Blog Entries

Balotelli faces early issues

thomas.rooney@ics-sport.com — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100

Manchester City's new signing Mario Balotelli will have to wait to show off his talents after being ruled out for six weeks with a knee injury. The Italian striker picked up the knock during his goal-scoring debut against Timisoara in the Europa League. The 20-year-old aggravated the injury in training and has been forced to have surgery in a bid to clear up the problem.

After such a drawn out transfer saga, the Eastland's faithful would have been eager to see what all the fuss was about when [...]

Benjani willing to fight at Rovers

stef.oates@omruk.co.uk — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100

Blackburn Rovers striker Benjani wants to repay Sam Allardyce's faith in him and fire the goals to help propel his new side up the Premier League table this season.

The 32-year-old Zimbabwe international has struggled to get first team football of any kind over the last two seasons, with only 26 appearances during that period.

After showing goalscoring form at Portsmouth he was snapped up by Manchester City, but a combination of bad luck with injuries and also the Eastlands' club's big [...]

Charles N'Zogbia is stuck with Wigan

thomas.rooney@infinitepath.co.uk — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100

Charles N'Zogbia will have learned a valuable lesson during this transfer window. Never mouth off about your team unless you're absolutely certain of a move. With a proposed transfer to Birmingham falling through at the final stage, N'Zogbia now faces the prospect of spending at least the next four months stuck at a club who don't really like him.

The Frenchman didn't need to hand in a transfer request with Wigan. The club's owner Dave Whelan has made it clear since he has been in charge that [...]

Fans united in lower ticket interest as prices rise

stef.oates@omruk.co.uk — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100

Although Manchester United have managed to sell more than 50,000 season tickets, they have failed to reach their target of 55,000 sales, and have not matched the sales figures they achieved last year.

Since United fans are currently involved in a mass protest against the Glazer family's continuing ownership, the difficulties that the club have had in shifting tickets could be seen as a one-off occurrence and not as part of a wider trend affecting the entire Premier League. United may be Champi [...]

The fun of in-play betting on soccer

thomas.rooney@ics-sport.com — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100

So, you’re sitting with your mates, watching the soccer, and one of them proclaims: "You know what, Sydney FC are going to win this game 4-0". Fast forward to the end of the game and, wouldn't you just know it, Sydney FC have only gone and won 4-0, leaving your mate with a big grin on his face. Why, however, is his grin a little wider than usual? Well, that's because he acted on his prediction and placed an in-play bet when Sydney FC were only one goal to the good. You, on the ot [...]

Are Liverpool in turmoil already?

thomas.rooney@infinitepath.co.uk — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 23:00:00 +0100

How quickly the wheel can turn!

Not so long ago, it appeared that Liverpool had finally moved forward after a horrendous summer that saw the club lurch from crisis to crisis.

But with Joe Cole already descending from the heavens and rejoining the mere mortals of Merseyside after a sending off and a missed penalty - and Javier Mascherano now on his way out of the club - Roy Hodgson must already be thinking of packing his bags and leaving a club which is seemingly always in a perpetual st [...]

Demichelis becomes hot property

thomas.rooney@infinitepath.co.uk — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 23:00:00 +0100

After falling out with manager Louis van Gaal, Argentine defender Martin Demichelis has been told he can leave Bayern Munich before the current transfer window closes.

Van Gaal opened the door for prospective bids by declaring "He can go if he wants to, it would be no problem for me."

Van Gaal's decision to leave the centre back out of their last game against Wolfsburg seems to have signalled the end of Demichelis' Bayern career. Various clubs throughout Europe have been ment [...]

Barca close in on Mascherano

thomas.rooney@infinitepath.co.uk — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 23:00:00 +0100

Javier Mascherano's drawn out transfer saga appears to be nearing an end as his club Liverpool have entered talks with Barcelona.

The Argentinean was left out of his side's recent 3-0 defeat to Manchester City as his manager, Roy Hodgson, decided the midfielder wasn't in the right frame of mind.

It is believed that Barca had a bid of £16million rejected by the Merseyside club, who are holding out for nearer £25million. Barcelona shouldn't be surprised by the price tag as Ma [...]

Martinez moves to bolster leaky defence

stef.oates@omruk.co.uk — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 23:00:00 +0100

Wigan Athletic manager Roberto Martinez has stuck his neck out and signed Steven Caldwell in an attempt to bolster his struggling defence and help prevent the Latics suffering Premier League relegation.

The 29-year-old dropped out of the top flight with Burnley at the back end of last season and he was a free agent after leaving Turf Moor.

He has been on trial with Wigan for the last few weeks and he has now joined his brother Gary on the books at the DW Stadium.

Martinez's job [...]

Mancini impressed with Balotelli's debut

stef.oates@omruk.co.uk — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 23:00:00 +0100

Marked out as a trouble maker back in Italy, Roberto Mancini may have pulled off a shrewd move by snapping up Mario Balotelli.

The 20-year-old made his Manchester City debut last night, coming off the bench to grab the only goal in a 1-0 win against Timisoara in Romania.

Although the fee of £24 million can hardly be described as a bargain, he certainly showed signs that he will be able to live up to his price tag. Next season he could be some people's Premier League betting tips to [...]

