The Coca-Cola football league championship, the Premier Leagues slightly more interesting little brother, has long had a reputation
Maikel Franco Jersey for exciting matches and unpredictable results, and this season (thankfully) promises to be no different. Whilst the highest tier of English football is monopolised by the big four(and in reality, only two of those four clubs look capable of winning the title this year) the Championship is well and truly up for grabs.Anyone and everyone has a chance of lifting this trophy come the end of the seasonThe introduction of two traditional top tier teams in Middlesbrough and Newcastle threatened to make this years Championship slightly predictable, but many fans knew not to predict a two horse race. For many other teams in the league, away games at the Riverside or St. James park are like cup finals, and the big crowds add to their sense of motivation. Perennial yo-yo team
Jake Arrieta Jersey West Brom will also be in the mix, and currently lie on the top of the table. However many other teams could also be in the promotion shake-up come the end of the season, and Ill take a look at 3 in this article.Leicester City are a good tip for an unfancied team sneaking into the play-offs. They have ama sed 13 points from 8 games and are placed in 9th position. The Foxes got off to a good start by beating Swansea 2-1 and have impre sed fans and pundits alike. Decent draws against teams like Ipswich and Sheffield United have followed and Leicester have only been beaten once so far, 1-0 away from home by Newcastle United. Few expect Nigel Pearson to lead his team to promotion just one year after
Bryce Harper Jersey gaining promotion from League One, but with good players like Matty Fyratt and Jack Hobbs on the books, anything is po sible.Fryatt will have to keep scoring if Leicester are to mount a surprise promotion challengeThe city of Blackpool is more famous for its tower than its football, but the Seasiders are looking to grace the top flight three years after they got promoted to the Championship. With theIan Holloway in charge, Blackpool are looking solid and they have rocketed up the table, losing only once in a spell of form which has seen them occupy 7th place in the table. Coincidentally Leicester are the only team to have beaten Pool, 2-1 at the Walkers Stadium, but Blackpool replied by beating Newcastle 2-1 at home. Blackpool also thumped Wigan
Blank Jersey 4-1 in the Carling Cup, so perhaps they would fare well in the top division.Id love it if Blackpool got promoted, because it would mean wed be hearing a lot more from Mr. HollowayIts probably fair to say Scunthorpe United arent one of the most glamorous teams in football, and yet the Iron are getting on well in the Championship, lying in 13th place. The team were promoted to the Championship last year after finishing in 6th position and winning the play-offs, and manager Nigel Adkins has been quick to prove that the Irons have some steel and wont be relegated easily. A 4-0 away win against Crystal Palace has undoubtedly been their high-point of the season, and if they are able to replicate that form they could find themselves sneaking into the play-offs once again.A superb win against a good team sent out a clear warning to other teams- Scunthorpe were no push oversSo there you have it; three good teams, three potential
Dave Cash Jersey promotion candidates. The arrival of Newcastle and Boro might have led some people to write some of the smaller teams off, but the big boys will need to be on top form if they are to achieve promotion back to the Premier League.
