All posts by h79snht.top

We all know the big names in football, the Messis, the Ronaldos, the Beckhams and the Shaabans. Wait a minute, sorry who? Rami Shaaban, the former Arsenal goalkeeper? Never heard of him? Well don’t worry because here is an A-Z of footballers you never even knew existed until now. Serious tekkers if you did though. (Note: To qualify for a Randomness Rating, said player must have appeared for the club.)

A – Arphexad, Pegguy – Won 6 major honours by sitting on Liverpool’s and Leicester’s substitute’s bench. 9 different clubs, 40 appearances. Randomness Rating: 4/10

B – Bischoff, Amaury – Signed by Wenger as a talented youngster in the mould of Fabregas etc, but ended up making just a single appearance. Shows Wenger doesn’t always get it right. Randomness Rating: 7/10

C – Cordone, Daniel – £500k he cost Newcastle, but in the end just became one of  many useless strikers signed to partner Alan Shearer. Shame they didn’t play 4-5-1 back then. Randomness Rating: 6/10

D – Donk, Ryan – Shockingly badly West Brom defender. Whatever you do, don’t put a donk on it when it involves Ryan. Randomness Rating: 7/10

E – Espinoza, Geovanny – Signed for Birmingham in 2009, made 2 League Cup appearances, then had his contract cancelled by mutual consent. Hapless. Randomness Rating: 8/10

F – Fumica – Another entry for Newcastle United, who pulled this Brazilian out of the bag after seeing rivals Middlesbrough’s Samba Star. Juninho he was not. Randomness Rating: 9/10

G – Gekas, Theofanis – For a man who smashes them in for Greece at international level, he disappointed somewhat when on loan at Portsmouth. One solitary appearance to his name. Randomness Rating: 6/10

H – Hay, Danny – Nobody thinks of New Zealanders as good footballers, but Leeds took a punt on centre-back Danny Hay. He played four times…Randomness Rating: 6/10

I – Inamoto, Junichi – A hero in Japan, a nobody in England. Less-than average stays at Arsenal, Fulham and West Brom. Randomness Rating 4/10

J – Jardel, Mario – Smashed in goals galore all over Europe, so when he joined Bolton in 2003, it appeared Big Sam had pulled out a massive coup. Left after just 7 appearances due to homesickness. Randomness Rating: 2/10

K – Katan, Yaniv – When a striker can’t beat Marlon Harewood for a first team spot, you know they’re just plain shit. Six extremely forgettable appearances in 2006 for West Ham before being shipped back into the wilderness. Randomness Rating: 10/10

L – Laslandes, Lilian – 7 caps for France, 3 goals. 12 appearances for Sunderland, 0 goals. Terrific French striker. Randomness Rating: 4/10

M – Manucho – Fergie doesn’t get many wrong but not sure this Angolan striker was ever going to worry his Premier League rivals. Couldn’t even make the Hull team whilst on loan there. Randomness Rating: 2/10

N – Negouai, Christian – Remember the days when Manchester City couldn’t afford to buy everyone on the planet? Well this is what they ended up with. 6 appearances in 4 years. Randomness Rating: 9/10

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O – Olisadebe, Emmanuel – The Nigerian-born Polish striker who discovered he had a heart defunct and could no longer play. Portsmouth still gave him 2 appearances in 2005/06 though. Randomness Rating: 5/10

P – Prica, Rade – A Roy Keane move this one, essentially proving why Keane is so well renowned for wasting his chairman’s money. He has won three different Scandinavian Championships though. Randomness Rating: 7/10

Q – Quaresma, Ricardo – The other Portuguese wizard of the dribble has played for top clubs all over Europe. But he was anonymous when on loan at Chelsea. Randomness Rating: 1/10

R – Rankin, Isaiah – Bradford City paid £1.3million for him to spearhead their Premiership strikeforce. Probably why they’re languishing around at the bottom of League 2 then. Randomness Rating: 8/10

S – Sava, Facundo – ‘The ma with the mask’ produced a famous Zorro celebration every time he scored. Unfortunately for Fulham fans, that just wasn’t enough. Randomness Rating: 6/10

T – Toda, Kazuyuki – Spurs went all Japanese for a season in an attempt to corner the Asian market for merchandising. No Park Ji-Sung though. Randomness Rating: 8/10

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U – Unsal, Hakan – Blackburn must have thought buying a Turkish defender who reached the World Cup semi-final would tighten their defence up considerably. It didn’t. Randomness Rating: 4/10

V – Vaz Te, Ricardo – 7 years at Bolton, just 58 appearances. The Portuguese striker was signed a wonderkid, but left as nobody. Did score for Barnsley last week though. Randomness Rating 5/10

