Despite Manchester City’s shopping, not many Premier League clubs have flaunted cash as you may have expected given recent trends and Spur’s Harry Redknapp is now said to be considering loan deals as opposed to buying players outright.
His decision is somewhat questionable with the inflated ambitions that attach themselves to Spurs’ qualification to the Champions League but it would hardly be outrageous to suggest that it is a decision dictated by the current market.
Football clubs finances are set for much scrutiny with business experts warning that the current level of spending is simply not sustainable and UEFA have implemented “Financial Fair Play”. The financial fair play rules will require clubs to break even over a rolling three-year period if they want to play in the Champions League or Europa League.
It is unlikely we will see a huge increase in spending from top flight clubs from now until the window slams shut on 31st August and it may be a shrewd move from Redknapp if he can acquire the talents to which he has been linked with.
Craig Bellamy was arguably one of Manchester City’s best players last season and would be a major coup on loan, whilst Klaas Jan Huntelaar will fancy a crack at the Premier League after a frustrating time at the San Siro with AC Milan. His desire to succeed in what is often touted as the world’s best football league will no doubt be intensified by the mere nature of the deal. Often clubs get the best out of player through loaning him with a view to a permanent contract if the player performs well and Redknapp will hope it will be no different if a deal can be struck.
The White Hart Lane chief will continue undeterred despite the fact he has seen a loan move for AC Milan striker Klaas Jan Huntelaar rejected and an almost cheeky £4million bid for Manchester City marksman Craig Bellamy turned down believing that the waiting game will pay dividends.
“If we can pull off the deals you are talking about £8million or £9million for three players. Loans would certainly be a real possibility.
“People are going to loan players from all over the world; there will be loads because clubs are struggling to pay the wages. There will be high earners they have to loan out” he said.
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In what appears to be mere shadow on the usual transfer merry-go-round Redknapp’s style of wheeling and dealing may play right into Tottenham’s hands as he looks to strike a stable balance between the quality of player and financially sensible deals.
Spurs and Argentinean legend Ossie Ardiles has spoke of his confidence about Tottenham’s chances in this forthcoming season.
“I think that we are going to do very well, and I’m very confident. Harry is confident. We are in Europe for the first time in a long time, and it’s going to be a very good season I would say.”
Embellishing on his views with regards to the club’s chances in the Champions League Ardiles said:
“I think we can go a long, long way. You have to be very positive all the time, and obviously we have to win the first two games now against the Young Boys of Switzerland and after that we take it from there. You never know to be perfectly honest. The Champions League has a lot of incredibly good teams, and it’s a hard competition to be playing in. I hope we go on as long as possible.”
Whilst positive about the team’s prospects, Ardiles did state he would like to see some transfer activity before the window closes:
“I think Harry is looking and looking and looking. Right now it is not very easy to buy a player unless you spend money like Manchester City. Harry is trying and I believe he is looking for someone who can improve the team as whoever is coming has to be better than what we have already got. It has to be someone very, very good.”
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Ardiles was speaking about Tottenham during an interview about Sporting Memorabilia and his links with London-based Sporting Memorabilia Company SJ Dent & Co. Whilst Ardiles treasures his World Cup medal as his most prized piece of memorabilia, he stated he would love to own something from “someone he admired very much in sport – Muhammad Ali”.
To view SJ Dent & Co’s online collection of memorabilia visit their website www.sjdent.co.uk. You can also receive a 5% discount on any purchase by entering the code ‘Promo1’.
Former Liverpool winger Adam Hammill produced a masterclass for Barnsley against Championship newcomers Leeds United on Tuesday evening.
The Tykes romped to a 5-2 victory at Oakwell to move just outside the play-off places and into seventh, as winger Hammill took United to pieces. The quick and skillful 22-year-old had a hand in all five goals and was given a ringing endorsement from his manager Mark Robins after the game, who tipped him to become a future Premier League star.
“He has everything in his locker; he just needs the guile and the know-how. He needs that type of thing in his game and he’ll be heading off to the Premier League,” revealed Robins.
Hammill has been impressive for Barnsley since making a previous loan move permanent last summer. The highly-rated youngster was a member of the Liverpool 2006 FA Youth Cup winning side but ultimately failed to break into the Reds first-team squad after graduating from the club’s academy. He was then loaned out to gain first-team experience and had spells at Dunfermline, Southampton and Blackpool, before he was picked up by the now departed Simon Davey at Barnsley.