The new Premier League season continues apace this weekend, with some eye-catching fixtures scheduled to take place.Five teams head into the weekend with a 100 percent record, but at least one of those will go as Liverpool meet Chelsea at Anfield.If you are inclined towards betting, you can about the odds for this game and all the other matches.Read on as we take a closer look at the weekend ahead and pick out our five best bets for the latest round of fixtures.Liverpool vs ChelseaThe clash between Liverpool and Chelsea
David Freese Jersey is the standout fixture this weekend and gives both teams the chance to lay down an early marker in the title race.The Reds have started the campaign with two easy victories over Norwich City and Burnley, but the Blues will provide a much sterner test.Thomas Tuchel has built a well-oiled machine at Chelsea, and their acquisition of striker Romelu Lukaku is the icing on the cake.Both sides will be desperate to avoid defeat which makes odds of around 5/2 for the draw look extremely appealing.Burnley vs Leeds UnitedBurnley have started the season poorly with defeats against Brighton & Hove Albion and Liverpool
Sandy Koufax Jersey , but this game gives them a chance to get off the mark.Leeds were woeful at Manchester United on the opening weekend and were lucky to escape with a point against Everton on Matchday 2.The Clarets can ill-afford to lose another game at this early stage, and manager Sean Dyche is likely to have them fired up for this one.Leeds should have enough about them to avoid defeat, so backing the draw at 12/5 could well pay dividends.West Ham United vs Crystal PalaceWest Ham United have been in excellent form in their opening two matches, smashing four goals past both Newcastle United and Leicester City.Those results have demonstrated that last seasons sixth-place finish was not a fluke, and
Edwin Rios Jersey they are a banker bet to make it three-out-of-three this weekend.However, the odds reflect their performances, and there is far more value to be had in the total goals over/under market.More than 3.5 goals can be backed at odds of 11/5, which looks too good
Dylan Floro Jersey to mi s given the Hammers current form.Tottenham Hotspur vs WatfordNuno Espirito Santo built up a reputation for being pragmatic at Wolverhampton Wanderers, and he has continued in the same vein at Tottenham Hotspur.His team have recorded succe sive 1-0 victories over Manchester City and Wolves, and it would be no surprise to see another low-scoring game on Sunday.Watford won their opening home game 3-2 against Aston Villa before losing 2-0 at Brighton and are likely to try and keep things tight at Spurs.On that basis, the Evens on offer for under 2.5 goals in the match is arguably one of the best bets of the weekend.Wolves vs Manchester UnitedManchester United were handed an early wake-up call last weekend as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Southampton at St Marys.The result was a disappointment after their , but they are strongly fancied to return to winning ways at Molineux.Wolves are yet to get on the scoresheet this
Matt Kemp Jersey season and could have their work cut out if Raphael Varane is chosen alongside Harry Maguire.United to win to nil is priced at 2/1, and that looks exceptional value about a team that many people have tipped to mount a serious title challenge.
Hands up everyone who thought Rovers were safe?After winning two in a row for the first time in ages, it was back down to earth with a bump as a
Eric Staal Jersey fired-up Bolton team made a mockery of those who thought safety was a formality.Rovers may yet escape, but its likely to go to the wire and, even if they do, itll be nothing to shout from the rooftops about.Which brings us nicely to the latest in a long of comments from
Zach Parise Jersey yet another expert on the situation at Ewood. This time its Fergie.The same Fergie who slammed Venkys for removing his big chum Sam Allardyce from the Rovers hot-seat now reckons Steve Kean deserves 100% percent praise from everyone.Quite what for is anyones gue s, but if that wasnt enough, he follows up with a few more nuggets.Im sure a lot of them are saying to themselves,
Matt Dumba Jersey I wish I hadnt done that.Really? Where are all these hidden fans who regret levelling criticism at a man whos taken a top ten team and turned it into relegation fodder?Now no-one is talking about fans having protest marches.Are you sure? Thats not the me sage coming from the BRFC Action Group. But of course, its Sir Alex Ferguson. Clearly, he knows best.He has shown his mettle in times when it was difficult for him.Stop laughing at the back. Difficult? Any difficulties have been of Keans own making. Along with the owners, Kean hasnt shown his mettle hes been an integral part of a proce
Darcy Kuemper Jersey s that has sent Rovers lurching from one disaster to another.Quite why Fergie feels qualified to poke his nose in where it doesnt belong is a mystery. The simple fact of the matter isthe only people
Jason Pominville Jersey who truly understand the situation at Ewood are the fans.To suggest Kean deserves 100% praise from everyone is, quite frankly, the biggest heap of garbage that has ever come tumbling out of Fergies mouth.Sir Alex Ferguson you are herebybringing the game into disrepute.
