Ferguson remains confident that West Ham's Argentine striker Carlos Tevez will soon become a United player, according to the man from Govan, as far as he's concerned everything is in order and that the only thing which could be holding up the move is the Premier League. David Gill, United's CEO, is currently away on holiday and that could also be a factor in bringing the move to its conclusion.
However, reports claim that the deal could take some time to be finalised, the transfer is caught up in the row with Sheffield United and there's still question marks about who will receive the bulk of any fee for Tevez.
As far as the Premier League are concerned, West Ham should receive a fair chunk of the cash for the player - which may well be a bone of contention for his agent. The good news is that Tevez and his advisors want the deal to go ahead and so fingers crossed the wheels will soon be in motion and the deal will be completed in the next week or so.
Moving on to other news and Roy Keane, United legend and Sunderland manager says that everyone needs to 'chill out' regarding the lack of activity on incoming players. The Black Cats boss let it be known that he has agreed prices and deals for other players, and that all will become clear in the days ahead. Reading between the lines, this could well mean that Alan Smith and possibly Kieran Richardson could soon be heading to the Stadium of Light to link up with their former team-mate. Watch this space...
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
City to sign Reggina striker as Shinawatra's court date looms...
On the very day that reports have strongly linked the Blues to Reginna's Italian striker Rolando Bianchi, 24, in a deal that will cost £8.8m, the club's new owner Thaksin Shinawatra has been told to report back to his homeland to face charges of corruption - it could only happen to Man City.
Bianchi was fourth top-scorer in Serie A last season with 18 goals. Reggina finishing 14th in the league.
It the deal goes through it will be Sven-Goran Eriksson's first signing since being installed as the new City manager. According to reports the former England manager has been given a 'substantial transfer budget', the Swede is apparently scouring the Italian market for potential new summer recruits.
Bianchi was fourth top-scorer in Serie A last season with 18 goals. Reggina finishing 14th in the league.
It the deal goes through it will be Sven-Goran Eriksson's first signing since being installed as the new City manager. According to reports the former England manager has been given a 'substantial transfer budget', the Swede is apparently scouring the Italian market for potential new summer recruits.
Monday, July 09, 2007
Has Keano lost his magic?...
A few years ago in the mists/smog of time, Bryan Robson AKA captain marvel, assembled a team of big name players at Middlesbrough. Granted Robbo had the full backing of perhaps the best chairman in the land in Steve Gibson, but prior to the former United skipper taking over as manager 'Boro had never been really able to attract players of the calibre of the likes of Italy's ' White Feather' Ravanelli, Brazilian Juninho and Nick Barmby (he was considered useful back then, yes really...).
At the time it was widely acknowledged that Robson was in indeed instrumental in attracting this collection of big hitters, which in turn helped to establish Boro in the top flight.
Move the clock forward to 2007 and near neighbours Sunderland have been talking a good game after promotion, but it doesn't look as though The Black Cats are going to walk the walk in the transfer market.
Apparently manager Roy Keane is mainly interested in players who have Premiership experience, and we know top British talent comes at a premium, so assembling a team that is going places in the big league is going to be very expensive indeed if the Sunderland board have any ambitions of turning the club around.
It doesn't follow that Keane is against signing overseas stars, but perhaps the Irishman needs to broaden his horizons and look to the continent for new recruits, because on the evidence of what I've see so far, Sunderland are going to really struggle next season.
If you cannot cannot even capture the likes of David Nugent, then what hope is there? As I understand it, Nugent would rather sign for Everton or perhaps even Portsmouth. You might have expected that the Preston man would have fancied linking up with the legend that is Keano, seemingly not. Where is the player pulling power that Bryan Robson imbued?
In an ideal world, there'd be few foreign stars in the Premier League, but we are living in the real world and you simply cannot rely on British players all of the time. Harry Redknapp and Sam Allardyce have made their living on the back of value for money signings who hadn't previously played in the Premier League.
If Keane has ambitions of being a United manager one day, then he will have to get to grips with the concept of signing players from overseas and those without prior experience of playing in the Premier League.
The Sunderland board need to wake up and smell the coffee too, you cannot expect to stay in the top flight if you do not fully back your manager in the transfer market.
At the time it was widely acknowledged that Robson was in indeed instrumental in attracting this collection of big hitters, which in turn helped to establish Boro in the top flight.
