World Football Postulant

Carlos Tevez was not properly transferred to West Ham when he saved them from relegation in 2006-07.
Image from The Sun UK.

I have no ideas on how to solve the West Ham United, Sheffield United problem.

In case you do not know what’s going on:

This week, an independent tribunal ruled that West Ham United was liable to Sheffield United for loss of income suffered when the latter was demoted after the 2006-07 Premier League season.  The season, Sheffield United finished 18th in the table with 38 points.  West Ham finished with 41 points but did so on the back of Carlos Tevez, who led a late season surge to save the Hammers from relegation.

The problem, though, was that Tevez and countryman Javier Mascherano (also signed by West Ham) were not eligible to play in the Premier League.  Continue Reading »

Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs will shift toward the middle of the pitch.
Image courtesy of FIFA.

This is the part of the program where you get to learn a little more about the author’s history.

Ryan Giggs is the reason I follow football.  My fantasy football team names are usually “Welsh Wingers.”   I was lucky enough to have my initial introduction to European club football coincide with his cracking United’s senior team.  I have been able to follow his entire, illustrious career.

While I have slowly trained myself to be (a little more) objective when it comes to all things Giggsy, seeing his name in the headlines always evokes more comment that you would get regarding a similarly situated player.  This is why today’s news that Sir Alex Ferguson plans to shift Giggs away from his wing position.

The United boss has said that Ryan Giggs’ days of patrolling his left wing position are over.  This is not news to Premier League followers.  Giggs’ age (34) has made him a less frequent selection and less effective when in the lineup.  Last year he dealt with various injury concerns and this season, after being arguably United’s best player in their season opener against Newcastle, was out for near-a-month with a leg injury.

After Giggs returned to health last year, Ferguson started using him in a central, supporting role - something short of a true second striker, but not quite an attacking midfielder, either.  As was the case in the Champions League final, Giggs would be brought on in the last third of the match to provide direction and decision-making prowess to help stabalize a young United team.  In a bit of symmetry, he would often come on for Paul Scholes, another Red Devil from a generation’s past whose role is subtly changing.

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Newcastle owner Mike Ashley is looking to sell United.
Image courtesy of Mirror UK.

Mike Ashley bought Newcastle United for £134 million in July of 2007.  Now, just over one year later, Ashley is asking for £450 million to sell the team.

A buyer - a group of four Nigerian businessmen - have emerged as a potential purchaser, and although no problems have been reported in the potential sale, there is still a £100 million gap between offer and asking price.  The consortium originally offered £350 million for Newcastle United, and while due diligence is being done toward a sale, Ashley seems intent on sticking to his asking price.  The Nigerian consortium’s representative has said that the group still needs to find more money.

When Ashley announced he was selling Newcastle, some were taken aback but the £450 million figure.  Immediately, some were speculating that Ashley was inflating the price to try to discourage a sale he never wanted to make.  In other words, he would be placating a fan base by saying he was trying to sell, but he was arranging circumstances that made it impossible to find a buyer.

Perhaps it was a surprise to Ashley that a buyer emerged so quickly.  Should it be?  The Premier League has done a tremendous job of promoting their brand in recent years.  There are many more rich people in the work interested in buying Premier League teams than there were pre-Roman Abramovich.  Though it’s natural to ask how valuable these clubs can become in the face of current, high club values, think about the markets the Premiership has yet to conquer.

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There is a report this morning saying Joe Kinnear is just “warming (the) seat” at Newcastle for Kevin Keegan or Alan Shearer.

This morning Kinnear, former manager at Wimbledon, was the surprise appointment as interim manager at Newcastle.  He takes over for Chris Hughton starting Monday.  Hughton had been the caretaker manager since Keegan walked off the job on September 4.

Kinnear’s current appointment lasts through October, during which time current owner Mike Ashley will look for a buyer for the club.  Reports have a consortium of Nigerian businessmen interested in Newcastle at a price fo around £400 million.  Whomever assumes control of the team, it is thought they will want to name their own manager.

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Joe Kinnear was a surprise hiring at Newcastle, as most had considered him retired.  Though he left his last job at Nottingham Forest of his of his own valition, Kinnear left two jobs early in career because of health problems.

Now ten years older, Kinnear could be healthier, and this history of cardiac problems may no longer be an issue.  In fact, I should give him the benefit of the doubt.  He knows himself better than I know him.

But he is being thrown into a charged environment.  I think the Newcastle fans are going to be sympathetic towards him, and the pressure will be relatively low.  At this point, Magpie-fans almost expect to have a bad season and would not blame Kinnear for anything.

