Ronaldo to decide his future by yesterday as Stoke come in for the veteran keeper
Well, it’s official, the rumour mill has exploded. The sails lie half buried in the earth, the grindstone in orbit and nonsensical fractured jumbles of stories litter blogs, websites and pages of the world. “Midfield wonderkid Michael Dawson to join Bronby on 7-year contract loan for 300,000 quid a week,” “Ronaldo to decide his future by yesterday as Stoke come in for the veteran keeper,” and “Sven Goran Eriksson takes over as Mexico boss.”
So, I thought I’d take a break on that front until two versions of a story agree with one another. Instead, The Bagel’s been more fascinated by the manager merry-go-round of the last few days and I’ve been trying to work out what this all means for us.
The Special, and less then Perfect, Juan’s appointment as Inter boss can only be a good thing. He’ll be poaching some of his Chelsea favourites with Lamplard, Essien and Drog-bar top of the list and I think we’d all like to see a destabled, humbled and seriously weakened West London lot. I don’t mean that this is the end of Chelsea by any means but they do have a few apparently irreplaceable players and those three are they with Terry and Cech completing the bunch.
I don’t know how Petr’s feeling right now without a manager or anyone seemingly up for the task but the chances of Terry leaving are about next to none. Break him open and he’d be a cunt on the inside too.
See, it’s heartening to watch Chelsea buy players like Balleti, Malouda and Shevchenko and they may struggle to replace what Jose might steal. The chances of Inter robbing Chelsea blind aren’t too good but with Lamplard’s contract up for talks and with a foreign wife and one mother less to keep him tied to the UK, I seriously think that Flubbery Frank will see this as his shot at the Continent.
The Blues other problem is who are they going to get to lead them? Mark Hughes has just given them the finger, but more on that in a minute, Ancelotti looks like he’s staying at AC/DC Milan for now and they really need a guy with some pedigree to steady their shit, I mean ship. Scholari is the only man I can think of with enough clout to take the job or perhaps Hiddink but it doesn’t look like Roman would do that to his own national side. If they make a wrong choice here, there could be serious problems.
So what this means for us is a slightly more beatable Chelsea - not that that’s been a problem of late - a stronger Inter to take on the England Big Four - preferable so that not every domestic team has one the CL before we finally get our day - and an absolutely gutted horde of what are probably my least favourite football fans.
In reality, it’ll probably be the same old Chelsea minus Lamplard and plus a few unknown faces but what could be of more significance is old Sparky’s trip down the road to Thaksinville in place of Well-er-Sven who floats out of our lives once more. So, what we have to look at know is who will be easier to prise away from Slackburn and who will want to stay City.
I’ll put money down that Pie Man Richard Dunne will be holding them horses on that deal that was all but signed for us before the cake happy monster caught sight of the pastries on offer on the South coast. If Hughes can keep some of the City stars, i.e. Micah Richards, then expect a lot of changingof heart in Manchester.
At the other end we’ll be looking at a Slackburn exodus if the best the Lancashire club can come up with is one of the usual managerial suspects - Warnock, Robson, Peter Reid or most likely Allardice with his big face lurking in the background. I’m not thinking about Bentley. Kiss goobye to any plans of that one. He’s ‘pudlian if not City now. I’m talking the MGP’s and Sambas and Brad Friedels of this world. Hughes wont be able to take them all with him after Santa Cruz goes too and I can’t see the likes of Pedersen being too keen under the iron fist of Big Face Sam.
Right, I hope that lots food for thought for Wednesday arvo. We’ll get back to the serious business tomorrow. Oh, and don’t get excited by this Berbatov new deal business. Never going to happen.
Granddaddy used to handle bagels in church, Granny drank strychnine. I guess you could say I had a leg up, genetically speaking.
The Bagel.
June 4th, 2008 at 4:05 pm
So would Friedel be a decent replacement for Robbo? I mean as a yank, i just want to see an American between every pair of pipes in the Prem.
June 4th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
I don’t see why not. Every season seems to be a good one for the man I wish they pronounced Brad Fri-dell. We could do a hell of a lot worse. He’s a regular pen saver and he looks bloody mean too.
