Beef Bagel

..but nothing out of the ordinary as yet.

The links have flared back into life like those irritating joke birthday candles, between our very good and 5th placed selves and the likes of Curtis Davies, Darren Bent, David Nugent and now, as spotted by Adie and the more eagle eyed amongst you, Eider Gudjohnson with the outs looking like Mido and Ghaly with a question mark over Defoe. Breathe.

So how do we feel? What do we think? Give me the details Bagel! I shall.

There’s no doubt whatsoever that defenders are the new left wingers given our rather colourful record at both ends of the field (Goals For - 57, Goals Against - 54) and it should come as little surprise that the West Brom captain is the first name on the list. The question may be whether he will be willing to leave West Brom if they make it back into the Premiership. I’ll answer that one. Yes.

I know a bloke, who knows a bloke, who knows a bloke…well actually it’s just the one bloke but he did a little work on Match magazine and got to meet Davies who basically said whatever happens he’ll be moving this summer. To where he’ll move is a different matter but if he knows what’s good for him, he’ll be coming to North London and the Lilywhite side of it at that.

One playoff hopeful who doesn’t look like he’ll be making the trip whether his club wins or loses is midfielder Giles Barnes. We’ve had our peepers resting on this lad for quite some time now but today he’s come out and said…

…er well, actually he’s said nothing. There are no quotes. But there are reports that Barnes has pledged his future to Derby come what may; reports in fact in just about every single sodding publication I’ve read today and you know what I say? Who gives? Giles Barnes would only be a squad player at best right now and as Oog often says and I’m starting to agree, it’s not the squad that’s holding us back, it’s out first team.

Billy Davies has said that Barnes isn’t ready for the big time and form what I’ve seen, The Bagel agrees. So sod Barnes and lets put the money towards someone serious. The only problem is that we’ve no one serious to buy as yet.

The most serious sounding is the link with £15m Darren Bent, according to the Sun. Again strikers are not really where the problem lies and I’ll bet you there’s no way the Tottenham board will splash any more than 10 or 11 mill on the Charlton man because they’re not fucking stupid. The difficulty is that Newcastle are, or certainly were pre-Allardyce, and they are on the list of suitors along with Everton, arsenal, Liverpool and ourselves. Even if the Barcodes only paid the same as all the other bids Bent’d probably be in line for £500k a week in wages plus as many crap R&B songs, diamond rings and white fur suits that his tasteless, football playing arse would desire.

Having said that, I read elsewhere that the Hammers and his ex, Curbishly were after his signature but he wanted the chance to play alongside Dimitar the Great (wouldn’t we all). Perhaps Bent has got some taste after all.

Nugent’s looking less and less likely as Everton are in for him too and something in his Mickey Mouser twang makes me think that’s where his heart is. Shame, He would have done nicely.

There’s no word on the Ashton front now that the spawny Hammers are home and dry but the interesting Gudjohnson waves have quelled a little today much to the Chelsea boys’ delight with these words from Eider himself:

“I am not the slightest bit interested in what anyone says or writes about whether I am staying or not when the season finishes.

“I am only thinking about the last four games. My future does not concern me right now.

“I am only thinking about trying to win the 12 points that are left so that we can be champions. That is my only concern.

“Nobody from Barcelona has made contact with me or my father and I have a contract with FC Barcelona for next season.”

So, what does this mean? Absolutely nothing, except that Chelsea fans are stupid. All he’s saying here is that he wont talk about it until the send of the season. He has made no commitment whatsoever. That’s a typical nothing footballer quote, that is. That’s quote number one from the How to Deal with the Press in 10 easy to Read Steps and lots of big pictures.

The only other bits of news of…actually, you know what? This is all bullshit this week. There’s no bloody news because the press are too busy thinking about the FA Cup final. The FA Cup final? I ask you! Has there ever been a more meaningless contest to cover? How exciting. Chelsea take on Manchester United. Ooooooo imagine what it would mean if either won? Absolutely sod all. Is there any interest to the neutral except, which club you hate more?

I’ll tell you what interests The Bagel:

1) Getting to next week when the real transfer rumours start rumbling

2) Going to bed. I’ve a got a splitting headache as this mix of Baileys, Corona and Sambuca drains from my now dry head and my grey matter feels most uncushioned. And on a school night too.

Oh, there was a story that we’re closing in on a deal for Berbatov. £44,000 per week until 2013 is what I heard. I wouldn’t care if it was £44,000 per week until 3013. The man is worth it.

Asta la bagel.

The Bagel.

This entry was posted on Friday, May 18th, 2007 at 12:21 am and is filed under Transfer News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.