With the departures of Alan Curbishley (West Ham) and Kevin Keegan (Newcastle) due to the ongoing rows with their respective boards for having no control over the transfer of players in and out of the club, and the arrival of Robinho on Eastlands, the controversy surrounding big money take-overs of EPL clubs has now reached an unheightened level. It seems as if the managers no lnger have a say on the players they want, need, and maybe in hte future, they control and manage. If this is happening now, who's to say the owners of the club won't turn around and start looking to 'manage' their respective team 'behind the scenes' if results don't go their way? Either way, the coming months, fixtures, results, and January transfer window activity will be intriguing to watch!
Sunday, 7 September 2008
Thursday, 4 September 2008
Harry 'Hoodini' Says NO to West Ham!!
Harry Redknapp, ex West Ham boss has ruled out a return to Upton Park as manager by stating to The Sun: "Alan Curbishley may have gone as West Ham boss - but there's no way I'll replace him. Curbs quit because he feels he has been undermined and shown a lack of trust by the owner. I take my hat off to him for sticking to his principles."He later went on to add: "Don't get me wrong, West Ham is a fantastic club, with fantastic fans and - having gone there aged 15 - it has a special place in my heart, but I love it at Portsmouth and I have one big advantage over a lot of Premier League bosses these days: I've got an owner who lets the manager manage."
The future of the managerial post at Upton Park remains unclear for now but one thing is for sure, it doesn't seem likely that the established bosses, Harry Redknapp or Slaven Bilic are going to make a return to the East End any time soon.
Bilic or Di-Canio for West Ham Boss?
Slaven Bilic, ex West-Ham defender has openly ruled himself out of the vacant Upton Park managerial post, but ex West-Ham striker and legend, Paulo Di-Canio has admitted it to be his 'dream' job!
Following Alan Curbishley's decision to resign on Tuesday after 21 months in charge, The Upton Park club are searching for a new manager to steady the ship. Bilic has openly stated that: "I am always being asked about the West Ham job but there is nothing I can say. He later adds: "I have a contract with Croatia until the World Cup ends in 2010."
But Di Canio, an obvious fans' favourite reportedly welcomes the chance to replace Curbishley. Quoted by The Sun newspaper, the eccentric Italian says: "I am waiting for a job in England because my dream is to come back and I think there are a lot of good things I can bring. I took the coaching badges in the summer and I would like to have a job." He later added: "My dream team is West Ham. I keep the club in my heart. One day I hope to come back to London and sit on the bench at West Ham."
Watch this space at Upton Park because a former West Ham legend may well be at the helm in the coming days!
Keegans Future in Doubt? Indeed it is !!!
Kevin Keegan's future as Newcastle boss remains an unclear mystery, is he or isn't he still boss of Newcastle and will he be sacked sooner than later?
The Magpies boss missed training for a third successive day with his absence not officially explained from the club. On Tuesday, rumours began circulating that the Geordie legend had left the club, just eight months after returning for a second stint at the helm. Newcastle confirmed on Wednesday that talks were being held with Keegan and were 'ongoing', insisting that he had not been sacked, or resigned from his post. So what really is going on? maybe the talks are due to the lack of transfer activity and poor backing for Keegan offered by the Newcastle board? Either way, things at Newcastle FC seem very uneasy and unsettled, which will obviously impact the players tremendously. Luckily for Newcastle, the Premiership takes a two week rest for World Cup Qualifiers and hopefully the issue can be resolved before ther next fixture with Hull at St. James Park on Saturday 13th September (15.00pm Kick-off).
This is not the only issue, Sky Sports.com have stated that the club's fans have been quick to show their support for 'King Kev', regarded as a footballing Messiah on Tyneside by threateneing to boycott matches should his time at the helm be brought to an abrupt and unseemly end. The next week or so at St. James Park will be an interesting one so watch this space!!
Manchester City: 'Future Champions'?
With all the latest news surrounding Robinhos big money move to the Eastlands, talk has being spiraling around the proposed force on domestic and global football that Manchester City now possess! With already great players like the newly signed Brazilian forward, Jo, and existing world-class players like Martin Petrov, Elano, Micah Richards, and the re-born Shaun Wright-Phillips, recently resigned from Chelsea, the dominance that City could have on the Premiership and European Competitions on years to come could be quite huge.