It is always the most anticipated
Kirby Puckett Jersey sporting event in any sport, in any event, in any format: Derby Day.On Sunday 17th March, Brighton and Hove Albion hosted Crystal Palace in derby where two sets of fans walking in with mixed emotions.Firstly, Palace, the one I kill my rivals (and with a bad taste in my mouth), their fans come in with high hopes of yet another win. They have been mocking the Albion for years for our inept victories over them at the AMEX (Withdean or Goldstone for that matter). In fact we have not beaten the Eagles since 1988 at home.Then Brighton, had 3 away games to endure before this and Gus was not half hacked off. We said au revoir to Craig Mackail-Smith for the rest of the season leaving just two recognised strikers for the miserable away tie at Bolton: Barnes and Ulloa.Well you would think that our beloved marmite replica of a footballer would show his worth having previously been dropped/suspended/injured. Oh
Kennys Vargas Jersey no, not at all. The delusional Anglo-Saxon born Austrian international seriously FIFA, you allow this!? thought, being 1-0 down, against the run of play, to trip yes TRIP the referee. No excuses, red card.At first you think, hey it will be fine, he will be off for 3 matches. No, Gus lovechild has already been sent off this season so that is an extra game on top of the standard 3 match ban for foul and abusive language that the referee filed it under. Then the FA decide to give him a one-way hearing where we see him notch another 3 games on top of that. 7 game suspension and now only Ulloa as our only recognised striker!You could not write this. We could barely hit a barndoor with a banjo against Bristol City yet we are suppose to feel optimistic? Anything can happen on derby day. It went out way
Max Kepler Jersey !The first half could not get any better. A wonderful cro s in the 41st minute sees Ulloa jump and head in past Speroni. 1-0. Crazy celebrations but I remained pe simistic. AMEX last year we took the lead and lost 3-1. FFSMurray.Then Buckley gets fouled (hey you claim Zaha gets fouled, Ill claim this as a foul) just outside the box, free-kick.
Justin Morneau Jersey I do not know why, but the Palace defence thought Orlandi would be taking it, forgetting about David Lopez and boy did he pay it off. Superb curling free-kick clipping the bar and beating Speroni again. 2-0Half-time and the North Stand concourse is buzzing, absolutely buzzing! Songs of praise all over the place and the atmosphere was absolutely buzzing.Second half approaches and the third and final goal will put Ulloa in the record books. Calderon down the wing to Buckley to Calderon to Buckley to Bridcutt who cro ses; Orlandi with the header for ULLOA!!! Beautiful move right out of the training ground and a superb volley from, er, 7 yards?!Most joyous occasion got even better following my post match pie and pint! Palace fans waiting for their train and all
Jonathan Schoop Jersey of a sudden I hear:And Palace Im*clap *clap*GLAD ULLOAPalace Im*clap*clapGLAD ULLOA.That summarises my Sunday pretty nicely.Happy St Patricks Day Palace.