Move the clock forward to 2007 and near neighbours Sunderland have been talking a good game after promotion, but it doesn't look as though The Black Cats are going to walk the walk in the transfer market.
Apparently manager Roy Keane is mainly interested in players who have Premiership experience, and we know top British talent comes at a premium, so assembling a team that is going places in the big league is going to be very expensive indeed if the Sunderland board have any ambitions of turning the club around.
It doesn't follow that Keane is against signing overseas stars, but perhaps the Irishman needs to broaden his horizons and look to the continent for new recruits, because on the evidence of what I've see so far, Sunderland are going to really struggle next season.
If you cannot cannot even capture the likes of David Nugent, then what hope is there? As I understand it, Nugent would rather sign for Everton or perhaps even Portsmouth. You might have expected that the Preston man would have fancied linking up with the legend that is Keano, seemingly not. Where is the player pulling power that Bryan Robson imbued?
In an ideal world, there'd be few foreign stars in the Premier League, but we are living in the real world and you simply cannot rely on British players all of the time. Harry Redknapp and Sam Allardyce have made their living on the back of value for money signings who hadn't previously played in the Premier League.
If Keane has ambitions of being a United manager one day, then he will have to get to grips with the concept of signing players from overseas and those without prior experience of playing in the Premier League.
The Sunderland board need to wake up and smell the coffee too, you cannot expect to stay in the top flight if you do not fully back your manager in the transfer market.
If Man City was a book it would be called 'Great Expectations'..
The story of Manchester City's recent history is one that is littered with managerial casualties, the latest into the breach is of course Sven-Goran Eriksson. The former England manager gave his first press conference last week, the contents of which sounded pre-scripted, as we've heard it all before 'City are a big club' was mentioned six times and 'we will soon be competing with Manchester United' blah, blah, blah. Kevin Keegan came out with this same old tripe as have a few others.
It's one thing trying to kid some of the people some of the time, but football fans know that you cannot kid the fans all of the time and we all know that there's leagues within leagues in England's top division.
The fact of the matter is that City will do well to avoid being embroilled in a relegation dog fight along with the rest of the also-rans, and the good news for Blues fans is that there's plenty of contenders who could slide down the Premiership greasy pole into the bleak house that is the Championship.
Any of the following clubs could be down among the dead-men this coming season Fulham, Derby, Wigan, Bolton, Birmingham, Reading and Sunderland.
Eriksson says that his recent hiatus from football has been the most stressful time of his career so far, but should things go pear shaped this season, you do wonder how stressful things will get in his new job.
For now it's a case of great expectations, but chances are it will be the usual tale of two City's, the same as on previous occasions after a new managerial appointment, the talk never matches the reality but it makes good fiction...
It's one thing trying to kid some of the people some of the time, but football fans know that you cannot kid the fans all of the time and we all know that there's leagues within leagues in England's top division.
The fact of the matter is that City will do well to avoid being embroilled in a relegation dog fight along with the rest of the also-rans, and the good news for Blues fans is that there's plenty of contenders who could slide down the Premiership greasy pole into the bleak house that is the Championship.
Any of the following clubs could be down among the dead-men this coming season Fulham, Derby, Wigan, Bolton, Birmingham, Reading and Sunderland.
Eriksson says that his recent hiatus from football has been the most stressful time of his career so far, but should things go pear shaped this season, you do wonder how stressful things will get in his new job.
For now it's a case of great expectations, but chances are it will be the usual tale of two City's, the same as on previous occasions after a new managerial appointment, the talk never matches the reality but it makes good fiction...
Sunday, July 08, 2007
Smith and Richardson to join Sven's new England revolution?
According to reports new Man City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson could be about to sign Kieran Richardson and Alan Smith, both players are surplus to requirements at Old Trafford and they've been linked to a number of clubs over the last few weeks including Everton, Newcastle, Sunderland and Middlesbrough.
City have become the latest club who are reportedly interested in the two England fringe players, added to which Eriksson is apparently keen to recreate 'team England', so there could be some credence in this latest link.
Richardson has never really been able to hold down a regular starting place at United. When he was first given his chance, he was used as a left winger, but all too often he either didn't produce the final killer ball or he lost it. He was later given a shot at left-back, but he couldn't quite get to grips with the defensive side of that role. More recently he's been used in midfield, but he's never quite been able to do enough to impress and retain a regular place and so he was only ever going to be a squad player at United and so it is time to move on.
