Football fans often get caught up on ‘big money’ transfer deals and rightly so, but what about the players that combine their transfer fee’s to build up an incredible amount of money. Most clubs will have had the sort of player that arrives, plays ok, then leaves the following season and will go on to do that throughout their career.
It will nicely line their own pocket and give them another team to claim ‘they supported as a boy’ as well as giving them another set of fans that can adore them for roughly 12 months. Passed around from club to club, it is usually a striker who clubs feel will solve all of their problems based on their passed goalscoring history but they will once again start well and fade, probably claiming home sickness.
Click on Robbie Keane to unveil the top 10
[divider]
Be prepared that one of these players has probably played for your club and done the same thing as they usually do but have I missed any of the top ten players that love a transfer out? Let me know on Twitter: @Brad_Pinard
[divider]
[ad_pod id=’unruly-2′ align=’left’]
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Everyone has been hailing the success of the Reds Academy over the last few months with the emergence of players such as John Flanagan and Jack Robinson. For other youngsters though, this summer, rather than being the start of their Anfield careers, could see the end of their time on Merseyside.
Nathan Eccleston – After being an integral part of Liverpool ’s FA Youth Cup team in 2009, partnering Lauri Dalla Valle, Eccleston quickly moved up to the reserve team last season, and then made his senior debut under Rafa Benitez in the Carling Cup against Arsenal. To give him more first team experience, he was sent out on loan to Huddersfield Town, but after a Red card, he was used sparingly as a substitute. He became more involved in first team affairs under Roy Hodgson at the start of this season, appearing in the Europa League, but was again loaned out to Charlton where he made 8 starts and 13 substitute appearances, scoring 3 goals. Will he get any opportunities in the Red of Liverpool next season?
David Amoo – The winger/forward moved from the youth ranks of Millwall in 2007, and quickly settled into Liverpool’s U18 team. He scored 12 goals in the 2008/09 season as he helped the Reds to their third FA Youth Cup final in four years. Known for his electric pace, he moved up to John McMahon’s reserve side last season, and continued impressing, although it was felt he could still score more goals. He played Liverpool’s first match in the Europa League this season under Roy Hodgson against FK Rabotnicki, but the lack of first team opportunities meant he was given the opportunity to go out on loan to Hull City. He mostly was used as a late substitute at Hull but he did score a spectacular goal against QPR and stated afterwards:
“It was all about being patient to get my chance in the team. I spoke to the gaffer [Nigel Pearson] and he said to me just do what you’ve been doing in training and you’ll get your chance and I’m delighted to have got it. Regarding my future, we’ll see how it goes. It’s up to the coaches and they’re the ones who see me every day. But I am enjoying it at Hull. I’ve just got to work hard and I’ve really had a good time here.”
Perhaps another season out on loan for Amoo then.
[ad_pod id=’unruly-2′ align=’right’]
Daniel Ayala – The Spaniard defender was poached from Sevilla a few years ago, and a start for the Reds first team against Stoke at the start of last season led many to believe he would be the first defender to breakthrough into the first team. Since, he has seen Martin Kelly, John Flanagan and Jack Robinson get game time while he has got first team experience during two loan spells at Hull City and Derby County. Unhappy with how Hull treated an injury Ayala sustained, former manager Roy Hodgson vowed not to send another player on loan to Hull again. From January onwards, Ayala found himself on loan against relegation threatened Derby, helping the club keep Championship status for another season.
Chris Mavinga – The French defender accused Roy Hodgson of favouring home-grown youngsters back in August:
“I was disappointed [not to feature in first team]. I thought that with this success [European under-19 Championship] and what I produced on the training ground I would have the opportunity to train with the first team and play bits of games. Roy Hodgson, who replaced Rafael Benitez, is changing the organization of the club as he tries to encourage English players against foreigners, unlike the predecessor. He clearly stated he wanted to remake Liverpool as an English club. It is a choice I must respect.”
He was subsequently sent out on loan to Racing Genk, where he hasn’t always featured regularly. He has only made 4 appearances all season but yet there was speculation that he could make the move permanent in the summer. We will have to wait and see on this one.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Stephen Darby – The right back has seen his chances greatly diminished by the rise of Martin Kelly and John Flanagan. He spent last season out on loan at Swindon Town, where he impressed while helping the Robins to the playoffs. He was snapped up by Paul Ince’s Notts County this campaign and there was talk of making the move permanent. The departure of Ince, and his return to Merseyside after the end of the season, makes such a move now doubtful. Still, it is likely he will depart Anfield this summer.