By the way “i just want to see an American between every pair of pipes in the Prem” lovely turn of phrase.
The Bagel.
June 4th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
“Pipes”?
Never heard ‘em called that before!
Do you think if Fri - Dell joins us that there is a chance that N17 will get a franchise of the “Hooters” bar chain? Anything to make Bradley feel at home.
Check out the pipes on that!!!!!!
June 4th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
If we get Allan McGregor between the pipes, as you say, it might be a struggle to keep his mind away from being between the sheets!
http://www.sundaymail.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2008/02/24/love-rat-rangers-keeper-allan-mcgregor-s-third-girl-78057-20329241/
June 4th, 2008 at 8:46 pm
Poor old Andy Goram must be shaking his head in disbelief.
He wouldn’t be seen dead between the sheets. Between 2 UVF paramilitaries, well that’s a different matter.
June 4th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
It’s bad enogh for those who’ve caught between the two sides of Andy Goram
June 4th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
Or: It’s bad enough for those who’ve been caught between the two sides of Andy Goram
June 5th, 2008 at 9:19 am
“There’s only two Andy Gorams, two Andy Gorams …..”
June 5th, 2008 at 9:56 am
http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/sport/football/article-1024101/Tottenham-chief-Daniel-Levy-falls-perch-capitals-popular-chairman.html
He’s not THAT bad, is he?
June 5th, 2008 at 10:00 am
I’d heard there was some dirt on McGregor. Great story. I particularly like…
“I know footballers have a lot of time on their hands when they’re not training but no one knows how he could find the time to have three women on the go.”
Well, it sounds better than golf. And…
“Clair beat-off 13,000 girls to make the last 10 of the popular FHM beauty contest.”
Now, that’s dedication to the cause.
The Bagel.
June 5th, 2008 at 10:02 am
They always make General Levy look like Dr.Evil with those glasses fiddling photos.
The Bagel.
June 5th, 2008 at 10:10 am
Big Sam Alladyce, not my favourite manager as some of you may realise, is ideal to be brought into the helm at Blackburn.
Continuing on from recent seasons, they would be able to compete with the likes of Bolton and Fulham for the top of the dirty teams league and bottom of the actual league.
Big Sam is an awful footballing manager, he is a scurge on the league considered one of the best in the world (only by us of course), his brand of football comes from the lower divisions or the 70’s, you take your pick.
On the other hand a new sheriff might be heading into town, it all depends on how brave Blackburn are, I know they took chances with Roy Hodgeson previously, but he did have good continental credentials, this new man in the frame is ex-west ham sell-out Paul ‘The Guv’ner’ Ince.
Personally, I blame him for our dismal showing at France ‘98, he played with a stress fracture and I blame him (and Eileen Drewery of course) for not withdrawing from the squad and allowing Gazza to deliver the title rightfully to lancaster gate.
In fact with that Glenn “cripples were once paedophiles” Hoddle in charge , ex 6pud Beckham fame hungrily kicking out at Simeone and Gazza not going - 6puds are to blame for us not winning France ‘98, but I digress.
Incey, an ok player, has been making some noises in the lower tables, he took mk (never the dons - ever !) up as champions, playing decent football, and turned the club around, he would be a great signing for a bigger club and his brand of football has a place in the PL.
He gets my vote and is apparently in the frame, I’d like to see him given a chance.
June 5th, 2008 at 10:36 am
just dragging back to the blackburn exodus - i like the suggestion of Samba - he’s a big old lump could be a very handy addition?
June 5th, 2008 at 11:47 am
It’s one way to stop him scoring against us n’all.
Bagel, Levy brings it on himself with poses like that though doesn’t he? Someone get the guy a cat and a big swivel chair.
June 5th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
Glad everyone is picking up on “the pipes” - more of a hockey expression, but oh well..
And thanks for the props Bagel - while wit and sarcasm often escape us, Americans are wildly entertained by repeating sound patterns. We have an entire television channel of a guy jingling his keys. I TiVo it.