W – Wapennaar, Harold – It’s no wonder Portsmouth are in dire financial straits given how many random signings they made during their stay in the Premiership. This Dutch goalkeeper made just 5 appearances. Randomness Rating: 8/10

X – Xisco – Another Newcastle blunder, they should stay well away from buying foreign stars. And this one cost £6million. Randomness Rating: 6/10

Y – Yordi – A journeyman Spanish striker was never going to fit the bill in the Premiership. Shipped in and shipped out. Randomness Rating: 7/10

Z – Zuniga, Ysrael – The second best Peruvian to play in the Premiership behind Nolberto Solano turned out for Coventry City. However, only 2 Peruvians have ever played in this division. Randomness Rating: 9/10

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Newcastle striker Demba Ba has quashed rumours that he is eager to leave the club, stating that stories that he may be on the move are mere media speculation.

The Senegalese forward has been in blistering form this season, and scored his 16th Premier League goal of the campaign against Aston Villa on Sunday.

Despite rumours stating that he has a £7 million release clause in his contract and that a number of leading sides are pursuing the African hitman, Ba has spoke of his intention to stay with the Tyneside outfit.

“I never talked to anyone to say I wanted to leave,” Ba told The Telegraph.

“I was just listening to people saying or writing he’s going there, he’s going there, he’s going there, and I had a big smile on my face.

“It was funny to me. The most important thing is being happy with your football and I am happy here,” he commented.

Ba reportedly turned down the legendary Newcastle No 9 jersey, but has confirmed it was because he wanted to keep his own number, and that new signing and countryman Papiss Cisse is welcome to it.

“I always said that I wanted to keep my number [19]. I always said that if someone comes in and you want to give him No 9, don’t even ask me – just give it to him if he wants it.

“He [Alan Pardew] asked me if I didn’t mind it going to him [Cisse]. I said just give it to him if it helps to sign him.

“I have told him everything about the No 9 shirt, but I have also said it is just a number. He is a very quiet guy. All the fuss and hype with not affect him,” Ba confessed.

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Newcastle are currently fifth in the Premier League standings and face Tottenham at White Hart Lane on Saturday.

By Gareth McKnight

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Normally, these type of pieces are where supporters pick the world’s best players as the ones that their club should sign, but lets face it, Chelsea aren’t going to get Messi or Ronaldo to Stamford Bridge. So I did the thing that the past six Chelsea managers didn’t and chose a right back and in particular, Dani Alves.

For years the position has been Chelsea’s downfall and year after year a suitable replacement hasn’t been found, with poor old Bransilav Ivanovic being moved out of his position of centre-half and forced to ‘become’ a right-back who if you watch closely, his positioning isn’t that great and the better teams do find him out, (Chelsea vs. Manchester United Champions League 1/4 final first leg). That’s nothing against Ivanovic as a player, personally I think he has been out of the better players in the team so far this season, but surely he is better suited to play centre-half allowing David Luiz to move into midfield?

It’s hard to criticise Alves for his performances since he joined Barcelona in 2008 for around 30 million Euros, his attacking prowess is vital to Barcelona’s style of play and along with the left back becomes an extra man in midfield to help continue the endless flow of passing that graces the Nou Camp pitch. But when the pressure is on Barcelona and teams are attacking, you can be sure Alves is there and you can trust me to get the job done.

People often claim that Alves would not be able to cope with the defensive mind needed to play in the Premier League, but if you look at his record, it’s hard to provide any evidence to suggest anything other than success. At Sevilla, he won the Uefa Cup twice, the Copa Del Ray and the Spanish Super Cup before moving to Barcelona where he has won La Liga three times, the Champions League twice, one Copa Del Ray, three more Spanish Super Cup’s, two Uefa Super Cups and two FIFA cup world cups, surely the only thing missing is a Premier League title?

He has only been first choice right back for a lot of football critics and pundits for the past five years, being selected in the Uefa team of the year twice, the FIFPro World XI twice, the European Sports Media’s team of the year four times and been voted La Liga’s best defender and the player of the tournament for the Uefa Cup. You don’t win a selection of trophies this vast if you aren’t a capable defender.

 Think Chelsea should sign somebody else or a different right back? Tweet me your ideas @deanmears.

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Whoever the New England manager proves to be and whatever squad he subsequently picks will play a hugely significant part in Stuart Pearce’s Team GB squad for the London Olympic Games that begin just 23 days after the Euros have concluded. With Team GB meeting up around two weeks before the opening game of the Olympics, that could leave a player with one weeks holiday throughout the whole summer if he is selected in both squads.