FootballFanCast.com WORLD Exclusive, Robbie Savage’s Face in a Baby Scan
After just over a year at Chelsea, Yuri Zhirkov is supposedly considering his future due to the lack of games he has been given. The only time he had a regular run in the team was when Ashley Cole broke his ankle at Goodison Park, and most of the remaining season was sidelined. So will the club’s latest big money acquisition, the wire-limbed Ramires, suffer the same fate?
In the case of Zhirkov, it is very difficult to attain whether it was actually he that complained about his situation. He has publicly quashed any rumours about a potential move away, but he knows that he would be a first team regular at a lot of other big clubs. As it stands, the Russian is reduced to substitute appearances and Cup games.
The situation could be a similar one for Ramires. He is currently starting games in Ancelotti’s midfield three with Essien and Mikel, but will almost certainly make way for Frank Lampard when he returns from injury. It is an almost identical situation that Zhirkov found himself in when filling in for Ashley Cole.
So far in his Chelsea career the Brazilian has equipped himself well. His nationality makes him obviously comfortable on the ball, and he has an attacking intent that his current teammates in the middle may lack (although both Essien and Mikel have been more aggressive this season thus far). Against Man City he struggled, and got beaten up (not in the Ben Arfa sense of the word) by Nigel De Jong, who dominated the midfield that day. He recovered well to put in a much stronger performance against Arsenal at Stamford Bridge last Sunday, and created the first goal.
Ordinarily, when a player is given a run in a team and performs well, it is enough to keep that place. Trying to picture Frank Lampard not walking straight back into the team however, is bordering on the surreal. At 23, Ramires is a player for the future as well as the present, but neither Essien nor Mikel are pensioners, and Lampard will be around for a few more years at least. For someone of Ramires’ ability it may not be the ideal situation to hang around; eventually a player will want to move on, just like Joe Cole did. But for every Cole, there is a Kalou: a player who has forever been on the fringes, but still picks up around thirty games a season, and becomes an important part of the squad.
What Ramires has going for him is that if any of the first choice midfielders are unavailable, regardless of which one it is, he will be the next choice, because the players in question are adaptable enough to shift roles. It is far too soon to question whether Ramires has made the right decision in moving to Chelsea. Since recovering from an early injury, he has featured in every game for his new club, but this may be down to the fact that as well as Lampard, Yossi Benayoun is also unavailable.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
It may be a case of ‘wait and see’ for Ramires. It has been an encouraging start so far, and it is important to remember that Chelsea is still a step up for the player, and that he has just made the biggest move of his career. He should have confidence in his own ability, but he must also be aware that you can simply waltz into the team at a club as good as Chelsea. I am certain he will play a big part in Chelsea’s season, and in their future.
Get updates on my articles by following me on twitter.
It would take a brave (or stupid) man to suggest that Lionel Messi was not the greatest footballer on the planet right now, but is the Argentine the greatest goal scorer?
Taking into account goals scored in all league and European competitions, this article examines which stars have hit the net most consistently over the past four and a half seasons. The contenders are judged not just on how many goals they have scored, but on their goal to games ratio, thus proving just who the world’s greatest goal scorer really is.
The likes of Luis Suarez and Falcao have been omitted, as most of their goals have been scored outside of the big five European leagues, and it’s generally bit easier to score in Holland or Portugal. Just ask Alfonso Alves.
Click on Mario Gomez to unveil the top 10
[divider]
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
The Pigeon Detectives are back with their third studio album. We spoke to frontman Matt Bowman about his love of Leeds, being friends with Alan Smith and why he’d steer clear of having a pint with Joey Barton…
Ideal song for teams to walk out to?
Anything that makes the hairs stand up on the back of your neck, something that gets the blood flowing. At the minute The Pigeons walk out to Beastie Boys ‘Sabotage’ and that does the trick!
First match you went to see?
Middlesbrough vs Wimbledon with my dad. Leeds vs Crystal Palce was my first Leeds game.
Do you have any celebrity football friends?
I’m friends with Alan Smith (Leeds United, Manchester United, Newcastle United and England). We grew up in the same village of Rothwell.
Why it’s better being a rockstar than a footballer
We can abuse out bodies with drink, food, lack of sleep and general partying. The lack of early morning training sessions is a bonus too!
Which current player would you most like to have a pint with?
Luciano Becchio – he speaks hardly any English but seems like a decent lad and you can tell he loves Leeds, which is good enough for me.
Which current player would you least like to have a pint with?
Joey Barton – he’d probably just want a tear up after a couple of shandy’s!
Recorded at Brooklyn Recording Company, the new album ‘UP,GUARDS AND AT ‘EM!’’ is out now on Dance To The Radio and will be available here
You can win a copy of the Pigeon Detectives’ new album Up, Guards And At ‘Em! by answering this simple question…
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
How many members of the Pigeon Detectives are there?