The exciting left-winger unsettles defenders with his dribbling ability and also has the capacity to score some truly stupendous goals. Hammill was awarded the club’s Young Player of the Season award in his first permanent full season with the Reds, as well as picking up the Goal of the Season award in the last campaign.
Premier League trio West Brom, Blackpool and Bolton are all expected to fight for the player’s services in the January transfer window and these clubs would give Hammill the opportunity to develop further. Competition will be fierce in the Premier League however and Hammill would be wise to continue his development under Robins at Barnsley for a few more years.
Despite his impressive form and potential transfer to the Premier League, I do not think Liverpool will regret selling Hammill. The club’s youth and reserve side are now packed with players of star potential and it is difficult to see Hammill commanding a place ahead of exciting talents such as Suso, Daniel Pacheco, Danny Wilson and Jay Spearing. The Reds may have got a higher fee for the player had they loaned him out for another spell before selling, although Hammill has obviously benefited from a permanent move and fresh start in South Yorkshire.
Hammill is said to have a clause in his contract allowing him to return to the Premier League for as little as £500,000 and could prove to be a real bargain should a club decide to take a risk on the rising star.
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Didier Drogba, Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard and Cesc Fabregas are all international stars who are idolised at their clubs. For these exceptional individuals accolades and praise are additionally forthcoming from the media and football pundits. A quick snapshot of the Premier League would reveal players not equally gifted but similarly admired by their respective fans. Lining up in a trusty 4-4-2 formation, below are eleven important league players who are rarely recipients of wider recognition. Fantasy football managers on a budget take note!
Goalkeeper
Matthew Gilks
If Chelsea’s weekend fixture against Blackpool could have resulted in a cricket score, the inability of the Londoners to add to their first half haul can be attributed to Gilks. The English stopper arrived at Bloomfield Road after being released by Norwich City in 2008. He had to battle for the first place spot initially but has made the position his own. He made a series of tremendous saves away to Newcastle, ranging from athletic punches to blocking shots with his feet.
Defence
Tony Hibbert
Hibbert is a lifelong Blue but has not always been a mainstay in Everton’s back four, often sidelined by the reliable Phil Neville. But given an extended run of games in the side, he displays his ability as a tough, uncompromising tackler who can venture forward.
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Scott Dann
Birmingham’s success last season was built on the foundations of a stern defensive line-up. The 23-year old was an important part of that robust defence alongside the likes of Roger Johnson and Stephen Carr. He assisted Cameron Jerome’s header and scored an unfortunate own goal at the weekend but is generally calm and comfortable in the air.
Aaron Hughes
Brede Hangeland frequently takes the plaudits in the Fulham defence but his towering presence disguises the consistent, invaluable work of Northern Ireland captain, Hughes. Having played the bulk of his career at Newcastle and experienced a brief stint at Villa Park, he has found his home at Craven Cottage. His composure and quality on the ball means this centre-back can play across the backline and in midfield.
Maynor Figueroa
The 27-year old Honduran left-back had been tipped to team up with his former manager, Steve Bruce at the Stadium of Light. Roberto Martinez has been understandably steadfast in the face of such transfer speculation, indicating his importance to the team. Wigan have leaked goals this season but Figueroa brings exceptional quality from free-kicks. His striking technique was recognised by all after he scored from his own half against Stoke last season.
Head to PAGE 2 for the midfield four…
Midfield
Lee Chung Yong
The South Korean has brought a dash of cosmopolitan air to the Reebok Stadium. He scored against Uruguay and Argentina in South Africa but this would not have astounded Bolton fans who have witnessed the winger’s elegance and skill on the ball. The ‘Blue Dragon’ scored five in 21 appearances last season and set up countless more goals. Bolton’s Player of the Year last season was devilishly effective from the right flank.
Chris Brunt
The Northern Ireland international was West Brom’s joint top scorer last season with 13 Championship goals. He caught the eye, however, in the previous season despite suffering relegation from the PL under Tony Mowbray. He was also top scorer that season with eight goals, improving his tally after moving to the right wing. Owner of a mighty left foot, Brunt has additionally operated in a more central position. Having won promotion to the PL for a second time with the Baggies, he was rewarded with a new contract this summer.
Steed Malbranque
The former Tottenham midfielder was disciplined by Steve Bruce last season after breaking a club curfew before a match at the Emirates. However speculation that the Frenchman could be leaving Wearside was wide of the mark considering his popularity amongst the crowd. He moved from the right to the left flank last term, proving a danger by cutting inside on his stronger foot. What he lacks in speed, he makes up for in work rate, determination and technique.