I do no know that for sure, though.  If Newcastle were to go the next month cementing a relegation path, I doubt all Magpie supporters would be passive in their objections.

I assume Kinnear is taking this job because of a competitive nature that needs this type of challenge.  He was not going to get another job offer at this level unless the circumstances became as strange as Newcastles.  If he was of the mindset to manager but only manage in the Premiership, this is his only chance.

I do not see how this chance midigates potential health concerns.  Then again, I know nothing about his current health.  I only know his history.

Joe Kinnear will run Newcastle until the end of October.
Photo courtesy of FIFA.

One day after Terry Venables ruled himself out for the Newcastle manager’s job, Joe Kinnear has been appointed the new Magpies manager.  His status is still interim, with the duration of appointment being until the end of October.  In the intervening time, Mike Ashley will be looking to sell the club, with the new owners to name a permanent manager.

Joe Kinnear is a former Irish footballer whose last managing job was at Nottingham Forest four years ago.  He is best known for a seven season stay at Wimbledon between 1992 and 1999, where he had success in the Premier League.  His tenure ended after he suffered a heart attack in 1999.  Wimbledon’s relegation and eventual demise started around that time.

In his last coaching stint, Kinnear joined Nottingham Forest in February of 2004 and helped them avoid relegation from then-named Division One.  Kinnear resigned his post in December of that year, and Nottingham Forest was relegated five months later.

Current cartaker manager Chris Hughton is expected to manager the Magpies this weekend against Blackburn, with Kinnear assuming his role on Monday.

Terry Venables will not manage Newcastle.

Terry Venables will not be Newcastle’s interim manager.

The former England manager - whose club CV includes stints at Barcelona, Tottenham, Crystal Palace, Leeds United, and Queens Park - rejected an approach from Mike Ashley and Newcastle. The job had been offer to Venerables, who turned it down amidst the uncertainty surrounding the club. Ashley is said to be seeking a buyer and had offered Venables a caretaker’s position. Venables wanted a longer appointment.

Since Kevin Keegan resigned from the club on September 4, the Magpies have been guided by Chris Hughton, who has led the team to losses at West Ham and at home to Tottenham.

With Venables removed from consideration, Glenn Hoddle and David O’Leary are the lead candidates for the position, though Dennis Wise (the club’s technical director) could appoint himself to the position.

While this all plays out, Newcastle continue their fall from a promising Premier League start. Only Tottenham (with 2) have fewer points than Newcastle’s 4.

Here is the recent content posted to American Soccer Reader.  Enjoy:

Terry Wins Appeal, Will Play Against United

United Lose Carrick for Six Weeks

Champions League Preview, Sept. 17

Week 4, In Review

Week 5 Preview

Chelsea Held By Man Utd, 1-1

Another Liverpool Scoreless Draw Gives Stoke a Draw at Anfield

Week 5, In Review

Week 6 Preview

Steve Bruce may not be a top four manager, but he gets extra credit for having convinced his owner as much.

Dave Whelan’s having a big day in quotes.

The Wigan manager was asked about rumors placing Steve Bruce at Newcastle.  Given Whelan’s love for Mike Ashley, it’s no surprise that he scoffed at the idea of his manager leaving for Tyneside.  Whelan cited has relationship with his coach as well as the situation at Newcastle as reasons for Bruce’s staying at the JJB.

Whelan, however, was under no illusions that he can perpetually keep Bruce, an assertion that immediately had me asking “Why not?”  The Wigan owner was kind enough to inform us doubters.

According to Whelan, everybody the whole of England knows Steve Bruce is a top four manager.  A top four manager in the world, not just England.  One day, one of the top four clubs will come for Bruce.  At that point, Whelan will not be able to keep his coach.  But until then, he is confident that Steve Bruce will stay with Wigan Athletic.

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Wigan Athletic owner Dave Whelan

Wigan owner Dave Whelan thinks that Mike Ashley, the owner at Newcastle, is getting what he deserves.

The Newcastle owner has been under intense fan scrutiny after Kevin Keegan resigned as manager.  The view amongst supports is that, either directly or indirectly (through Dennis Wise), Ashley interfered with Keegan’s ability to run the club.  Regardless of whether that is sufficient reason for all the Geordie vitriol, Ashley is now looking to sell the team rather than deal with fan displeasure.

Dave Whelan may be commenting on the situation because he was asked, but why he needs to go out of his way to be critical of another Premiership owner is curious.  It is not as if Wigan and Newcastle have a particularly contentious relationship, the kind that would make the management of (say) Chelsea and Manchester United snipe at each other.

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