A) 3
B) 4
C) 5
Send your answer to [email protected] to be in with a chance of winning!
The sign of a great team? One that can compete on all fronts. Inter last season, Barca the year previously, and as much as it pains me to say it, the United team of ’99, were perfect examples of having the versatility, ability, fitness and depth within a squad to be successful across the board. Very few teams have the resources to do it and so must prioritise one competition over the next, so which do you choose?
In the case of Barca and Inter’s treble-winning seasons, and this is by no means in disrespect of their achievement, their respective leagues were won with relative ease. At this present moment (we will have to wait to see how much Mourinho can galvanise the egos of Los Blancos) they are so much stronger than their opponents that resting players, and dropping the odd point here, and there doesn’t have too much of a detrimental effect on their league ambitions. For Man United and Chelsea, you could flip a coin over who will win the league and so rather than the domestic room afforded to Inter; theirs is a much more claustrophobic affair.
Roman Abramovich is now craving the Champions League in the way Rob Green wants a rewind button on the last six months of his career. Three Premeir League titles cannot be underestimated as an achievement, but for the Russian, European glory is the holy grail. Further north, Sir Alex Ferguson has publicly admitted that his only regret during his time at the helm of United is that they have not won more Champions League titles. Considering they are regularly contenders, he is right to feel that his return could have been greater than two. But neither team is willing to sacrifice the bread and butter of the league and so must fight on both fronts.
Below the Premierships top table of dinner for two, there is less of an expectation to win the title and so teams can perhaps apply their focuses elsewhere.
For Arsenal – who I don’t believe have the squad, or the keeper, to win the league, despite a glittering array of talent – there is however an opportunity in Europe. They have the ability to beat anyone on their day, and so may be better suited to the smaller amount of games required in Europe. That said, the period without a Premier League title is beginning to border on the stagnant.
For Spurs and Man City, they simply have to focus on the league. That is their priority, no doubt. If Man City are serious about their aspirations (which I truly believe they are), then they have to be in the Champions League. It’s like a boy at school hanging around, waiting to be asked to the party that all the cool kids and hot girls are going to, buying all the booze in the hope of an invite. City will be dancing around at that party, showing off their expensive clothes and sparkling jewellery, very soon.
In regards to Spurs, they have to see the Champions League as a bonus this year; in football and financial terms. It will be a far greater achievement to qualify again this year than to go out in the second round and miss out on a top four spot. Ominously for White Hart Lane regulars, it already looks as though it will be a tall ask.
And what of Operation Hodgson at Anfield. The low league finish last season means that any improvement on that will be seen as progress, thus giving him the scope to try and win the Europa League. The biggest challenge will come from Atletico Madrid and Sevilla, but his side have a definite chance, better than the one he had with Fulham last year, and we know how that went.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
For the rest of the league the status quo remains: get as higher finish as possible and enjoy any extra perks along the way. The Carling Cup is a ticket to European away days, and any team not fighting relegation should remember the money that creates, not to mention the buzz it gives their followers; a fact Fulham and Middlesbrough will remind you of. To the Premier League teams in Europe this week, I wish you all well, even United (just this once).
Get updates on my articles by following me on twitter and hopefully you can tell me where Macron appeared from and how they’ve suddenly come to supply kits for so many teams?
For any wannabe Wenger’s, Mourinho’s or Ferguson’s, Football Manager has been the place to cut their teeth. Over the years millions have sat in front of the computer screens, deciding on their matchday tactics and delving into the transfer market to make their team unbeatable.
Like the managerial greats, we have all made a few bad signings but we have also unearthed a number of gems. Whether we have been fortunate enough to bring them to our club or have seen somebody snatch them from under our noses, their importance has not been missed.
Here are those players that we love, together in a Football Manager XI that would bring guaranteed success in this free-flowing 4-3-3 formation.
Click on Febian Brandy to unveil the Football Manager XI
[divider]
[divider]
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Arsenal visit Reebok Stadium on Sunday knowing anything less than a win against Bolton would all but end their Premier League title hopes.Arsene Wenger’s men have let too many points slip in the second half of the season, and in their most recent game they were held to a 1-1 draw against Liverpool at the Emirates – a result that saw them fall to third place on the table, six points behind leaders Manchester United.
Aside from that performance, they have been held to draws at home this year by Blackburn (0-0), Sunderland (0-0), Newcastle (4-4) and Manchester City (0-0).
Although they are unbeaten in the league so far in 2011, draws have been the thorn in Wenger’s side – with five from their last six games.