Clint Dempsey
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The attack minded midfielder has acknowledged his vertiginous ascent since joining Fulham in 2007. His goals and assists are attributable to his quick, elusive movement. He has excelled since Fulham’s relegation escape and scored with a sublime chip to earn the Cottagers a 5-4 aggregate victory over Juventus in the Europa League last season. He scored three in five internationally as the USA went to the final of the Confederations Cup in 2009. His single goal at the World Cup was more fortuitous.
Head to PAGE 3 for the deadly front two…
Forwards
Nikola Kalinic
A remarkable goal scoring record for Hadjuk Split led Slaven Bilic to describe Kalinic as, “the future of Croatian football.” That opinion may have seemed overstated after his first season at Ewood Park which brought a return of two goals in 14 PL starts. Since the new year he has appeared more confident, netting five in domestic cup competitions and utilising his height and skill to great effect. He displayed a typical striker’s instinct when he capitalised on Tim Howard’s inexplicable spill earlier this season.
Kevin Doyle
The arrival of Steven Fletcher at Molineaux means the Irish international, Doyle is no longer Wolves’ record signing. The former Reading man scored 13 top flight goals for the Royals in the 2006/07 season. Being one of their most dependable performers there were a host of clubs vying for his signature when the Berkshire club were reluctantly looking to offload the star forward. He was the Player’s Player of the Season at Wolves last term, finishing on nine PL goals. Despite being under 6ft tall, the Irish international is a handful in the air, has strength and can run with the ball. He recently scored with a spectacular left-footed effort for his country against Andorra.
For those people whose weekend revolves around the Premier League and whether it will bring adulation or dejection, a mistake from a referee doesn’t often hold the validity they seek for their disappointment. Question marks as to how he didn’t see it coupled with numerous expletives to describe the men in black are far more common than the acknowledgment he is only human and everyone makes mistakes.
But perhaps what is most frustrating for fans is the absence of an apology in the wake of injustice. After all, players who cost their team the game with an individual error or mangers that choose the wrong team or tactics are sometimes forced into a frank admission of their wrong-doings, so why should it be any different for referees?
Everton manager David Moyes recently expressed his wish for referees to become more accountable for mistakes after he was fined £8,000 as a direct result of his bad-tempered reaction to Martin Atkinson’s strangely time full time whistle. He said:
“I was wrong. I shouldn’t have run on the pitch. One of the things the referees have asked for is respect. They all wear a logo on their sleeves, the clubs do as well.
“But if they want that from the managers they have to earn it. You have to get that respect by picking up the phone and apologising at the right moments and if you do that then you start to gain respect.”
He certainly has a point. If referees were made to explain certain decisions in games then it would offer a brief reprieve from the immediate disappointment of seeing a game turned on its head due to poor officiating or wondering what might have been if their side had been awarded a cast iron penalty.
Perhaps referees should hold their own press conferences after matches like managers and certain players do after games instead of hiding behind the Football Association’s fines for anyone who dares to speak out against the officials. For this is simply a naïve denial of the call to apply common sense.
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Moyes’ frustration should not have been aired in the manner it was last week at Goodison, something which he himself has admitted since, but he did so with good reason. Everton had scored twice in injury time, so two extra 30 seconds should have been added to the three minutes signalled. Instead Atkinson blew during an incisive Everton break-away which could easily have resulted in a goal.
Unfortunately, his calls are likely to fall on deaf ears over protection of referees by the Football Association through their “Respect” campaign will continue when instead they should be addressing the fact referees are not answerable enough to their errors in arguably the world’s best league.
Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson has vowed to fight to keep hold of Fernando Torres should Manchester United come calling.
Wayne Rooney's wish to leave Old Trafford could result in the Red Devils entering the market to sign a top-quality replacement.
Rooney is unsettled at United and has signalled his intention not to sign a new contract.
That has led to suggestions that Torres could be a transfer target for Sir Alex Ferguson when the window reopens in January.
However, Hodgson insists Torres is going nowhere and has vowed to keep hold of one of his prize assets.
"I think I'd have to say we'd cross that bridge when we come to it," he said.
"I am pretty sure when a great player like Wayne Rooney is looking to leave his club, Manchester United will be in a position to target an awful lot of players around the world.
"I don't think Fernando Torres would be the only player they will be targeting or (we would be) the only club worried their star striker is going to be a target.