Smith was signed from arch rivals Leeds United and it's fair to say that many, including myself, were not sure about the wisdom of signing a player who had previously stated that he would never join the Reds, such is the depth of feeling between the supporters of both clubs and coming from the suburbs of Leeds, Smith was very much a local boy and as such it was expected that he would despise everything connected to Man Utd. If you are born and bred Leeds United, by birth-right you will loathe the Red Devils.
In fairness to Smith he had to overcome those rivalries and those Leeds fans who shunned him like a proverbial Leper when he eventually did leave his beloved home town club to join the Reds. In doing so he won over many United fans whenever Fergie gave him a chance - which in fairness to the ex-Leeds player hasn't been that often.
Smith has in most games for United given it his best shot, and his no nonsense style has been welcomed by many fans, but not everyone is convinced about him and importantly Ferguson appears to be among his doubters hence the exit door beckons.
Would moving to City be a good move for both players? I'm not sure, because like Leeds fans, the Blue faithful despise everything about the Reds and coming from United to play for City wont be easy. Andy Cole and Brian Kidd managed to do it probably better than other ex-reds who have donned the Blue shirt, so it can be done.
Smith is likely to receive a warm welcome if indeed he turns out for the Blues at Old Trafford, that will be until he carpets Ronaldo or one of our other big name stars, so he will I strongly suspect soon be cast back into the role of arch villain.
City have become the latest club who are reportedly interested in the two England fringe players, added to which Eriksson is apparently keen to recreate 'team England', so there could be some credence in this latest link.
Richardson has never really been able to hold down a regular starting place at United. When he was first given his chance, he was used as a left winger, but all too often he either didn't produce the final killer ball or he lost it. He was later given a shot at left-back, but he couldn't quite get to grips with the defensive side of that role. More recently he's been used in midfield, but he's never quite been able to do enough to impress and retain a regular place and so he was only ever going to be a squad player at United and so it is time to move on.
Smith was signed from arch rivals Leeds United and it's fair to say that many, including myself, were not sure about the wisdom of signing a player who had previously stated that he would never join the Reds, such is the depth of feeling between the supporters of both clubs and coming from the suburbs of Leeds, Smith was very much a local boy and as such it was expected that he would despise everything connected to Man Utd. If you are born and bred Leeds United, by birth-right you will loathe the Red Devils.
In fairness to Smith he had to overcome those rivalries and those Leeds fans who shunned him like a proverbial Leper when he eventually did leave his beloved home town club to join the Reds. In doing so he won over many United fans whenever Fergie gave him a chance - which in fairness to the ex-Leeds player hasn't been that often.
Smith has in most games for United given it his best shot, and his no nonsense style has been welcomed by many fans, but not everyone is convinced about him and importantly Ferguson appears to be among his doubters hence the exit door beckons.
Would moving to City be a good move for both players? I'm not sure, because like Leeds fans, the Blue faithful despise everything about the Reds and coming from United to play for City wont be easy. Andy Cole and Brian Kidd managed to do it probably better than other ex-reds who have donned the Blue shirt, so it can be done.
Smith is likely to receive a warm welcome if indeed he turns out for the Blues at Old Trafford, that will be until he carpets Ronaldo or one of our other big name stars, so he will I strongly suspect soon be cast back into the role of arch villain.
Tevez determined to join United...
According to the People, the sunday newspaper, Carlso Tevez says that his agents have told Ferguson that he's joining the Red Devils and that he is not going to change his mind...watch this space for further developments.
Saturday, July 07, 2007
Tevez transfer - it isn't a done deal yet...
IT seems that the transfer of Carlos Tevez to Manchester United isn't a done deal after all. The Red Devils have stayed silent on the proposed move, and it was the lawyers who represent the player's agent who spoke out stating that Tevez had agreed personal terms with United and that the discussions between the player and suitors was done so with the full knowledge of West Ham United who currently hold the player's registration.
Reds fans will be hoping that Manchester United and West Ham United can broker some sort of deal in the week ahead, because the only thing for certain at this stage is that Tevez wants out of the East London club and judging by his comments he is desperate to play for the Red Devils.
So Manchester United have to broker some sort of deal with West Ham, the big question is what sort of fee will the Hammers try to prize out of United for a player who they do not own? Granted the Hammers do hold the player's registration which is now seemingly a very valuable document.