Even if a player does not feature heavily at the Euro’s they still shouldn’t be selected for the Olympics as playing football for 51 of the 52 weeks in a year is too much. So I have drawn up my side for the opening Team GB game at the Olympics and have taken all things into account.

The squad as a whole must have no more than three players over the age of 23 and can currently be selected from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland but politics may mean that changes nearer to the date. So here is my Team GB starting 11.

Click on Aaron Ramsey below to unveil the Olympic XI

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Didier Drogba has backed Fernando Torres to lead the Chelsea attack next season, after confirming that he will be leaving the west London club.

The Ivory Coast international scored the equaliser in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich last Saturday, before slotting home the winning penalty in the shoot-out to see Roberto Di Matteo’s men as European champions.

However, with his contract expiring Drogba has confirmed he will be leaving Stamford Bridge, but feels Torres will be a worthy successor.

“It’s been difficult for him, but he has showed he is the man,” Drogba told reporters, published by Sky Sports.

“Next season is going to be his season and I will try to speak to him. We have a good relationship. We don’t understand why we didn’t play together more, but that’s the past. Torres is the future.”

The African marksman went on to admit that he is happy to have won everything there is to win with Chelsea and will leave on a high.

“I think winning the game was the key. Not me scoring the penalty. Winning the game was the turning point, that’s why I have decided to say goodbye.

“We made the story together and I want people to remember that. This is the best time to move on.

“Yes, there’s a chance that if the result was different, maybe I would be here.

“We were talking for many weeks, but the turning point was based on the fact I won everything I could and scored in most of the finals we have played, trying to make a difference. I hope everyone will understand. Everything I did was for the fans and I hope they understand,” he concluded.

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Drogba is expected to move to big-spending Chinese Super League club Shanghai Shenhua, but as yet this has not been confirmed.

By Gareth McKnight

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Liverpool return to Wembley for the 3rd time this season as Kenny Dalglish’s men looking to complete the domestic cup, should they be able to beat Chelsea this coming weekend. Gary McAllister believes that Steven Gerrard could be the key behind them achieving a result, given his influence over the rest of the team.

“Well, obviously I am a bit biased, but I think the influence that Steven Gerrard has on the game is always big for Liverpool. Generally, when he plays well and is influential then Liverpool win. I think he is very key to Liverpool. He has helped win an FA Cup final for them in the past, against West Ham in 2006.

“So Gerrard is very big for Liverpool, but their maverick forward Luis Suarez is very exciting. He is a player who can frustrate at times, as he can give the ball away too easily, but then at other times he is sublime. When it’s a cup-tie football and it’s tight, you just need someone with that little bit of inspiration and magic, and he can produce that.

“Defensively I don’t think Liverpool have had much of a problem this season. Their goals against is as good as anybody in the league. But they have had a problem scoring goals.

“I’ve been at Anfield a few times this season, and I have watched a lot of draws there against lesser teams. Against the bigger teams motivation hasn’t been a problem, they can always raise their game. But the problem has been against the so-called lesser teams. I think in perhaps three of the five draws I have seen at Anfield this season the opposition goalkeeper has won Man of the Match, so that tells you something right away.”

For more insight from Gary McAllister and other leading managers plus exclusive Barclays Premier League highlights go to www.yahoo.co.uk/sport

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Michael Laudrup is thought to be the frontrunner for the vacant Swansea manager’s job, and will be unveiled later this week according to Sky Sports.

The Welsh side are looking for a new boss after Brendan Rodgers departed the Liberty Stadium to take over at Liverpool.

Wigan assistant Graeme Jones was initially the favourite to get the job, but talks with the Latics man broke down.

Since then the likes of Gus Poyet and Ian Holloway have been speculated as potential candidates, whilst it is believed that Marcel Desailly turned the job down.

However, Laudrup has met with the Premier League side and is now thought to be closing in on the role, with no other real contenders in the mix.

The Dane, who played for both Barcelona and Real Madrid in an illustrious playing career, has coached Getafe and Mallorca in La Liga and is set to be named Swans boss this week.

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By Gareth McKnight

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With English football in a state of reflection after yet another unconvincing tournament, a lot has been said within the press that this country should perhaps look to the German set-up as a blueprint to go forward.

Dietmar Hamann believes that 2004 was the turning point for German football in giving youth the chance in the national team for the greater good in building a team for the future:

“I think they changed a lot with the youth development; they put centres of excellence in place where they observed the best players from every region and I believe it was a highly successful structure to have. As a result we produced a host of younger players over the coming years that are still playing today and are the spine of the team. I think this was definitely a change for the better which put German football back on the map.”