Ok, now
Kendrys Morales Jersey were finally past the World Cup hangover, lets talk about what every football fan wants to talk about, the new 2010-11 season. Everyone, rightly has their different opinions on their well respected clubs but there is one club that troubles and confuses me, Aston Villa.Lets go back shall we, back to the 2008-09 season, where lets be honest Villa set the standard for watching entertaining football. Quick, fast, electric individuals that could go from one end to another within the blink of an eye. Agbonlahor, Ashley Young and co. were the cherries on the cake for Martin ONeill who has transferred a team from a constant relegation battling side to a team who are consistent enough to challenge for not only the Europa League places but for a couple of months at least showing potential for the coveted 4th place standing meaning Champions League
Jaime Garcia Jersey football.So these exciting individuals prove their worthto get Villa back into Europe after a couple ofyears away andthen, bang, back to reality, what does Martin ONeill do plays his second string. Ok, that was a mistake, he knows, everyone knows it. So, lets move it on into the 2009-10 season, where Villas road running youngstersagain qualify for another shot at the Europa League, ONeill explains that he wont play a second XI again. True to his word, he doesnt, although makes one or two changes, and once again, bang! Theylose to Rapid Vienna in the qualifying rounds. Now Villa fans start to wonder. Do we really want a shot at Europe? Or is it just all too much for a team who are claimed to get tired towards the final third of the season, let alone the very beginning. Now the present. Aston Villa in the Europa League, third time lucky? or for at least one more season, Villa lagging behind their rivals.PositivesI hear you wonder, where are the positives in this blog? Well lets go through Mr. ONeills highlights while being at Villa. First of all, how well ONeill has done toproduce a team, that when at
J.A. Happ Jersey their best could be a match for any team that plays in either the Europa League or even the Champions League, year in, year out. With wins over Manchester United away, Liverpool away, Arsenal away, Chelsea repeatedly at home then you know that your team has got to be on to something. Reaching the Carling Cup final and theF.A Cup semi-final in 2009-10 season. His transfer acumen. e.g. swapping Milan Baros for John Carew ended upproducing a smile the width of the grand canyon from all Villa fans far and wide. Beating clubs for the signature of Ashley Young, even when at the time, critics were questioning howmuch ONeill actually signed Young for. Buthis capture seems to have paid dividends throughout the course of Ashley Youngs stay so far at Villa Park.Nabbing Richard Dunne for 5 million from Manchester City was proved to be a masterstroke, as Dunnes transfer became arguably the signing of the season after a string of very impre sive performances in a Villa shirt.Although these signings have paid off. Martin ONeills wheelings and dealings havent all been up
Roger Clemens Jersey to scratch, to name a few:Steve Sidwell 5 millionMarlon Harewood 4 millionStewart Downing 12 millionCarlos Cuellar 8 millionNow, the way that he has supposedly handled the James Milner saga. Villa fans dont want it to end up like the Gareth Barry ordeal went. Slugging it out for 12 months waiting and waiting to clarify what is going on. I know that if something is going to be done about Villas new star a set than Villa fans want a deal to be done sooner rather than later. But with ONeill talking to the pre s about how Milner wants to leave and has
Toronto Blue Jays Jersey done since before the World Cup and then 24 hours later, the newspapers contradict it on saying how Milner hasnt said anything about leaving, then it may well be another long old summer for all Villa fans.So where does this leave us? Divided?Martin ONeill: Champion or Chumpion?
There are many different ways of telling the amazing story of Leicester City, different points in time to start the story and different theories behind its remarkable nature.Rightly, many of the stories cite the years in the facele s doldrums of multiple owners, managers and seemingly endle s amount of players on a conveyer belt pa sing them in and out of the club. However this story is le s about those years. Instead, this one focu ses on the last three years and why and how this remarkable story can be made more understandable, but no le s remarkable. This isnt to take away anything of its beauty or its captivating magic. Instead, it is an attempt to explain and truly appreciate what is remarkable about what is happening. To understand what seems, at first look, too close to story books than reality.This reading of Leicesters rise is not complex and it is not controversial it just seems it isnt being told at the moment. It goes like this. Leicester City are not simply a plucky band of brothers who, for one improbable moment, have the alchemists touch and can turn
Jackie Robinson Jersey up to Premier League grounds acro s the country and leave the victor. No. They are winners. They have been winners for several years, they have been laying down the foundations of a winning mentality for three years, bolstered by owners who have been laying foundations for Champions League football, and this mentality was provided extra steel during a harrowing period of not winning football matches last season. Put simply, Leicester City (in the last three years) are more used to winning football matches than Manchester United, than Arsenal, than Tottenham Hotspur and many other top teams (admittedly not so for Manchester City but they are experiencing their period of transition now).The difference is that Leicester have been winning football matches in the Championship and then from the bottom of the Premier League, not at the top of the Premier League. So the majority of fans and pundits simply see a plucky team of inflated Championship players. Their winning tendency has been forgotten or mi sed because of the barren spell they endured for six months last season this period of losing is Leicester Citys dominant identity in the national consciousne s and hence the Great Escape was remarkable. A bunch of losers remarkably won a freakish number of football games in a terribly short period of time.There is another way to see this period. Leicester City were promoted as run-away champions of the Championship in 2014 with a record haul of points, winning 31 of their 46 games. They pa sed their way through teams, scored countle s team goals that were notable for their quality and dominated po se sion. The team was balanced, fit and focu sed.