When you think about it, when was the last time that a player 'agreed personal terms' before the transfer was officially announced by either of the clubs concerned? I cannot ever remember this happening before and it therefore seems that the players agent has spoken out of turn.
Many fans, including moi, will have assumed that all parties have been inlvolved in the discussions, but reading between the soundbites which have been coming out via the media, seeminly not. The whole transfer saga is of course caught up in the court case with Sheffield United which centres on ownership of Tevez and Mascherano and the deal that took them to Upton Park.
This situation only serves to highlight why third party ownership of players is fraught with difficulties. Further to which, apparently third party ownership of players is not actually against the rules of the Premier League, but what is very much against the rules is something known as "side agreements" which translates to third parties holding influence over the club in question, in this case West Ham, or United if the deal goes ahead.
United may well take the view that they agree with paying the Hammers a fee, because further down the line the Red Devils could find themselves in a similar situation, ie wanting a fee for a player that they do not actually own. However, the most likely scenario is that when Tevez does actually move on, and he will at some point, it will be to a club in Europe. Quite where that would leave United is open to question, I guess like the Hammers the Reds would hold that player's all important registration which again could prove to be a very valuable document.
Reds fans will be hoping that Manchester United and West Ham United can broker some sort of deal in the week ahead, because the only thing for certain at this stage is that Tevez wants out of the East London club and judging by his comments he is desperate to play for the Red Devils.
So Manchester United have to broker some sort of deal with West Ham, the big question is what sort of fee will the Hammers try to prize out of United for a player who they do not own? Granted the Hammers do hold the player's registration which is now seemingly a very valuable document.
When you think about it, when was the last time that a player 'agreed personal terms' before the transfer was officially announced by either of the clubs concerned? I cannot ever remember this happening before and it therefore seems that the players agent has spoken out of turn.
Many fans, including moi, will have assumed that all parties have been inlvolved in the discussions, but reading between the soundbites which have been coming out via the media, seeminly not. The whole transfer saga is of course caught up in the court case with Sheffield United which centres on ownership of Tevez and Mascherano and the deal that took them to Upton Park.
This situation only serves to highlight why third party ownership of players is fraught with difficulties. Further to which, apparently third party ownership of players is not actually against the rules of the Premier League, but what is very much against the rules is something known as "side agreements" which translates to third parties holding influence over the club in question, in this case West Ham, or United if the deal goes ahead.
United may well take the view that they agree with paying the Hammers a fee, because further down the line the Red Devils could find themselves in a similar situation, ie wanting a fee for a player that they do not actually own. However, the most likely scenario is that when Tevez does actually move on, and he will at some point, it will be to a club in Europe. Quite where that would leave United is open to question, I guess like the Hammers the Reds would hold that player's all important registration which again could prove to be a very valuable document.
Friday, July 06, 2007
Bates to lose control of Leeds? Whites up for sale...
Well, well, well, a few weeks ago on this blog I posted that I simply could not believe that the creditors of Leeds United would accept what was at the time one penny in the pound and in my view a totally derisory offer. Unbelievably, to me at least anyway, that is exactly what happened. More recently Bates has offered to pay creditors eight pence in the pound. Let me remind you that Leeds United have a £35m debt and the Inland Revenue are owed some £7.7m for unpaid taxes.
The Revenue were not at all happy with the deal that would have seen Leeds taken out of administration and this week challenged that deal in court which ended in an adjournment, the net result is that a fresh court date has been set for September 3, and the talk is that Leeds United might not even be able to start the forthcoming season.
However, those in know are now suggesting that Leeds United could well have new owners and it is unlikely to be Ken Bates. I for one will not be upset if this comes to fruition.
The very latest news is that KPMG who have been in charge of administration have officially put Leeds United up for sale again...
The Revenue were not at all happy with the deal that would have seen Leeds taken out of administration and this week challenged that deal in court which ended in an adjournment, the net result is that a fresh court date has been set for September 3, and the talk is that Leeds United might not even be able to start the forthcoming season.
However, those in know are now suggesting that Leeds United could well have new owners and it is unlikely to be Ken Bates. I for one will not be upset if this comes to fruition.
The very latest news is that KPMG who have been in charge of administration have officially put Leeds United up for sale again...
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