"They will have the opportunity to replace him with many star strikers around the world, so all I can say is I am not naive to the situation.
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"I am not naive enough to think there is no danger we will ever lose a player like Fernando Torres.
"I can only hope we won't and I will make certain I do everything in my power to keep him happy at the club, help him improve his current form and to get him playing for Liverpool as he has in the past."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Benoit Assou-Ekotto has given his perspective on the actions that Wayne Rooney undertook whilst his wife, Coleen, was pregnant as well as the culture that engulfs football. The Tottenham Hotspur left back has been quoted saying: “The tendency in football at the moment is that as long as you’re not a prostitute sha**er then it’s OK, it’s no big deal.” He further goes on to give an explicit statement concerning Rooney’s behaviour by stating: “Wayne’s not very well and it’s a dirty thing for his wife to know he had relations with a prostitute. He was seeing the same bird for seven months.” This interview was given to the French football magazine So Foot and came before Spurs played Manchester United at the weekend.
In Assou-Ekotto’s words can be seen the generalised depiction of football players’ mentalities, in that if you’re a football player you are someone important and justifiably so due to the large amount of money you earn. He goes on to depict the self-importance that football players give themselves by saying: “The whole problem with football players is that they really take themselves seriously. We kick a ball around and we earn 100,000, 200,000 or even 300,000 Euros a week. We don’t improve the world. It’s not like we invented hot water. We just kick a ball.”
Does Assou-Ekotto speak then for the majority of fans feelings towards players such as Rooney, who cut arrogant and pretentious figures? It’s a hard judgment to make without categorically and painstakingly questioning a vast amount of football fans. With this in mind we can still reason to the best of our ability and claim that Assou-Ekotto is probably voicing the assessment that the majority of people came to concerning Rooney. The fact that Coleen was pregnant is probably a further exacerbating factor that led to many people shaking their head in dismay and that Rooney had done such an act on a previous occasion. It also transcends the Rooney case and applies to the stereotype of professional football players, like any stereotype this is a negative one.
Assou-Ekotto isn’t shy in expressing his thoughts and is a rare voice in the football area, for he speaks honestly. Whether people condone what he expounds or not isn’t his concern, he merely states reality as he observes it. He understands that most people have to work hard to gain material possessions or a satisfactory level of comfort, whereas he doesn’t have to exact the same sort of energies. He recognises that by saying: “I was gifted at sports and quickly tried to find a cushy number. And today I have a great job. I work a maximum of two hours a day and I do it to make money, like anybody else in the world.” The difference is that his position is enviable and far more rewarding than many other peoples.
Assou-Ekotto prefers players such as Deco who have returned to their native countries, using their fame and fortune to help charities. The appeal of the glitz and glamour football lifestyle doesn’t appeal to him and he finds it hard to conceal his feelings for some of his fellow professionals. Some of his statements may seem brash, rude and audacious, but he acts as the whistleblower within the institution of football, giving us mere mortals the conformation that certain players need a reality check and thankfully they aren’t all alike. I agree with Assou-Ekotto’s sentiments and find it refreshing that a current player won’t hide his feelings merely to appease certain quarters. Sometimes he doesn’t profess his views as eloquently as he could, so as not to offend, but he is a football player after all and not a diplomat.
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Courtesy of Joe McHugh from his excellent Video Celts website
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News tonight that SPL referees are ready to take strike action has taken the crisis outwith Scotland.
The simmering feud that was opened up by the lies of Dougie Dougie at Tannadice on October 17 is now attracting attention from England and beyond.
Within an hour of the story breaking England captain Rio Ferdinand was asking on his twitter account what was behind the strike decision.
Fortunately for Rio and his Manchester United team-mates it will be UEFA that supply the officials for Wednesday’s Champions League tie with Rangers.
The story has largely been kept within Scotland’s borders but tonight Talk Sport decided to investigate and allowed Phil MacGiollabhain to contribute.
Tonight’s announcement highlights the complete lack of leadership and accountability that has been created within refereeing circles under Hugh Dallas.
With their vow of secrecy and honest mistakes get-out card Dallas has created a monster that acts as a law onto itself.
How long Stewart Regan will stay on as Chief Executive must be open for debate with governments in Hollywood and Westminster likely to be alarmed at the workings of an organisation that.
Blue chip sponsors such as Sky Sports, ESPN, Bank of Scotland and Adidas must be wondering why they are paying money to be associated with a daily shambles.