Niko Goodrum Jersey The season before that they were seconds away from the Play Off final, only for a remarkable five seconds of football that turned victory into defeat courtesy of Troy Deeneys speedy counter-attack (did they make a note for the future watching this effective tactic?)Ha, I hear you already! What does it matter if you win the Championship? What on earth has that got to do with the globally captivating Premiership with its oligarchs, WAGS, Lambos, 50m Sterlings and Big Four domination? Well, the last time I checked the psychology books, winning is not relative. That is, a team of winners remains a team of winners even if they start playing against those who are superior in skill. Check your Malcolm Gladwell, your Matthew Syed or your Jim Collins. Winning and succe sful behaviors are mentalities not based on skill they are based on behaviors and mentalities. Those who thrive and win in education, in busine s feel and believe themselves to be winners. Those with far superior skills/intellects at elite institutions (Harvard, Cambridge, Chelsea, BCG) are mostly small fish in big ponds. Supremely talented yes but, relative to those in their proximal eco system, most of them are unremarkable. They are not quite losers but they define themselves by their relative lack of talent/intellect to those exceptional ones around them and they definitely do not define themselves in their ability to emerge victorious. They are surrounded by others more talented than themselves and rarely have the chance to win. Instead they must console themselves with the idea that they are close to the winnersthe real winners, the most talented and remarkable people in the world. However this consolation is not the same as actually winning.Over the last three seasons (2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16 so far), Leicester City have won 52% of their football matches. If we take away their tortuous period of propping up last seasons Premier League, from November to April, and then the numbers increase to a significant 60%. This is higher than all other teams around them in the Premier League, with the exception of Manchester City. Arsenal are on 59%, Chelsea 57% and Tottenham 53%. Manchester City have the highest win ratio of these top sides with 64% over the last three seasons.To any potential critic of this argument, the clear flaw is the ignoring of
Leonys Martin Jersey a period of 20 games last season when Leicester could not buy a win. However, this argument is based on the idea that this barren spell is exactly what has super-charged Leicesters winning mentality. Leicester have benefited hugely from the galvanizing period of losing because they believed it would change as, after all, they were winners. If you have the mentality of winning (or losing) it applies to all you do. Now, here is the remarkable bit about this team and their bullet-proof spirit and tenacity. While all the world saw a lowly team of losers being beaten week-in, week-out last season, what actually was happening was that a team of winners were being put through a six month long team-building activity. You are winners, you just need to keep believing that you are winners, keep adapting to winning ways and you will prevail could have been the name of the activity. Malcolm Gladwells theory of Outliers relies on 10,000 hours of focu sed activity being required to develop an exceptional skill. Lets see.six months of toiling against the flow of things and still believing you are the winner amounts to about 5000 hours. Wrap the rest of the season around it and you are closer to 8000 hours. Add in this season so far and you are over 10,000 hours of focu sed winning or adapting to winning. This isnt taking into account the hours of the season before (13/14) where they actually were Champions in the Championship. What was remarkable about the Great Escape was that the group of men, and those around them, did not once believe they were not good enough because that did not resonate with their identity as winners. Better still, they figured out what they needed to change to win again. They adapted, evolved. They believed something was wrong because they were no longer winning. That was not the natural order of things in