Manchester City assistant boss, Mark Bowen told BBC Radio 5 Live"The owners are going to challenge the top teams not just in this country but in Europe over the next few years, I'm sure we will get up a few people's noses over the next 18 months." This comes in light of the new owners of City, The Abu Dhabi United Group's, who have ambitious plans for City having recently aquired the signature of Robinho for £32.5m.
Assistant boss, Mark Bowen also warns of changes to the club may result in fewer of City's promising youth team players make the transition to a first team regular spot: "It will be a natural progression over the next year or so with a number of players coming in" spoke Bowen. He then later adds "If you are going to be challenging for the Champions League and wanting to push for the Premier League, I'm afraid it's the way it goes."
The coming months are definitily going to be eye-opening at Eastlands, but dont forget the pressures that will be imposed on boss, Mark Hughes, with the names of many great superstars currently in his team for his disposal, winning perfomances will be expected of him and his team, and if not delieverable, the same fate which occured to the new Mexico coach, Sven-Goran Erikkson may well be the same fate for Hughes if results turn sour.
Manchester City assistant boss, Mark Bowen told BBC Radio 5 Live"The owners are going to challenge the top teams not just in this country but in Europe over the next few years, I'm sure we will get up a few people's noses over the next 18 months." This comes in light of the new owners of City, The Abu Dhabi United Group's, who have ambitious plans for City having recently aquired the signature of Robinho for £32.5m.
Assistant boss, Mark Bowen also warns of changes to the club may result in fewer of City's promising youth team players make the transition to a first team regular spot: "It will be a natural progression over the next year or so with a number of players coming in" spoke Bowen. He then later adds "If you are going to be challenging for the Champions League and wanting to push for the Premier League, I'm afraid it's the way it goes."
The coming months are definitily going to be eye-opening at Eastlands, but dont forget the pressures that will be imposed on boss, Mark Hughes, with the names of many great superstars currently in his team for his disposal, winning perfomances will be expected of him and his team, and if not delieverable, the same fate which occured to the new Mexico coach, Sven-Goran Erikkson may well be the same fate for Hughes if results turn sour.
Robinho responds to the criticism!
Robinho (left) has responded to the growing criticism of his big money move to Manchester City at the start of the week. His response to Brazilian great, Pele, was that "the Brazil icon would have done the same".
Pele is reported to have said Robinho "needs some serious counselling" as he had been "badly advised" by people close to him. The 24 year-old Brazilian superstar, a modern day role model of many youngsters has hit back saying: "I accept Pele's criticism as he is the king of football, but if he had been me, he would have done the same."
In addition to this he also said: "Real did not want to retain me. They even used me as a potential exchange to sign Cristiano Ronaldo. But as that negotiation fell through, they wanted to retain me then". Robinho obviously felt hurt by the whole saga surrounding Cristiano Ronaldos proposed move to the Bernabou and said: "If they didn't want to count on me, I didn't want to stay there either, so that is what I told the president."
Robinho has admitted that his initial intention was to move to Chelsea to be coached by former Brazil coach, Luiz Felipe Scolari but a number of internal issues led to Real Madrid cancelling negotiations. Robinho states "My first goal was to go to Chelsea as it was the only club to have made a formal offer," he added. "But Real did not like Chelsea shirts with my name on being sold before sorting out the negotiations". He went on to add: "Also, they did not reach the value Real demanded so then Manchester City came in at the last minute to sign me."
Robinho also conceded that Real Madrid not releasing him to play at the Olympic Games was one of the main reasons why he wanted to quit the Spanish Champions to join Manchester City. "I cried when he (Madrid President Ramon Calderon) didn't let me play at the Olympics and you can check that by asking him," said Robinho. "I didn't cry to quit. I just told him I didn't want to stay there any longer so I asked to be transferred."
The question is, will he a be a success at Manchester City, and even the Premiership itself? and how long will he even stay there, before another big paying club comes knocking at the door for his signature.
Robinho Moves to Manchester City?
Yes the title is very much true, Robinho makes a money spinning move to Manchester City for a new English Premier League record fee of £32.5m! Most thought his move to Roman Abromovic's Chelsea was a done and dusted deal, but Manchester City, now run by the Abu Dhabi United Group, closed in on Robinho in the last few stages of the final transfer day. With claims stating Robinho only moved for the money sparked huge controversy, with even the great Pele agreeing with this theory. Sure its great for english football itself, and even better for Manchester City fans, but it shows how the multi-billion game of football is run mainly by money and not so much passion for the game and a team itself.
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