Tuesday Transfer Fun 18 August 2008

18 August 2008

West Ham have accepted an £8m bid from Sunderland for Anton Ferdinand, but the 23-year-old socialite is not interested in the Tyneside club life.  Roy Keane will convince him to come by offering him wages big enough to match his ego.

Cardiff City will spend some serious cash on Fulham duo Eddie Johnson and David Healy.  Cardiff City supporters will wonder why?

Robinho will continue his fluttering fancy dan ways at the Bernabeu next season.  Chelsea reportedly offered £23m, but Madrid thinks he’s worth £35m, £1m for every goal he’s scored in three seasons at the club.

And, finally, Dimitar Berbatov will move to Manchester United close to the transfer deadline, after Alex Ferguson puffs his chest a bit and Tottenham pretend they are a contending club for a while.

No Comments » | Sports | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by tyduffy

The Big Lead » This Week in Soccer: Premier League Kicks Off

18 August 2008

The Big Lead » Blog Archive » This Week in Soccer: Premier League Kicks Off.

Here is my latest for TBL.

No Comments » | Sports | Permalink
Posted by tyduffy

The Special One is Back!

16 August 2008

1 Comment | Football, Soccer, Sports | Tagged: , | Permalink
Posted by tyduffy

Yankees Hit Panic Mode

15 August 2008

It’s the Ides of August, and the New York Yankees officially have hit panic mode.  The club are 9 1/2 games behind the first place Devil Rays and 6 1/2 games behind the wild-card leading Boston Red Sox.  Their frustration peaked after losing seven out of ten on a recent road swing.  The Yanks have not been this far out at this point in the season since 1993.

The Yankees demoted starting center-fielder Melky Cabrera to AAA Scranton, apparently shocking the player who was hitting .242/.296/.337 this season.  They also released first baseman Richie Sexson, whom they had just signed as a free agent on July 18.

Brett Gardner who hit .153/.227/.169 with an 8 OPS+ (Average=100) in 59AB earlier this season with the Yankees will replace Cabrera on the roster.  The 24-year-old had been hitting .296/.414/.422 in 341AB at AAA.

Utility infielder Cody Ransom will assume Sexson’s spot.

Yankees fans will be pleased that the club has showed a sense of urgency, though it would have been more useful on July 15.  With Joba Chamberlain still on the DL indefinitely, this looks like it will be the year the Yankees finally collapse.

No Comments » | Baseball, MLB, Sports | Tagged: , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by tyduffy

Rafa Benitez Considered Leaving Liverpool Last Week

15 August 2008

Guillem Balague reported that Rafa Benitez seriously considered resigning as Liverpool manager last week, believing that the club had undermined his transfer dealings.

Benitez was “dissatisfied” with Liverpool’s failure to get Gareth Barry from Aston Villa to play on the left side of midfield, a move that has likely faltered with him being European Cup-tied.  He also wanted the club to sell Spanish midfielder Xabi Alonso, which has not happened.

Balague is the best source for all things Spanish at Liverpool, so the story seems credible.  Except, of course, the claim from the Hicks camp that Liverpool can buy a left-winger without selling.

No Comments » | Football, Premier League, Soccer, Sports | Tagged: , | Permalink
Posted by tyduffy

Maurice Edu to Rangers

15 August 2008

Scottish club Glasgow Rangers will try to salvage their season with young American midfielder Maurice Edu.

MLS and Toronto F.C. has accepted a $5m bid for the 22-year-old, and he is currently negotiating a contract.  The move would then be subject to work permit approval.

Edu would be the third high-profile player, along with Jozy Altidore and Brad Guzan, to move from MLS to Europe this summer.  

Rangers seems like a nice deal for Edu.  The club is high-profile enough for him to get noticed and well paid, and playing in the SPL would provide a perfect middle ground between MLS and the best European leagues.