Detroit Tigers Jersey their eyes so they figured it out, just in time.To illustrate the point and to show the difference take Aston Villas plight this season. Aston Villa today are not a team of winners. Villa have been slowly descending into cycles of losing behavior for four years (or more). They have only won 52 League football matches in the last 6 seasons (going back to 2010/2011). That leaves them with a win ratio of 24% over the last six seasons, and 23% over the last three.As a result of this, neither Villa or their fans believe they are good enough to stay up which is not to say they will go down but you get the point. They are not being beaten and returning to the dre sing room convinced they will win the next game because thats what they do. They lose and they wonder if they are good enough after all. They probably wonder if they care as the core of the teamis not strong and what core there is is part of the problem.In huge contrast, Leicester City have won a title in the last three years. Admittedly, not the Premiership title. But the core of the team, and many at the club, have experienced a whole season being better than those around them. They have then been forged together through the intense heat of losing, to emerge stronger still. Claudio Ranieri has never seen such team spirit and he has seen a lot of teams spirits.And that, ladies and gentleman, is what is remarkable about Leicester City. They are a team of winners who have had the most remarkable period of team building last season who have been misunderstood by most who play them. Add to this the diligent, though awkward, rebuilding of Nigel Pearson, the shrewd scouting of Steve Walsh and now the tanned, smiley Italianate wisdom of Cladio Ranieri and you have a hell of a club, not just a team.The team in the Premiership with the most remarkable confidence, spirit and winning mentality are not plucky underdogs and yet have been seen as such mistakenly. So my prediction is that you might pa s out if you are holding your breath and waiting for them to choke, to let the pre sure get to them because, in their eyes (and in their hearts/heads) they have been here before. They win
Joe Jimenez Jersey , thats what they do.
Brentfords Legends side is back in action in just under two weeks time when the old boys pull on their boots for a charity
Tim Tebow Jersey game at Griffin Park as the main event of the Skyex Community Day raising money
David Wright Jersey for the Bright Sky Charity.Returning to Griffin Park are legends from the past in the shape of Marcus Gayle, Marcus Bean, Robert Taylor, Stuart Nelson and Carl Hutchings returning to the club where they played over
Darryl Strawberry Jersey 650 games between them. Other players pulling on the red and white stripes again are Darren Powell and
Mike Piazza Jersey Glenn Poole as well as other former Bees from the past.The game kicks off at 2.30 pm at
Juan Lagares Jersey Griffin Park against a Skyex All Stars team and admi sion is free.
Liverpools transfer activity will be highly scrutinised after scraping 4th place in the league and getting into the qualifying stage of the Champions League. Manchester City for instance have already purchased Bernardo Silva from Monaco and have apparently tied up a deal for Benficas keeper Ederson for a huge 34.7m.This has prompted a social media meltdown from Liverpool fans, though the 2016/17 season has just barely concluded. The transfer window does not officially reopen for a month, but that does not mean busine s cannot be done now. So lets have a look at some of the early transfer rumours a sociated with the Reds and see which ones are likely to happen and the rumours you can po sibly just ignore.Mohamed Salah (Roma) Winger/ForwardFool me once, shame on you: fool
Ryan Shazier Jersey me twice, shame on meLiverpool thought they had this player in the bag back in Brendan Rodgers tenure. In January 2014, he instead joined Chelsea to the Reds dismay, they came 2nd that season and if they had got Salah he may have taken them over the line. After not being given a sufficient run in the Chelsea team though he fled to Italy a year later on loan. He was excellent for Fiorentina on loan and he later then went on to join Roma. In the League alone he managed 15 goals and 11 a sists in the 16/17 season and would add raw pace and an additional goal threat for the Merseysiders. Rumours are his representatives have flown to England to discu s terms, if Liverpool me s this up this time around some fans will be pre sing the panic button on whom Liverpool can attract already.Verdict: Keep tabs on this as it could happen. Roma manager Luciano Spaletti has left the club and Salah may be seeking stability and want to prove himself in England after a failed first attempt. Reports in Egypt and sports network Bein Sports say a deal is close to happening. Expect just over the record 34m mark that Liverpool paid last summer for Sadio Mane.Virgil Van Dijk (Southampton) Central DefenderLiverpool take from Southampton more than foxes