Hamann does wonder if there is enough experience in the squad in order to go all the way, but feels only time will tell:

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“Yes, I think so. There are only one or two players in the squad that are over 30 years old and they are forwards, such as Miroslav Klose and you need that mix in a team. Having said that a lot of players come from Bayern Munich and they’ve played in Champions League final, World Cup Semi final and European Championship finals so they are very experienced. Nevertheless you do wonder if it comes to the semi final/final whether they have enough experienced players to change the result from two and four years ago. There have been a few near misses in recent tournaments and psychologically that can play on your mind.”

“For more insight from Dietmar Hamann and other leading managers plus all the coverage of Euro 2012 go to yahoo.eurosport.com”

Brendan Rodgers’ transfer activity hasn’t quite been the immediate catalyst for a reinvigorated fan base that many thought it would be. Then again, there hasn’t been much value in the market and without shifting certain players first it seems unlikely that Liverpool will be spending big any time soon. However, one move that the former Swansea boss does appear to be keen on is Theo Walcott.

The subject of praise and scorn in equal measure, Walcott is not to everyone’s taste. Nevertheless, Liverpool fans should not dismiss the proposed move out of hand. The possibility of a transfer was mooted as far back as March when Kenny Daglish had apparently earmarked the winger as a potential signing for the summer. The Glaswegian may not have made it that far himself but the sentiment seems to have lingered at Anfield.

Walcott is a self-confessed Liverpool fan from his youth. A real one it should be added, not like Robbie Keane who simply masqueraded in a mock children’s bedroom in a Sky Sports studio like some obsessive compulsive stalker because a producer thought it might endear him to the Liverpool fans in spite of his obvious lack of talent. No, Walcott really has been a Liverpool supporter all his life, and has mentioned the appeal of one day playing for the club.

The passing football Swansea played last season may have revolved around the efforts of midfielders like Joe Allen, Leon Britton and Gylfi Sigurdsson but equally important to the success of that style of football were the performances of Nathan Dyer and Scott Sinclair.

Throughout the season Swansea used the pace of Dyer and Sinclair to stretch opposition defences. Liverpool lacks a winger in this model. Only Raheem Sterling is of a similar ilk and he is, so far, unproven at the highest level. Suarez and Downing can both play out wide yet neither possess the pace to compete with a player like Walcott.

Moreover, whilst many Liverpool fans will doubt Walcott’s ability, Rodgers may be able to bring the best out of him. He helped to develop Sinclair and Dyer in to an incredibly effective pair; between them they scored or assisted 19 goals in the Premier League last season. That equates to 43% of all of Swansea’s league goals last season. Not bad for two wingers playing for a newly promoted side.

It would be foolhardy to suggest that Rodgers would be better at nurturing talent than Wenger but it is hard to deny that Walcott may need a change of scenery in order to realise his potential. Liverpool could be the challenge that helps him grow as player, just as moving to Man City helped Clichy to develop.

You also need to look at it from Walcott’s point of view. Considering his rate of progression, Walcott could reasonably expect to be usurped by Oxlade-Chamberlain this season. It is far from a certainty but will Theo want to sign a new long-term contract when he cannot be sure that he has a starting place at Arsenal in the long term?

The squad for the 2014 World Cup will be decided over the next two seasons and if Walcott cannot guarantee a starting place at his club it seems unlikely that he would be able to for his country. He has already missed one World Cup, he will have that in the back of his mind when deciding his future at Arsenal. Should he decide to leave, Liverpool could offer him a place in the starting eleven with a manager who is known to covet players of his style.

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For now, Walcott is an Arsenal player. To suggest, however, that a move to Liverpool could be a good idea for all parties is not unreasonable. Arsenal may prefer a more consistent player, Liverpool need to inject some pace in to their squad and can be reassured by Walcott’s statistics from last season (11 goals and 12 assists) and Walcott can find the assurances on his future that he may want in light of Arsenal’s glut of forwards.

Follow Hamish on Twitter @H_Mackay

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Everton have jumped to the front of the queue to sign Caen prospect M’Baye Niang, according to the Guardian.

The 17-year-old striker has impressed for the French team and has been linked with a move to a raft of big European clubs.

Arsenal took the teenager on loan earlier this summer, whilst Manchester City, Tottenham and AC Milan are all thought to be keen to sign the attacker.

However, Niang is set to have a trial at the Goodison Park club and will spend a couple of days training with the Merseyside club so David Moyes can run his eye over the potential signing.

Caen are thought to be eager to recoup around £5 million for Niang, and the Toffees will reinvest some of Jack Rodwell’s transfer fee to bring the forward to England should he impress on trial.

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By Gareth McKnight

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