I've only got an interest in who will be promoted to the Premier League for the last 10 or so games of the NPower Championship season. Reading were promoted with 2 games to go, Southampton were promoted on the final day, meaning West Ham just missed out. Around 10 points below them were Birmingham and Blackpool, followed by Cardiff City. I've watched virtually none of the season, but based off the points I'd feel sorry for West Ham if they didn't make it.
City have QPR at the Etihad.
No worries, thanks for that. In that case, if I get my way, City will win the title.
Berbatov's contract is up at the end of June I believe, and Fergie was on about renewing it a few months ago, but since he's not getting playing time as Hernandez & Welbeck are preferred to him, i'd be shocked if we didn't let him leave on a free transfer. Even if we did pay £30 million to sign him from Spurs. Much like Owen Hargreaves. We signed him for like £17 million, did well in his first season but from there kept getting injured so we had to let him go on a free. And he ends up at City at the start of the season on a 1 year deal. Michael Owen's contract is also up at the end of the season, if we keep him i'll be surprised.
I'm pretty sure Fergie only wanted to sign Berbatov to a new contract a little while ago so they could actually sell him at the end of the season and get some cash instead of him leaving for free.
I'd also be surprised if Michael Owen was signed to a new contract. He's below Rooney, Welbeck, Hernandez and Berbatov in the pecking order and he really won't offer them very much if he stays. I laughed at the fact he thought he could play a part in United's tilt for the title with about 5 games to go. Clearly a plea to be played, which hasn't happened. Probably rightfully so when you've got Hernandez and Berbatov sitting on the bench every week.
Roy Hodgson looks set to be the new England manager too. Many people expected Harry Redknapp, but I like the appointment of Roy. He has managed various international sides whereas Harry hasn't. And i'm sure the FA were looking for someone British who has managed at International level. And he's done a really good job at West Brom since he took over last season.
I like the decision too, he ticks so many boxes. He's British, he has managed three International teams, and was the cheaper option. If the FA forked out $10 million for Redknapp, a man with no International management experience and he bombed, that would be a huge waste of money. If Hodgson bombs, they won't have spent anywhere near as much cash and they'll have backed his experience. They'll have to deal with the constant "You should've picked Redknapp" but I think the decision was the right one.
Arsenal have got Podolski finally too. Since Cologne said he'll be leaving them to sign for Arsenal in the summer for an Undisclosed fee.
Very pleased, as an Arsenal fan, to have this wrapped up. Podolski is a proven goalscorer at both club and International level, as well as being a top class player, who will come in and hopefully mean the selling of Park or/then Chamakh. Fantastic signing and I can't wait to see what he and Van Persie can do alongside each other. And yeah, fuck off everyone, RVP isn't going anywhere
Allegedly the two players that Wenger has turned his focus to now are Jan Vertonghen and Yann M'Villa.
Vertonghen is a Centre Back who can play Left Back, just like his Belgian teammate and ex-Ajax teammate Thomas Verminator. I have my fingers crossed that this signing happens. Squillaci was going to be sold anyway, but hopefully now Djourou will too, although he signed a new contract last year.
If we get Vertonghen, we'd then have Bacary Sagna & an improving Carl Jenkinson at Right Back, with Laurent Bosscielny, Francis Coquelin and Nico Yennaris (reserve RB who played very well in the first team) capable of filling in there and not being a fuck up like Djourou.
We'd have the Verminater, Vertonghen, Bosscielny and Per Mertesacker (although I read he could be fucking leaving for some reason) at Centre Back, with Alex Song capable of filling in there as well as giving Ignasi Miquel & Daniel Boatang (our reserve CBs) a chance to shine.
And finally at Left Back we'd have Kieran Gibbs & Andre Santos (who I'm still not sold on), with the Verminator, Vertonghen and even Miquel capable of filling in there. We've shown since October that we've solved our defensive problems, but Vertonghen coming in and Squillaci & Djourou going the other way would go a step further to ensuring that.
As for M'Villa, he's a Defensive Midfielder, and although Wenger's intention is probably to buy a top class DM to challenge Song, I have a feeling Song could jump ship due to it as he has refused to sign a new contract. Even then, with our current formation, it'd be very tough to fit Song, M'Villa, Jack Wilshere, Mikel Arteta and Tomas Rosicky into the one team. Below them are Emmanuel Frimpong, Francis Coquelin, Aaron Ramsey and Abou Diaby, so Wenger has to change the formation or else he'll have a major headache there. I hope we get M'Villa and keep Song as I think that'd be fantastic.