No Comments » | Football, MLS, SPL, Soccer, Sports | Tagged: , , , | Permalink
Posted by tyduffy

Premier League 2008/09 Predictions

15 August 2008

1. Arsenal: They have enough talent, but need the “ifs” to come through.

2. Man Utd: Continuity is great, but too much saps vigor.  Quiroz effect?

3. Chelsea: Can Scolari tactically handle his unwieldy collection of parts.

4. Liverpool: Is Robbie Keane alone enough to push them forward?

5. Aston Villa: Kept Barry and added depth and quality.

6. Everton: Adding some talent, but can they finally compete with the big boys?

7. Tottenham: With so much flux, Juande Revolution may only exist on paper.

8. Newcastle: Too much talent to be as bad as last year, right?

9. Portsmouth: Credit crunch frugality may see them crumble.

10. Wigan: Their foreign talent may make them surprisingly lively.

11. Fulham: Made some great signings, but can they cope without soccer’s Chuck Norris?

12. Sunderland: They now have enough Premier League talent to be solidly mediocre.

13. Man City: Made their bed, now must lie in it.

14. Bolton: Some good signings, but Megson is still a downer

15. West Ham: Curb your enthusiasm.  They will be dead by February

16. Blackburn: Their pivotal signing was Paul Robinson.

17. Middlesbrough: They have continuity from last year, but that’s not necessarily good.

18. West Brom: The Arsenal of the Championship, need to play more like Bolton to stay up.

19. Stoke: Spent money in vain.

20. Hull: Their season rests on a Frazier Campbell loan.  That says enough.

Player of the Year: Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester United

Young Player of the Year: Theo Walcott, Arsenal

2 Comments | Football, Premier League, Soccer, Sports | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by tyduffy

Are Americans Qualified to Discuss Spanish Racism?

15 August 2008

The Big Lead » Blog Archive » Are Americans Qualified to Discuss Spanish Racism?.

Here is my last post from TBL.  I aimed for inflammatory and hit it directly.

No Comments » | Basketball, Sports, Sports Media | Tagged: , , | Permalink
Posted by tyduffy

Media Nation: Tony Mazz jumps to the Globe

15 August 2008

Media Nation: Tony Mazz jumps to the Globe.

Massarotti isn’t an inspired hire for the Globe.  They replaced one of the best female columnists in the country, with the stereotypical Boston-white newspaper guy.  But, as Dan Kennedy points out, at least it shows some vitality from the once great sports section.

It’s a big blow to the Herald.  Another Tomase promotion in the works?

No Comments » | Sports, Sports Media | Tagged: , | Permalink
Posted by tyduffy

Friday Rumor Mill 15 August 2008

15 August 2008

It’s hard to negotiate with Tottenham’s spending record, but Juande Ramos will try.  The Spurs manager will prod Lord Ferg toward £28m with a phantom Barcelona Berbatov bid and scare Zenit into a lower Arshavin price with Kanoute clamor.  But, in the end, Tottenham will give in.  They always do.

Arsene Wenger has confirmed that Arsenal will sign another player before the second leg of Champions’ League qualification against FC Twente.  Apparently, the Boss had seen enough after starting a 17-year-old and having his squad outplayed for much of the match by a second-tier, Steve McClaren-coached Dutch team.  Fans will hope that key signing is not 19-year-old Ipswich project Danny Haynes.

Martin O’Neill will keep Gareth Barry in an Aston Villa shirt, after playing him in the UEFA cup.  He will then partner him in midfield with Newcastle’s James Milner whom he will buy from cash-strapped Mike Ashley for £9m.

Roque Santa Cruz dodged a bullet, in the form of a £12m to the Manchester City Humanitarians.  Paul Ince doesn’t want to sell the player, and the striker seems content, unless a big four club comes a knocking.

Digao may or may not be with Jesus, but Kaka’s little bro will be with Belgian club Standard de Liege next season.  The club have signed the Brazilian Billy Ripken for a one year loan.

No Comments » | Football, Premier League, Soccer, Sports | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by tyduffy

« Previous Entries
Next Entries »