Odds and Sods

This year’s chorus of “the song that never ends” may finally reach a finale, with Nicolas Anelka finally leaving Bolton Wanderers to join Avram’s merry lads at Chelsea F.C.  Megson threw some chum to the circling English media by leaving Anelka out of the squad for the FA Cup Match (keeping him from becoming cup tied).  Bolton denied Chelsea’s initial 11 m GBP bid for the striker, though a compromise between that and Bolton’s 15 m GBP valuation of the player appears quite likely.

Arsenal’s summer signing Lassana Diarra appears to have made his stay at the Emirates a brief one.  Arsene Wenger surprisingly left the young midfielder out of his squad set to face Tottenham in the Carling Cup (Diarra had played in all three previous matches of the competition).  He has aroused interest from many Premier League clubs including Newcastle, Manchester City, Tottenham, and Portsmouth.

Paul Jewell means business, in the only sense that a popped dress-shirt collar can.  Jewell emboldened by a curious optimism, appears to believe that the club can stay in the Premier League.  He has already spent 1.5 m GBP to bring in crazy and crocked midfielder Robbie Savage.  He also may bring out the big bucks to sign United States and Kansas City Wizards striker Eddie Johnson, who scored 16 goals in 24 MLS appearances last season.

Sven is looking for a flashy car to increase his scoring probability.  There is always the Jaguar option with Michael Owen, though he would need to buy another one to use while that one was in the shop.  He appears to fancy a cheaper and slightly eccentric French model with Djibril Cisse though Marseilles seem hellbent on keeping it.