winningiseverything Premiership round-up
February 4, 2008
The results are in for the weekends matches, the Premiership finished with for another week.
The big winners this weekend were those at the wrong end of the table really. Fulham, Wigan and Bolton all won their respective games against Villa (2-1), West Ham (1-0) and Reading (2-0) to leave Derby further adrift at the bottom and some worried faces at clubs such as Reading (who are in free-fall), Sunderland and Birmingham.
Arguably anyone up to Tottenham are still in the relegation fight, but with Spurs having an upturn in fortunes and a scoring record the envy of many European contenders they will be fine. After their perhaps surprising 1-1 draw with champions Manchester United they will be looking to move onward and upward toward top-half status.
Newcastle and Middlesbrough played out a dull 1-1 draw as did Derby and Birmingham.
Jermain Defoe will be pleased with his weekends work, as he scored on his debut for Portsmouth against Chelsea to push the London club further behind the leaders.
Speaking of which, Arsenal maintained their excellent form this season with a 3-1 win at Manchester City, with two goals form the superb Adebayor. Wenger just seems to have a knack of selling players when he sees that they are holding up the progression of others. He did it with Viera to allow Fabregas to progress and now he has done it this season, letting Henry go to give Adebayor room to shine. As for Manchester City, they suffered their first home defeat this season and will be hoping that the Benjani deal goes through so that they have a striker that can actually score.
European contenders Blackburn and Everton played out a 0-0 draw at Ewood, but the Toffees will be disappointed that Andy Johnson’s goal in the second half was ruled out by the officials.
Finally, Liverpool recaptured some form as they beat Sunderland 3-0 at home. With their game in hand they may now feel a little more confident for that fourth spot.
Late deals
February 1, 2008
A few late deals from the Premiership last night including a right balls up from the blue half of Manchester.
First off, strugglers Fulham signed some experience for the run-in including former Liverpool forward Jari Litmanen and defender Toni Kallio. Both feature from manager Roy Hodgson’s past, having played for him in the Finnish national side. Litmanen is initially on trial, but arrives on a free anyway, while Kallio joins from Swiss side BSC Young Boys. Stalteri also joins from neighbors Tottenham on loan until the end of the season. I make this 7 signings for Fulham in this window.
Middlesbrough broke their club transfer record signing Brazilian striker Afonso Alves from Dutch club Heerenveen. The fee is thought to be in excess of £10m, with Alves putting his name on the dotted line of a four-and-a-half year deal. He comes with the reputation of being very prolific in front of goal with an especially impressive record at former club Malmo of 45 goals in 38 games. Middlesbrough will be hoping he came recapture that sort of form as they try to avoid relegation.
Everton let defender Alan Stubbs go to Derby for some first team football and then brought in some cover for their impressive defence signing Anthony Gardner on loan from Tottenham for the rest of the season.
Speaking of Tottenham, they completed another defensive signing, with Gilberto signing from Hertha Berlin. The Brazilian left-back joins for £1.9m after medical complications were ironed out yesterday.
And finally to the City/Portsmouth saga. Portsmouth captured Defoe from Spurs for an undisclosed fee with Harry especially happy at the capture. However, the deal may have been pushed through because of the transfer of Benjani to Manchester City thought to have been a done deal, for a figure thought to be around £9m. Complications have been forthcoming with City possibly not putting through the papers for the deal before the deadline thanks to the late appearance of Benjani at the club at around 11.15pm last night. Manager Sven-Goran Eriksson was trying to get the deal complete, or at least find out if it would be, until 1am but the matter remains unresolved.
It’s not all bad news for City though as they completed the capture of Ecuador international striker Felipe Caicedo from FC Basel for a fee thought to be around £5m. Caicedo is 19 and signs a four-and-a-half-year deal at Eastlands. They also signed Filippo Mancini, 17, the son of Inter Milan boss Roberto.
Stay tuned to “winning is everything” for further developments in the Benjani saga.
