Friday, May 30, 2008
Premiership Transfer Window Review - Part One
...e best position to be in when trying to attract new players but with goals in short supply, two new attacking options arrived in January.
Striker Chris Sutton arrived on a free transfer from Celtic after scoring 63 goals in 130 league appearances and Brentfords DJ Campbell, 24, signed for 500,000. Campbell may be an unknown quantity for top flight defences but his two goal salvo which dumped Sunderland out of the FA Cup will send out a warning to Premiership managers.
The bookmakers are not convinced Steve Bruces side are relegation fodder just yet, at 4/6 to stay up or 5/4 to go down.
Blackburn Rovers
Rovers may be out of both Cups but are making good progress in the league under manager Mark Hughes. Unbeaten in their last six matches and sitting in eighth position is marked improvement from last seasons flirt with relegation.
Arsenal striker David Bentley made his loan move a permanent transfer and scored a hat-trick in the 4-3 win against Manchester United on February 1. Rovers also boosted their bid for a UEFA Cup place with the loan signing of Liverpool striker Florent Sinama Pongolle and Martin Olsson from Hogaborgs for a nominal fee.
Bolton Wanderers
There wasnt much evidence of the usual wheeling and dealing at the reebok Stadium with only Matt Jansens free transfer arrival from Blackburn. Despite losing five players to African Cup duty, manager Sam Allardyce has kept faith with his current squad.
January has seen more interest in Big Sams future at th...more
Those Crazy Football Rules
... years of the Korean War. When I was there, the losses were lower than before I got there and after I left.)
The above is called by football commentators a sidelight. I don't like sideline sob stories (or human interest stories) while watching television football any more than you liked the above sidelight.
Anyway, my wife has taken up football. After resisting for 70 years she finally gave in. She cant believe that she now likes football. What I mean is: She has not suited up yet. She likes to watch it on television. Therefore we now talk about the game.
Im usually reading a book or doing a logic puzzle during the game, but she gives it her full attention and she gives me a steady stream of chatter that actually gets me interested in the game.
Today she asked me about penalties and how they are applied. The penalty she was talking about was when Seattle had carolina on the one yard line. It was a 5-yard procedural penalty. That meant the ball would be put half the distance to the goal. I said, I think that should be an automatic safety. The ball should be placed on the minus 4-yard line. Now I know...more
The Direct TV Versus Dish Network Dilemma
...onal flavor, then the Dish Network would be your best bet. They have networks available in foreign markets that are broadcast in a variety of languages. So if you have transplanted yourself in the United States from somewhere else, chances are you might be able to catch the news and other shows from your homeland. Direct TV does have some foreign programming, mostly on the movie channels, but not the scope that the Dish Network offers.
Now, Directv subscribers have a plethora of options when it comes to American sports. Football, baseball, hockey, NASCAR ... these are important to sports fans. When the major sports have play-offs like the NFL or NBA, you can count on those rabid sports fans purchasing a 'pass' which buys a whole block of games. The Dish...more
Premiership Transfer Window Review - Part Two
...David Walker continues his review of the January transfer window and how the moves will impact each teams success, or survival at the end of the 2005/06 season.
Everton
After spending the early part of the season facing a relegation battle the only reinforcements came in the form of Alan Stubbs, joining from Sunderland for his second spell at the club.
Two players have left the club Marcus Bent to Charlton and Per Kroldrup to Fiorentina. The Danish defender arrived in a 5 million switch from Udinese but returned to Italy for substantially less after making just one league appearance.
At 10 points clear, Everton look safe from the drop but you may be tempted by the 33/1 relegation odds.
Fulham
Fulham are battling against relegation and have made five new signings. Goalkeepers Tony Warner and Antti Niemi joined from Cardiff and Southampton respectively while New Zealand international Simon Elliott arrived from Columbus Crew. Defender Wayne Bridge and midfielder Michael Brown joined from Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur on loan.
Without an away win all season, Fulhams strength and key to survival lies in their form ...more
