West Bromwich Albion have cut their losses on Borja Valero after allowing the midfielder to return to Spain with Villarreal.
Valero, 25, joined the Baggies from Real Mallorca for a club record £4.7million fee two years ago but struggled to adapt to life in the Premier League.
He returned to Mallorca on a season-long loan last season and has now signed for their La Liga rivals on a similar basis with a view to a permanent deal.
"After relegation in 2009 we agreed to loan Borja to Real Mallorca," sporting and technical director Dan Ashworth told the club's official website.
"On the back of an outstanding season in Spain and taking into account his professional and personal wishes, we decided to accept an offer from Villarreal.
"I'd like to thank Borja for his contribution and his professional attitude throughout the last two years."
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Valero made 36 appearances for the Baggies but failed to find the net in English football.Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Mick McCarthy has admitted to being puzzled by the relative lack of movement in the transfer market so far this summer.
McCarthy has drafted in Jelle Van Damme, Steven Fletcher, Steven Mouyokolo and Stephen Hunt since the end of last season and has been more active than a number of his Premier League counterparts.
He told the Birmingham Mail: “I’ve no idea why it’s slow. People have budgets and can they get the players? Do they want to get better players who are costing too much?
“Teams have done that in the past. Do they want to make sure and wait? Are they all playing a bit cagey?
“I guess all those reasons come into play and players wait and try to be clever and cute and don’t accept the first thing.
“We’ve got five weeks to name our squad of 25, so I don’t think that’s causing any grief. It’s the start of the season that’s more important, surely.
“I can’t see any of the clubs who haven’t signed players suddenly going out and signing five or six. That would be hard to integrate them.
“We are all kinda fishing in different pools. There is a section where we can go and buy, there is a section others can go and buy – then there’s Manchester City.
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“Even Manchester United and Liverpool don’t appear to be doing much, but there are little pockets of players we all know we can do business with.
“The players know that as well. They might have two or three clubs in their ears, so they can be selective.”
New Liverpool signing Brad Jones is hoping to put pressure on number one goalkeeper Pepe Reina following his arrival at Anfield.
The 28-year-old Australia international joined the Reds in a £2.3million deal from Middlesbrough on Tuesday and accepts that he will be the understudy to Spain keeper Reina.
However, Jones fully expects to keep both the World Cup winner and his current back-up, Brazilian Diego Cavalieri, on their toes.
"They've told me they want me to do what I do and put pressure on Pepe Reina and Diego Cavalieri," he told the club's official website.
"That's fine, I'm happy to do that, I've got to give it a go.
"(Manager) Roy Hodgson hasn't promised anything and I would never expect that from a manager. It's up to me to work hard and make his decisions for him.
"It's not going to be easy to get past Pepe. He's shown over the last couple of years how good he is.
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"You don't play for the clubs he's played for and the tournaments he's played in and not be world class.
"Obviously that side of it is going to be tough but I'll do what I can and try to put a bit of pressure on him."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson has dismissed recent speculation suggesting that he had tried to sign Rafael van der Vaart before the Dutch midfielder opted to join Tottenham Hotspur.
The 27-year-old headed to White Hart Lane from Real Madrid as the transfer deadline passed, with Hodgson claiming that he had already ruled out any interest in the talented playmaker.
He recently told Sky Sports News:"Liverpool were interested.
"In the end you have to have a good feeling and with this manager I got a good feeling. I am happy and I am going to Spurs."
Hodgson responded by telling reporters:"Those stories can get very irritating.
"First an agent rings you up and asks you if you want to sign Rafael van der Vaart, you say 'no' and the next minute you are one of the ones trying to sign him.
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"I apologise to van der Vaart if his agent gave him another story. I think he is a very good player, but he is not the profile of the player we were looking for, so when it came up I made it clear we had players in van der Vaart's position."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Manchester United winger Nani believes he is currently playing the best football of his career.
The Portugal international has scored two goals and provided six assists for the Red Devils this season.
The 23-year-old is finally beginning to emerge from the Old Trafford shadow cast by compatriot and former team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo.
Nani, who joined United in a £16million deal from Sporting Lisbon in July 2007, scored a superb solo goal in Sunday's 2-2 draw with Bolton Wanderers and is delighted with his current form.
"I feel more confident now than at any stage in my career," he declared.
"I know I am at a very good moment in my career and my performances have been at a high level.
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"I am doing well and am playing at an important level for my team.
"That is making me confident in every game and I hope to continue that."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Aston Villa's Stewart Downing is confident his injury problems are behind him after receiving a late call-up to the England squad.
