The Round Football Column 09.05.06: 65th Edition
Posted by on 09.05.2006
England beating part-timers, the most crazy transfer deadline day in history, August’s player and goal of the month, plus more. One Click Away.
This week's column is dedicated to James Leeks (1984-2006)
Apparently life goes on. Apparently football goes on. Apparently………….
England win…………the media get carried away
England won!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They beat Andorra!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh, but wait……Andorra's population is less than the number of English people sat in Old Trafford on Saturday. Score.
Still, Stevie G was class and bagged a cracker…………
Defoe proved Sven right, in opposite land……………
Crouchy is still on track to be Bobby Charlton's kryptonite……………
Owen Hargreaves is still awesome……………….
Lennon is the super sub we have been craving…………….
And my mate is happy because I gave him an England shirt for free. It had "A.COLE 3" on the back, you see.
Transfer Deadline Day
Tevez and Mascherano. They are off to Arsenal, no wait, Man Utd, I'm sorry, Chelsea. To West Ham! Really?
Well, deal technicalities and future implications aside this was a huge day for West Ham United football club. Everyone is talking about Tevez, and I understand the fascination with the alleged superstar striker in the making because it is usually strikers that score the goals to win you football matches. However, Mascherano is the real coup. He is an extremely intelligent holding midfielder, and should supplement the ever improving, Nigel Reo Coker well. The game against Villa should be a great watch.
Elsewhere, the longest transfer saga in (perhaps) forever came to a head at 23.59 on August 31st, as Ashley Cole finally got his wish and joined Premiership champions, Chelsea. Because Arsenal screwed him over *cough* concerning the infamous meeting with Mourinho and Kenyon that was in no way his wrong doing *cough* Ashley Cole stood by his excellent principles *cough* and decided to turn on the club that gave him a career. As a player, I am not going to be the stereotypical partisan football fan and now say he is rubbish because he is a traitor, because he is the finest left back in world football for me, but as a person he needs to evaluate himself.
In return for Ashley Cole's departure, Arsenal received the excellent William Gallas (poor Senderos) and £5 million. With central defenders prime, historically later than attacking players, the deal is in no way as harsh to Arsenal as some have suggested.
An even slicker piece of business is that of the loan (but soon to be permanent) swap of Baptista and Reyes. Jose Antonio had some awesome moments at Arsenal, and back in his native Spain I think he has the potential to reproduce his electric form of 2004, but he was whinging like crazy and had to go. However, as with Cole, Wenger needed to get a healthy slice of any deal and along with Gallas, has welcomed Julio Baptista to the Emirates. He was played out of position at Madrid last term, and subsequently looked woeful in spells, but if he can reproduce his unplayable Sevilla form we could witness a special talent emerging in the Premiership this season.
Because of those deals, the signing of Brazil's under-19 captain, Denilson, slipped under the radar. However, reports from South America suggest that Wenger has made yet another magnificent coup, and unlike his undisciplined namesake, Denilson has the credentials to go straight to the top.
Oh, and Villarreal actually paid Arsenal £2 million for Pascal Cygan. Arsenal didn't pay them. Villarreal paid Arsenal that sum. David Dein hasn't stopped laughing since. Deal of the day, bar none.
Malbranque went to Spurs. He won't play until November though. Funny.
Chimbonda also signed for Spurs, which was annoying because he is classy and will fill the void left in a Tottenham starting eleven that was crying out for a good full back.
Roy Keane tried to buy every player he ever played with or against in his career.
August Player of the Month
03 - Jimmy Bullard 02 - Michael Essien 01 - Kanu
Bullard has been the only reason why Fulham haven't been propping up the table, Essien is making the headline making Ballack and Lamps pairing look ridiculously overrated before it's even gained wheels, and Kanu has been a revelation under Harry Redknapp.
August Goal of the Month
03 - Kanu (2) vs. Boro 02 - Drogba vs. Man City 01 - Agger vs. West Ham
Some deceptive pace, great strength and a sublime dink finish made Kanu look like a born again superstar at the Riverside, whilst Drogba finished off the move of the season so far with a great header, and Agger hit a shot I doubt will be matched all season.
Football Rules………but what actually happened last week?
A load of international matches, for which I struggled to produce much genuine enthusiasm for. That's what happened.
I feel I must elaborate somewhat however, so in brief:
Scotland crushed the mighty Faroe Islands 6-zip, in their opening Euro 2008 qualifier.
The newly crowned World Champions could only manager a paltry point at home to Lithuania, whilst beaten finalists, France, opened their account in the stupidly tough group B, with an underrated 3-0 win away to Georgia.
Wales, no thanks to Craig "I'm world class, I promise" Bellamy, were left empty handed after a tough trip to the Czech Republic.
Meanwhile, Ireland were also left crushed after a valiant effort in Germany. A deflected Lukas Podolski free kick gave the home side a vital opening match win, in yet another bizarrely tough group.
Brazil and Argentina met at the spanky new Emirates Stadium in London, and aside from the over usage of substitutes it was a decent contest. Messi has obviously been brought up to hate Brazil, because unlike many of his team-mates including the incredibly sub par Riquelme, the Barca starlet was all over the place. His performance wasn't as magical as one would hope to see, but his hunger was extremely admirable. As for Brazil, well Elano looks like a star in the making and Kaka's goal was one of the finest I have seen all year.
Top 5 Moments of the week
05 - Roy Keane trying to buy a new squad in one day. 04 - Hargreaves' pretty drive from thirty yards that met the right post. 03 - Gerrard's thunder strike from ten yards. 02 - Kaka's goal against Argentina. 01 - West Ham stepping up with the big boys.
Next Week's Match Predictions
Premiership
Saturday September 9th
Arsenal v Middlesbrough 2-1
Bolton v Watford 1-2
Chelsea v Charlton 4-0
Everton v Liverpool 1-2
Man Utd v Tottenham 3-1
Newcastle v Fulham 2-0
Portsmouth v Wigan 2-0
Sheffield Utd v Blackburn 2-1