Jordan Berry Jersey do from your dustbin, so once Van Dijk hit the ground running after joining Southampton from Celtic you knew what was coming. Liverpools defence needs a no nonsense operator and have not had a durable leader at centre half since Jamie Carragher retired. The player apparently has touted Jurgen Klopp as someone he wants to work with and this would excite everyone involved with Liverpool. The stumbling block could be that Champions Chelsea and also Manchester City are among other clubs whom are interested and can offer the player more money. Liverpool Echos James Pearce believes it will depend on where Van Dijk would prefer to go, that will decide things. Any team interested will be willing to pay big bucks for the Dutchman who will want to test himself in the Champions League with better players around him.Verdict: Definitely one to keep an eye on and if the rumours are true, its getting closer to happening by the day. Could be looking at as much as a whopping 50m for any deal to take place and if Liverpool could pull this off, not only would it shatter their transfer record, it would show great intent.Naby Keita (RB Leipzig) Central MidfielderDubbed by some as the next NGolo Kante, Keita took the Bundesliga by storm in his debut season with Leipzig. Driving from box-to-box, breaking up play and linking up with the forwards, he has complemented Leipzigs fearle s attacking play. Leipzig surprisingly finished runners-up in their first top-flight season, though the team have qualified for the Champions League, its likely they will be broken up and the Guinea international is top of the list. Keita seems more composed in the oppositions
Javon Hargrave Jersey box than Kante and his power and industry is what Liverpool need. Squawka reported Keitas 80 take-ons were more than any other central midfielder in Europes top 5 leagues.Verdict: 50/50, a fee as high as 40m has been doing the rounds and Liverpool may seek a different option than the 22 year old if this is the case. His style of play does seem like it will suit the Premiership, so Liverpool would need to act fast if they are serious about the player, as other teams interest will only increase.Gael Clichy (Unattached) Left BackClichy was recently one of many players released by Manchester City and interest has been far from overwhelming early on for the 31 year old former Arsenal man. Clichy had a decent season for City, as he was shifted around at the back as Pep Guardiola tinkered with varying formations. Clichy has declined individually since his Arsenal days although his medal collection increased during his 6 years at City. Considering his age, unle s a better and younger left back can be acquired, despite Clichy being free, fans will want someone more promising at left back. When you take the season James Milner had playing out of position, Klopp would want to bring in a left back who can impact immediately. Fans would think that if Clichy is the main target then they may as well give the naive Alberto Moreno more games regardle s of him being a free transfer.Verdict: Unlikely, the fact it
Landry Jones Jersey would be a free transfer is the main thing that could push this through. This would only be e sential if Liverpool plan to spend really big in other areas. This surely would have already been discu sed with owners FSG in regards to the budget for the summer. Reports on Liverpools interest vary, but the Echo has basically dismi sed the Reds making any further advances.Iker Casillas (Porto) GoalkeeperReports emerged Liverpool have apparently offered the former Real Madrid keeper a 2 year contract as his contract with the Portuguese runners-up is ending. Casillas is said to be desperate to want to continue playing in the Champions League. Football writer Dermot Corrigan has stated Casillas also has other offers on the table from Turkey, Qatar and China. Though clearly not the keeper he once was, with the keepers Liverpool now have at their disposal, even at this stage of his