Downing had to wait four months to make his debut for the Midlands club after arriving at Villa Park in July 2009 with a broken foot.
During his extended spell on the sidelines, the 26-year-old lost his place in the England fold and was left out of the squad which travelled to South Africa for the World Cup.
The former Middlesbrough wideman has started the current season in eye-catching form and has been recalled by England for Tuesday's Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro.
Downing will join up with his international team-mates both injury-free and confident in his abilities to impress.
He told the club's official website:"It's been pleasing for me that I've had no setback or anything like that.
"Since I've come back I don't think I've missed a game and that's a pleasing thing for me.
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"You can't think about what's gone on in the past or mentally you'd be all over the place.
"I'm not that fussed. I've taken a few whacks on it in the past couple of months so it's not a problem at all."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Sir Alex Ferguson is the granddaddy of all football managers having won 11 league titles, five FA Cups and two Champions League medals during a glittering 24-year spell at Old Trafford.
Despite rumours suggesting Sir Alex will retire at the end of this season, the 68-year-old has always claimed he will remain at the Theatre of Dreams as long as his health remains in fine order. The Glaswegian’s comments earlier this year certainly confirm that United fans should have nothing to worry about concerning their manager’s immediate health.
“The only thing that determines whether I stay here is my health. And I am in rude health,” he confirmed.
When the former Aberdeen boss does finally decide to retire he will leave gigantic boots to fill in Manchester having been fundamental to United’s success over the last two decades. Current Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho has frequently been mentioned as a possible replacement, yet it is impossible to say how long he will be at the Bernabeu or the level of success he will have in the Spanish capital.
Other names mentioned at various stages over the last few years have included former United players Steve Bruce, Laurent Blanc, Roy Keane and Mark Hughes. Former club stalwarts who have all gone onto become respected managers in their own right having worked under Ferguson’s stewardship. New French manager Blanc is the current favourite being tipped to eventually takeover the Old Trafford hot seat and his support will rise should he equip himself well on the international stage over the next few years.
Yet perhaps a more intriguing option could come from Ferguson’s latest bunch of managerial fledglings, who will soon be ready to dip their feet into the crazy world of football management. Baby-faced assassin Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has revealed this week that he would like manage the Red Devils someday, but admitted it’s an ambition which would take decades of hard work and success to achieve:
“I think if you ask any Man United player at any time of his career if you want to manage somewhere you want to manage Man United, because it’s the best place to be,” Solskjaer told talkSPORT.
“But to get there, to manage Man United, you need to go somewhere else and learn your trade so 15, 20 years from now maybe.”
Current squad veterans Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville and Rio Ferdinand have all hinted at a possible move into management, while former winger David Beckham has been urged by Fabio Capello to consider a similar undertaking. Everton captain Phil Neville has also publically revealed his desire to try his hand in a management role. Should any of these impress over the next few years then they too could be linked with a possible management role at the club.
Keane, Bruce and Hughes all started their managerial and coaching careers away from Old Trafford and very few former players remain on the club’s staff immediately after hanging up their boots. Yet Ferguson should perhaps consider making an exception and keeping ambassadors such as Giggs and Neville on the club’s coaching staff, with a view to eventually becoming a United manager of the future.
Fergie should make the most of assets such as Giggs, a player who would likely relish the chance of earning his coaching badges and learning his trade under the guidance of Ferguson. These players will eventually have to gain experience outside of the club, but a closer link to the United management set-up from an early stage would be a major positive for both parties.
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Manchester United legend Ferguson looks certain to retire in the next few years and it seems one aspect of his legacy will be the large majority of his former players staying involved in football via a career in management.
Yet whether one of the candidates will ever be good enough to eventually replace the great man himself remains to be seen.
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Who doesn’t love a good rant? The Premier League are ‘investigating’ Blackpool boss Ian Holloway after he made ten changes to his side against Aston Villa. Holloway’s emphatic response is that he will quit if his club are fined for fielding a ‘weakened side’. The claim is that Holloway intentionally fielded a sub-par team against Villa with the knowledge that they were more likely to get points against West Ham on the weekend if his players were fully rested.
Holloway was understandably furious with the allegations: “We deserved at least a point and how dare anybody tell me the players I’ve been working with, I can’t treat them with respect and give them a chance.” He also highlighted how important it is to keep players fresh and not to burn them out: “We’ve got four games in 12 days and the lads I’ve played every week are struggling to keep up the level”. How can the Premier League argue against that? The League’s fixture list is ridiculous convoluted at the best of times and Holloway has a duty by his players to ensure that he doesn’t over-exert them. When the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal or Liverpool rotate their squads, no one takes much interest. When Blackpool does it, it creates a furore.