It’s a time for strong leadership and accountability in the Scottish game but with only the bungling figure of George Peat to turn to those notions can be dismissed.
REFEREEING TIMELINE
October 17: Dougie McDonald turns in an abysmal display at the Dundee United-Celtic match turning down at least three clear penalty claims. In one incident where he has a clear view of Gary Hooper being fouled he decides to blame assistant referee Steven Craven for the decision.
A can of worms is opened, the phrase Dougie Dougie is born and the SFA have been in retreat ever since
October 18: Hugh Dallas repeats lies to Radio Clyde about why the Hooper penalty was overturned
October 19: Hugh Dallas lies to Radio Scotland and the BBC website about the Hooper incident and claims that Neil Lennon was happy with the explanation he was given- the cover up version.
October 18: Another woeful performance in the Celtic-Rangers game from Willie Collum. Lowlights include bottling out of red carding Lee McCulloch for a second bookable offence and awarding a penalty for a dive by Kirk Broadfoot with his back to the incident.
October 29: Dougie Dougie is let off with a warning from his friends on the Referee Committee and retains the confidence and support of the SFA
October 31: Assistant referee Steven Craven reveals the true story of how Neil Lennon was lied to and Dougie Dougie’s cover up, he also makes bullying allegations against Hugh Dallas
November 1: Dougie Dougie tells the Daily Record, The Sun and the BBC website that it was all just a white lie, the sort that every parent makes up at Christmas time.
November 7: Newspaper allegations that Hugh Dallas sent out an offensive email linking the pope to child abuse on the day of the pope’s arrival in Scotland.
November 10: The SFA announce that they are to hold an internal enquiry into the email allegations.
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November 10: Dougie Dougie leaves a message on Neil Lennon’s phone on a match day and doesn’t bother to follow up. Still no apology for lieing to the Celtic manager
November 18: At the club AGM John Reid backs a request from a supporter that referees should declare their sporting allegiances, as they do in England. Reid also calls on the SFA to sack Dougie Dougie describing his position as untenable.
November 21: A newspaper claims that 80% of Scotland’s top referees failed to pass an exam based on the laws of the game
November 21: Referee’s announce their plans to call strike action for the weekend of November 28/29
Fraser Forster is in the dark about his future at Newcastle. The giant keeper is on loan until the end of the season but Newcastle have an option to recall him in January. Newcastle’s first choice keeper Steve Harper hasn’t played since September after injuring his shoulder but was back on the bench for the recent 3-1 win over Liverpool. Harper’s injury has given Tim Krul the chance to establish himself with new boss Alan Pardew vowing to stand by the young Dutch keeper. Pardew has said…
“Tim performed well for me against Liverpool and made a couple of crucial saves and he has the jersey,” Pardew admitted. That is how it will stay until such time as Steve (Harper) has a bit more under his belt and Tim’s form dips, but at the moment he is OK. The policy is players will be picked on their contribution and not on reputation. That has to be the policy, because if I was a player here that is what I would want to see.”
Harper’s recovery from injury should leave Pardew with enough cover to see out the remainder of the season. Forster spent last season on loan at Norwich and would rather stay at Celtic than go back to St James Park for a three way fight for one place in the team. Pardew hasn’t spoken to Forster yet but the big keeper is hoping to see out his season long loan in Glasgow. Forster has admitted that…
“I don’t know for sure what’s going to happen to me. It depends on whether there’s another injury to a Newcastle keeper. I haven’t spoken to the new manager. He will be busy enough down there without thinking about me. I’ll speak to him soon. It has been a strange few weeks at Newcastle but nothing surprises me about the club any more. They’ve had something like 10 managers in the past five years.
“Chris Hughton was superb as manager and Paul Barron was a great goalkeeping coach. I’m sure both will go on to do great things. I’m sure Pardew will also do well. He has brought in Andy Woodman as goalkeeping coach and I’ll be speaking to him too. I’ve met Andy before and he will have seen me play. He may have a say about my future. I’d definitely like to stay at Celtic until the end of the season. There’s nothing better than playing every week. I’m fairly happy with my form but it’s not really for me to say.”
Barring injury Forster will start the New Year in goal for Celtic against Rangers at Ibrox. The derby match is already looking like a defining moment for Celtic’s season. An unproven group of players have stuttered to three back-to-back home draws and face St Johnstone and Motherwell before their Ibrox test. Forster will be a vital player in Celtic’s immediate future, but where does his long-term future stand and will he return to Newcastle to fight for a starting spot at St James’ Park?