Europa League must be rethought

will.stevens@omruk.co.uk — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 23:00:00 +0100

As three English sides get ready to play in the Europa League tonight, the fans, players and managers must all be asking themselves one question - what's the point of the tournament?

It's a moderate money-spinner admittedly, but not a very popular one. Fans don't really care for it unless their side reaches the latter stages, while the players and managers no doubt view it as vastly inferior to the Champions League in every respect.

The competition also features far too many games the gr [...]

Encouraging signs for Leeds

thomas.rooney@ics-sport.com — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 23:00:00 +0100

With three games gone in the season, Simon Grayson can be satisfied with how his Leeds team has started.

Despite losing their opening match at home to Derby, they bounced back to beat Lincoln City 4-0 in the Carling Cup and followed that up with a battling draw away to Nottingham Forest in their second league game.

The new players have settled in pretty well at Elland Road, Lloyd Sam and Kasper Schmeichel have taken most of the plaudits since signing for the club this summer. Sanchez Wat [...]

Blackburn set for quick takeover?

stef.oates@omruk.co.uk — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 23:00:00 +0100

The prospective owner of Blackburn Rovers is keen to get a deal done quickly so manager Sam Allardyce can splash the cash.

Ahasan Ali Syed is currently under taking a period of due diligence at the club as his advisers check over the club's accounts.

Speaking to BBC Radio Lancashire Syed revealed that time is of the essence. He said: "I am very keen to move very fast and buy this club at the earliest moment.

"I am aware that Big Sam has big ambitions for this transfer wi [...]

West Brom boss wants striking addition

stef.oates@omruk.co.uk — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 23:00:00 +0100

West Brom are still looking to add to their striking options ahead of the start of the season as they dream of avoiding Premier League relegation, though their number one target is not the most renowned goalscorer in England.

Manager Roberto Di Matteo wants to sign Liverpool David Ngog, who boasts a proud record of having scored eight goals in his three-year professional career to date.

The 21-year-old scored one goal for Paris Saint-Germain before he was signed for Liverpool fo [...]

Bargain hunters sniff around Bellamy

thomas.rooney@ics-sport.com — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 23:00:00 +0100

Craig Bellamy's Manchester City career is all but over after suffering a double blow this week. After comments he made earlier in the week, Bellamy will be fined a reported £180,000 by the club's hierarchy. The Welshman was also left out of City's 23 man squad for the upcoming Europa League qualifier against Timisoara in Romania. With only 25 first team players allowed to be registered for the Premier League season, it looks as though it's a matter of when not if Bellamy leaves the club. [...]

Can the good times return to Anfield under Roy Hodgson?

james.r.smith1983@gmail.com — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 23:00:00 +0100

When Rafa Benitez was sacked as Manager of Liverpool FC at the start of June it looked set to be a bleak Summer for the fans up on Merseyside; fast forward a couple of months and with the new season about to get underway it appears the fortunes of the club are set to take another upward curve. Benitez has been replaced with Roy Hodgson who has managed to bring the good feeling back to the club before a single ball has been kicked in vein at Anfield this season.

Hodgson has so far proven to be [...]

Can Aston Villa survive without Martin O'Neill?

stef.oates@omruk.co.uk — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 23:00:00 +0100

After Martin O'Neill's shock departure from Aston Villa, fans of the club must be wondering what they can possibly hope to achieve next.

The side finished sixth in the Premier League three times in a row and last season made it to the Carling Cup final, where they were unlucky to be beaten by Manchester United.

Some fans had started to turn against a manager they saw as incapable of moving them to the next level, while a number of the side's key players were linked with moves away from t [...]

Forest look to go one better

thomas.rooney@infinitepath.co.uk — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 23:00:00 +0100

Last season Nottingham Forest narrowly missed out on automatic promotion by one place. They then lost out to Blackpool in the play-off, killing Forest fans dreams of a long awaited return to the big time once again.

Billy Davis is trying to build a squad this summer that will put them up there with the favourite odds to win the championship. It's been over 10 years since Forest were in England's top tier.

Davis has been linked with a lorry load of players this summer, but has so far fo [...]

Have Newcastle made a mistake with Sol Campbell?

stef.oates@omruk.co.uk — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 23:00:00 +0100

Chris Hughton may be pleased at signing Sol Campbell, but for Newcastle fans it should really set the alarm bells ringing.

The 35-year-old may have made a steady return to the Premier League with Arsenal last term, but he did nothing to suggest he should be starting matches every week.
At the moment, with Newcastle's squad wafer thin and Steven Taylor out for a lengthy period, it seems that's exactly what will happen.

Although Campbell would no doubt provide useful back up, his lack [...]

Striker issues hit Newcastle

thomas.rooney@infinitepath.co.uk — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 23:00:00 +0100

Newcastle will go into their comeback season in the top flight, lacking Premier League firepower. Shola Ameobi, Andy Carroll, Xisco and Leon Best are currently the attacking options available to Chris Hughton.

Ameobi is the only striker to have any real Premier League experience. He scored ten league goals last season in an injury hit year in the Championship, but his Premier League record is far from great.

Andy Carroll was Newcastle's joint top scorer last season with 17 goals to hel [...]