The trouble is that there’s already a precedent set by the Premier League. When Mick McCarthy fielded a Wolves side with ten changes against Manchester United in December 2009 the League saw fit to fine him £25,000. Mick argues that Holloway won’t be able to dodge the fine: “They won’t escape it, how can they? If they do then the Premier League is absolutely toothless.” Whether Blackpool sidestep the fine or not, doesn’t the whole affair highlight the Premier League’s infuriatingly bad judgement?
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Ian Holloway is manager of Blackpool FC and as such, it’s his duty to pick eleven men to take to pitch every match day. It is not the duty of the Premier League to decide who has a right to play and who doesn’t. If the Premier League approved the 25 players required at the beginning of the season, what right do they have to say now that a certain collection of these players are not worthy? Every player in the accepted 25 man squad must be capable or they wouldn’t have a contract in the first place.
It compounds the whole affair that Holloway’s team played so well against Villa despite apparently being a ‘weakened side’. Nobody can say that the players didn’t acquit themselves well or that they were unworthy opposition for Villa. They lost only by the odd goal and deserved at least a point. In the fight for Premier League survival, why shouldn’t Blackpool be allowed to field whatever team they want? It’s Blackpool that will live or die as a result of Holloway’s decisions. This strikes me as a case where the League has no right to stick its beak in.
The FA has no right to ‘ok’ team-sheets. If the fine goes through it will be indicative of a sad state of affairs. It would be sadder too if Holloway follows through on his promise to quit. He’s a genuine character and a good bloke. I personally hope both he and Blackpool remain in the top flight next season and that the Premier League sees sense.
If you’re interested and want to hear more feel free to follow me on Twitter.
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With the Champions League exploits out of the way, it is a return to the Premier League action this week with some mouth watering fixtures with Arsenal’s trip to Villa and Liverpool’s visit to White Hart Lane the pick of the games. There is also a vital six-pointer at Upton Park, where for West Ham it is something of a must win game already.
In the papers this morning there has been a mixed bag of stories from Wayne Rooney apologising to fans; Fabio Capello performs a JT U-turn, while a £12m sponsorship deal that is set to boost Everton’s transfer funds.
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Dinamo reject Arsenal bid – Sky Sports
Rooney makes apology to United fans – Guardian
Tévez is the key to Mancini’s prospects – Daily Telegraph
Sturridge – I’m not like other players… I wanted to be a wrestler – Daily Mail
Swiss authorities to look into Fifa cash for votes scandal – Guardian
Spurs press on with Olympic Stadium bid despite White Hart Lane approval – Daily Mail
Tottenham look beyond the final 16 – Guardian
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Manchester and England wait to fall in love with Rooney again – Daily Telegraph
World football’s most widely known name could be on his way to White Hart Lane, is this the marquee signing Tottenham have been after to show they have the credentials to be right up there at the top? Well no. This is not a signing that is going to revolutionise the team and thrust them well into the title fight or galvanise their efforts in Europe. It would be the temporary arrival, for a couple of months on loan, of a 35 year-old player who has not played at this level for a year and at this pace for even longer, his loan spell at Serie A side Milan last year being in a much slower team and generally slower league.
Tactically I’m not sure how Beckham would fit into the team. At the moment Tottenham are, at least on the flanks, all about pace with two superb counter-attacking goals coming in recent games due to the pace on the wings of Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon. Pace has never been what Beckham’s game is about and at this late stage in his career his legs would have gone.
Yet I don’t feel like this hinders it being a great opportunity to attain the services of a good, but not great, player who has tremendous European experience along with a great record and knowledge of winning trophies. His experience could prove invaluable to the relatively young Tottenham squad, especially outside of central defence.
Indeed Beckham does offer a completely different option to Lennon on the right flank and a different option could be extremely beneficial if pace isn’t working and pinpoint delivery from the right flank into the box to say the head of Peter Crouch is required. Although I can’t see him coming straight into the team as it is due to the effectiveness of Spurs’ pace, he could greatly benefit the squad as Tottenham enter a busy period of the season if they are to remain involved in all three competitions. But his importance on the pitch cannot be completely overlooked, as at his first stint at Milan he ended up playing a far greater role than anyone expected. Far from being just a squad player there he was instrumental to a side that really turned their season around at that time, domestically at least, if not in Europe.
Added to this it is only a loan deal, and provided Galaxy allow him to actually play matches as there are rumours abound that they’ll only allow him to train with another club, then there really is nothing to lose in signing Beckham. They gain the services of a mature player who would be a fantastic influence to have around the dressing room and would be a very different option to have on the right flank.
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