Article courtesy of Partner Site VideoCelts.com
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Thinking of backing Newcastle against Man City at 9/4?
With Edwin Van Der Sar set to retire at the end of the season and Tomasz Kuszczak having done little to cement his place in the Utd line-up when given the chance, Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has a very real dilemma on his hands about how to replace the outgoing Dutch stopper.
It’s fair to say Ferguson had a difficult time replacing Peter Schmeichel when he left the club in 1999 and it wasn’t until 2005 when Van Der Sar signed for the club that Ferguson had truly found an heir worthy of the number one jersey.
Ferguson, though, may have already replaced Van Der Sar with the signing of 26 year old Danish international Anders Lindegaard from Danish club Aalesund for a reported £4m, and he’ll become available to play for the club when the registration window reopens in January, having signed for the club in November.
Many people have cast aspersions on Lindegaard’s ability to succeed Van Der Sar, most notably Schmeichel himself, when the Great Dane opined: “We are talking about Manchester United here. You can look at talent, you can look at young good players (but) you don’t want that, you want someone who can go in straight away and give performances in 80 per cent of the games that the number one choice will play for Manchester United.
“Too many goalkeepers have been through, in and out of the doors at Manchester United, and the general perception is, for this team to play well and win trophies, that position has to be (filled by) someone who is of the very, very highest quality, but also the right experience.” Lindegaard it has to be said, does not fit the above description at the moment.
It is worth noting however, that very little has been seen of Lindegaard and although he is 26 years of age, that is a relatively young age for a goalkeeper and lest we forget, Peter Schemichel signed for the club in 1991 at the tender age of 28, so Lindegaard may yet be the one for the long haul, but the likelihood is that Ferguson will surely have to move for an experienced stopper in the summer and that Lindegaard is set to become the club’s new number two, taking that position over from the unsettled Tomas Kuszczak.
Julio Cesar would seem to fit the bill perfectly and at the age of 31, he is entering his peak years. Whether a deal for him could be done remains to be seen and looks doubtful at best in my opinion. Cesar is probably the second best keeper in the world at the moment, just behind Iker Casillas, and if Ferguson managed to pull off a move for the Brazilian international, it would represent the club’s first superstar signing for many a year.
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Another name to come into the mix has been Igor Akinfeev, but there have been question marks posed over his size, with the Russian standing at just over 6ft 1in, and it’s become clear over the years that Ferguson prefers his goalkeepers to be big, imposing figures at the back. Rene Adler and Michael Neuer at Leverkusen and Schalke respectively have also come into the mix, and at the ages of 25 and 24, they represent longer term solutions to the goalkeeping problem at Old Trafford.
If Ferguson does move for Cesar, now would be the time to strike, with the club in an apparent state of turmoil after the departure of former Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez and subsequent appointment of the inexperienced AC Milan legend Leonardo as their new head coach. They have failed to live up to the standards expected of them in both the league and in Europe this term and as a result Cesar may fancy a new challenge abroad.
Another potential spanner in the works is whether Ferguson will be given a transfer kitty capable of attracting the likes of Cesar to the club, with Man Utd’s transfer policy the last couple of seasons moving away from big money moves, instead choosing to focus on bringing the top young talent from around Europe.
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While most fans haven’t got on Ferguson’s back too much over the last few seasons about his relative prudence in the transfer market, there have been murmurings of discontent on the terraces about the club’s perceived lack of financial clout. A signing such as Cesar would do well to head off such unease and show that Utd are still a force in the transfer market, while also sending a signal across the bowls of neighbouring rivals City to show that the natural order of things around Manchester hasn’t changed just quite yet.
A good goalkeeper is the basis of any great side, and with Ferguson taking nearly 6 years to find a keeper’ capable of filling Schmeichel’s boots when he brought Van Der Sar to the club, he’d do well not to take nearly half as long this time and Cesar represents a bankable move for the wily old Scot and means that a vital position is tied down for a number of years.
There’s a school of thought bandied about that Ferguson would have ultimately failed as Utd manager if he doesn’t adequately replace his ageing squad with a new one capable of challenging at the very top, hence the club’s pursuit of top young talent the last few years, and that unless he replaces the likes of Scholes, Giggs and now Van Der Sar, then he’d have left the club in a transitional phase. Something tells me Ferguson won’t leave the club until he thinks it’s ready to move on with a new manager and a new generation of stars – a move for Julio Cesar could go some way to starting that new era.
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