Rod Woodson Jersey career, he would be the best they would have to offer. Simon Mignolet had a good finish to the season but we are yet to know if that is enough to have convinced Klopp to stick with what he has. You would think that as Casillas is now Spains number 2 keeper behind David De Gea, he would only come if he was promised the number 1 spot at Anfield.Verdict: Looks unlikely at first, it really all depends on what Casillas still wants. He is now 36 and may look for a lucrative payday in Qatar or China or he could still wish to compete at the highest level. Dont give up on it completely, but keep a closer eye on other po sible deals.This is just the start of the rumormill and Liverpool will be linked with more players as the summer goes on. I will be back through the summer with more transfer rumours/go sip on Liverpool but feel free to contact me if you would like me to look at your club.Daniel Dwamena@DubulDee
Turkey will
Adam Lind Jersey go into their semi final against Germany without their leading striker Nihat Kahveci. Kahveci picked up a thigh injury against Croatia in the quarter final and joins an ever expanding injury list.Turkey will be
Aaron Judge Jersey mi sing a third of their squad for the semi final through injury or suspension this proves there current
Gary Sanchez Jersey run of form really is incredible and they have excellent depth.Injury List:Emre Gngr: Calf (out for tournament)Servet etin: Hip and knee (
Greg Bird Jersey Out of Semi Final)Tmer Metin: Groin (Out of Semi Final)Emre Belzolu: Hamstring (Out of Semi Final) Suspensions: Emre Ak, Tuncay anl, Volkan Demirel and Arda Turan. The Turks have one player returning to the
Austin Romine Jersey squad, midfielder Mehmet Aurlio after recieving a ban in the group stage.
Just a few more dayss until the Premier League kicks off, a number of countries are competiting in International Friendlys. Even though football managers and football players might complain about having International matches just days before the Premiership, it is nice to see your
Joe Pavelski Jersey International team in action. I have taken up the Republic of Ireland blog and here is my preview of their Friendly against Australia.Republic Of Ireland Ireland have predominately chosen a 24 man squad for the Friendly against Australia. However Striker Leon Best is doubtful for the game and Steven Reid is on standby. However Stephen Ireland mi ses out on a call up. Giovanni Trapottoni has chosen a decent squad as he said that he is eager
David Schlemko Jersey to perform in this match as Ireland are gearing up to the World Cup.The Squad looks like this Given, Westwood, Murphy, OShea, Foley, Dunne, Kelly, Kilbane, Nolan, St Ledger, McGeady, Duff, Gibson, Whelan, Andrews, L. Miller, S. Hunt, Keogh, Lawrence, Folan, Doyle, Keane, Long and Best.Australia The socceroos head coach Pim Verbeek has also chosen a strong team for the Friendly clash against the Republic of Ireland. Australia has already qualified for the World Cup so
Martin Jones Jersey there isno pre sure on them to perform in this Friendly game. Many Premiership players will be on show for Australia as they gear up to get match fit before the big kick off on Saturday. Also their will be a number of football league players on show like Patrick Kisnorbo and Nick Carle, as they are on international duty they will mi s their Carling Cup clashes for there respective club teams. Australia 22 man squad looks like this Schwarzer, Covic, Neill, Kisnorbo, North, Wilshere, Carney, Madaschi, Spiranovic, Williams, Cahill, Jedinak, Kewell, Holland, Bozanic, Vidosic, Bresciano, Carle, McDonald, Rukavytsya, Holman, Mooy.Key Players Ireland key player will be Aiden McGeady. The young Celtic winger has been chosen for this Friendly, and he will defiantly want to show what a talent he is after a tough time with Celtic recently. McGeady is known to cause defences problems and
Justin Braun Jersey he will sure do that against Australia on Wednesday. Australia key player will be Harry Kewell. The former Liverpool player will want to show his former fans that he has still got it at the age of 30. He has been chosen as one of 22 players in the Australia squad and he is defiantly a stand out name. Kewell is currently playing for Galatasaray where he has been on impre
Marc-Edouard Vlasic Jersey sive form. Hopefully he can continue that formfor Australia against the Republic of Ireland.Republic of Ireland Po sible Line UpGiven, Foley, Dunne, OShea, Kilbane, McGeady, Andrews, Whelan, S. Hunt, Doyle, Keane