Owen Coyle’s Bolton side enter Sunday’s clash with little to play for, sitting comfortably in mid-table but with a Europa League berth well out of reach.
They will, however, be eager to eradicate the memory of their dismal showing in Sunday’s 5-0 FA Cup semi-final loss to Stoke at Wembley.
In their only other encounter this season, Arsenal cruised to a 4-1 win at the Emirates on September 11 in a match that saw Bolton defender Gary Cahill dismissed just after the hour mark for a crude challenge on Marouane Chamakh.
Wenger’s squad is remarkably healthy for this time of the season, with only long-term casualties Thomas Vermaelen (Achilles) and goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski (shoulder) certain to miss out.
Coyle has a few more problems from the treatment room to concern him, with impressive midfielder Stuart Holden ruled out for the rest of the season with a serious knee injury and full-back Samuel Ricketts also unavailable.
Harry Redknapp was one of the first Premiership managers to throw his hat in the ring for the soon to be vacant England Managers job in 2012 and who could blame him. But does the search for Tottenham’s next manager also start here?
The England managers job is one of the most prestigious appointments in World football and there can be no greater honor for an Englishman to have the chance to manage his Country. Many would also argue that Harry Redknapp has earned his chance after guiding Spurs into the Champions League for the first time.
However the England job will not become vacant for another two years and surely Harry should be concentrating on the job at hand at Spurs rather than fueling the media-circus that will follow Fabio Capello’s decision to quit at the end of the European Championships.
If Harry really wants the England Managers job he should cement his credentials through his achievements at club level over the next two years. After all the job is only half done. He has this years Champions League Campaign to look forward to and the challenge of cementing Tottenham’s position amongst the elite of English football of the next couple of years.
However it seems that whenever you pick up a paper or listen to sport radio you hear a new sound-bite from Harry Redknapp. I’m sure Daniel Levy would prefer he spend more time on the training field and less time talking to the media. After all Harry is only a serious contender for the England job because his current employers gave him the opportunity to manage a club who can compete at the top end of the table, rather than working miracles at the other end.
The Spurs board will now be looking anxiously at developments over the coming months and should the media-circus following the appointment of the next England manager start to effect the performance and long term objectives of the club, they will surely also be considering their next appointment.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Harry is quite rightly a frontrunner for the England Managers job and a darling of the press because of the amount of inches he feeds them on a daily basis (column inches!). But to quote from the song-sheet of our snooker loopy forefathers once more – “with his incessant talking, he’s becoming a pest”.
Aston Villa put a massive dent in Chelsea’s hopes of Premier League glory for this season chalking up an unlikely win at Stamford Bridge to end 2011 in the best possible way.
Blues boss Andre Villas-Boas will now be under increasing scrutiny to get his sides title challenge back on track after Villa inflicted their third home defeat of the campaign scoring two late goals to secure victory. Stephen Ireland, who had courted controversy during the week, a was the man at the heart of the visitors success scoring the equalising goal five minutes after Didier Drogba had put Chelsea ahead. The midfielder then teed up Darren Bent for the crucial third just four minutes from time after Stiliyan Petrov had put them ahead just moments earlier. It was only Alex McLeish’s second away win since taking over as Villa boss and extended the home sides unbeaten run to four games as their title challenge took a serious hit.
As ever the home side started brightly with Juan Mata almost giving them an early side before Daniel Sturridge shot just over as Villa happily sat back and soaked up the pressure. They were made to pay for such a tactic after Drogba was fouled in the penalty area by Richard Dunne before shaking himself off to convert the spot kick for his 150th goal for the Blues. However that lead lasted just five minutes before Ireland popped up to equalise scoring on the second attempt after Charles N’Zogbia’s intelligent run. Drogba than blazed three efforts over the bar as Chelsea tried in vain to regain the lead before Ciaran Clark almost put the ball into his own net. The pace of Gabriel Agbonlahor caused problems for the hosts all afternoon and he should have given Villa the lead but squandered a glorious chance firing straight at Petr Cech despite being one-on-one.
The hosts lifted the tempo during the second half with Drogba dragging a shot wide, Jose Boswinga firing over from distance and Fernando Torres crashing a strike back off the bar just moments after coming off the bench. All those missed chances would certainly comeback to haunt the Blues as Villa staged a late smash and grab to seal a shock victory and send the home side down to fifth in the league. Captain Petrov struck the first hammer blow calmly slotting the ball past Cech after being found by Clarks through ball with seven minutes left before Bent tapped into an empty net from Ireland’s pass to put McLeish’s side back into the top half and increase the pressure on Villas-Boas in the opposite dugout.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.