Defoe & Benjani deals
January 31, 2008
“winning is everything” has heard numerous reports that Portsmouth have agreed a fee for Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe. Defoe, 25, has had limited appearances, mostly from the bench. His contract expires at the end of next season so this seems like the right time for Spurs to sell him to avoid a freebie.
With Defoe not in the England picture, most likely due to inactivity, this seems like a decent move for the former West Ham striker.
This move may pave the way for the possibility of Benjani going off to Man City as rumored with a striking replacement now ready and able. Benjani was having a medical in Manchester earlier today, according to reports.
winningiseverything Premiership round-up
January 31, 2008
Interesting evening in the Premiership last night.
United dominated Portsmouth in their 2-0 victory at Old Trafford with a double from that boy Ronaldo (again!) leaving him with a Premiership tally of 19 so far this season. His first came after a neat one-two with Nani on the left hand side, coolly slotting home through David James’ legs. And if the keeper could do little about the first, he had no chance with the second, a rifle of a free-kick that pundits described as the best the Premiership has seen. Add to that Portsmouth’s inability to create any chances and the match was done and dusted.
West Ham gained a fantastic 3 points over Liverpool at Upton Park after a last minute penalty by Mark Noble. West Ham probably deserved the victory, which leaves Liverpool struggling to keep up in the race for fourth.
Derby actually managed to get a point at home to Manchester City, a result which would not have been predicted before-hand. Darius Vassell should have scored at least once in the first half and Derby made him pay, the Rams improving towards the break. Soon after half-time Rob Earnshaw’s shot hit the post before Sun Jihai deflected Kenny Miller’s shot in for an own goal in the 47th minute. Debutant Daniel Sturridge converted Martin Petrov’s cross to level but neither team could fashion a winner despite late City pressure.
Everton and Tottenham fashioned a dour 0-0, but this may not upset either team that much. Tottenham kept a clean sheet(!) and Everton secured their fourth spot. With Liverpool slipping up this wasn’t that bad a result for either team.
Ballons Balls Up City’s Cup Hopes
January 29, 2008
As we know it was an eventful weekend in the F.A. Cup Havant & Waterlooville taking the lead twice at Anfield and a couple of upsets seeing Premierships sides dumped out by lower league opposition. On Sunday there was one of the upsets when Manchester City went out of the Cup to Championship Sheffield United. Bryan Robson’s side were helped to a 2-1 victory in the first half by Manchester City’s own fans when their balloons which had made their way onto the pitch caused Micheal Ball to miss a clearance.
As the ball skipped across the pitch it hit two ballons causing the ball to bobble on an already poor pitch, City left back Ball took an air shot missing the the ball, waiting behind Ball was United striker Luton Shelton who dispatched the ball past Joe Hart in City’s goal.
Jon Stead doubled the lead and United held on in the second half after sub Danny Sturridge grabbed a goal back for the away side.
Bianchi hates Manchester, well maybe not, but he does love the colour light blue
January 24, 2008
Rolando Bianchi has joined Lazio on loan from Manchester City until the end of the season with a view to a permanent move.
And I’m sure City fans are devastated 
. How many goals did he score this season?? 5 was it?? For a striker who cost practically £9m from Reggina they sure didn’t get their moneys worth.
Mind you this kind of thing happens quite frequently and maybe I’m being a little too harsh on the lad. 24 and in a new country, with a different lifestyle, invasive press and a boss having second thoughts can’t be easy to deal with. I mean if Vassell was a choice ahead of me I would probably move back home.
Supposedly City will also be able to get their money back in the summer which is pretty good business so well done to them. Can’t be too long now before Bojinov is back and if I’m not mistaken he’s pretty darn good. Despite that I still think that they’ll do well to in the European qualification places, just my two cents (or at least it would be were I not English).
Micah Richards is a Soulja Boy
January 22, 2008
Cranking it up Manchester City defender Micah Richards, he’s learned the dance, he should be learning how to defend a little better.
