo now becomes the fifth Sevilla player to leave for England this summer following Luis Alberto to Liverpool, Jesus Navas to Man City, Alberto Luna to Aston Villa and Jose Capnana to Crystal Palace. Sevilla will now be looking for bargain replacements and will look to take advantage of the loan market.
Emanuele Giaccherini, 28, from Juventus to Sunderland
Status – £6.5m done deal
Benefit to Sunderland – Sunderland have pulled of something of a coup by attracting Giaccherini to Weirside. The Italian brings great versatility to the side, being able to play anywhere across the midfield, as well as regularly filling in at wing back for Juventus. He also brings great pedigree having twice been a Serie A champion and being a regular in the Italian squads who finished runner up at Euro 2012 and third place at The Confederations Cup 2013.
Affect to Juventus – Juventus have made no secret about the fact they did not want to sell Giaccherini but were forced to recoup some of the reported £25m transfer fees they had forked out on Carlos Tevez and Angelo Ogbonna. Whilst Giaccherini was never a first team regular at Juve, they will certainly miss his versatility and impact from the bench.
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