English Premier League Transfer WishList

Proud to introduce the inaugural A.S. I Sportswire English Premier League transfer wish list, cum transfer dream team, cum shadow Premier league Team Of the Season 2011/12

Goal Keeper:                      Krul,

Defenders:        Walker, Heitinga, Jagielka, Bale

Midfielders:               Tiote, Sigurdsson
                        Holliet, Dempsey, Pikillton

Striker:                   Robin Van Persie


1.Tim Krul (Newcastle)

The Newcastle keeper epitomizes the Newcastle diagnosis: Average player turned above average thanks to team power. His tiff with Van Persie during the Emirates encounter that ended 1-2 in the gunner’s favor remains his moment for the season for me.  Such brashness, in the books of A.S.I Sportswire is a sign of pure ambition and and a healthy dose of self confidence. These are mental attributes tell of the kind of attitude needed by a player to prosper at a bigger club.
 2.Kyle Walker (Tottenham)

The currently injured Kyle Walker, was his peer’s pick for the Young Player of The Year, made it to the premier league team of the year and was a year ago, in the UEFA European Under 21 Football Championship team.  His missing out on the Euro’s on account of his injury has hit the headlines just as his White Hart Lane heroics dominated British backpages; when he hit that screamer of a winning goal against Arsenal at White Hart Lane earlier in the season.

Anyone shopping for a right back with premier league experience can’t look over him. We reckon 2011/12 UEFA Champions league winners, Chelsea, might be interested given the unflattering displays by their current personnel.  With Tottenham missing out on Champions League football, the vultures start circling on the lilies.

3. Gareth Bale (Tottenham)

The ‘tappers’ are it. Barcelona’s Dani Alves recently spoke well of the Welshman, and we all know what that means: when Barcelona players start talking about another player. He would definitely fetch more than the 10million Euros that Tottenham paid for him in the summer of 2007.

His season starts are as average as Theo Walcott’s for a player so much talked about: 9 goals from 123 shots and 8 assists in 32 appearances. 

The center backs are an interesting one. The pair come from Everton and has been subject for transfers come every summer. A.S.I Sportswire  would love to see them remain in Everton just because we love what Moyers is doing there. The two have helped marshal the leagues 4th tightest defense that had allowed only 38 goals, counting the four conceded, as by the time of  that 4-4 thriller at Old Trafford that threw the title race open.

4.Johhny Heitinga (Everton)

The 28yr old is a full Netherlands international and featured prominently in the European qualifiers. Interesting to see if the Dutch win the Euros, and Heitinga heads back to Everton.

5. Phil Jagielka (Everton)

Terry-Cahil looks the automatic pick for England in the Euros. Jagielka might augur for a move considering the gloss that playing in big games against the likes of Messi has done to Cahill’s international career.

6. Tiote (Newcastle: Defensive Midfeilder)

The ping pong game is already on when it comes to Tiote. The Ivorian insists that he is staying, but It would be hard to see how he would turn down a move to Manchester United or Chelsea now that Newcastle has failed to make the Champions League dream true.
The downside is that the Ivorian could be away again at the African Cup of Nations in January 2013 for a maximum two months as Africa’s premier completion shifts calendar dates.

7.David Hoilett (Blackburn: Attacking midfielder)

Age 21, at a club that failed to fight relegation, with seven goals and 5 assists from 30+ premier league appearances, pretty much sums it up. According to premierleague.com, 77% of his attacking activity happens in the box; a significant statistic considering he has been used mostly as a wide player at Blackburn.

The Canadian International fits the bill for a Spurs and Liverpool kind of buy. However, according to widespread internet transfer rumor reports; the gunners are said to be in for him. With Blackburn being the soap opera show it was, and subsequently facing the axe from top flight football; the likelihood of one of its’ better players not being there to participate in Championship football is quite real.

In terms of his professional development it might be wise for himself to bid his time in lower league football, get in more playtime, smoothen the edges, build up his cred and make the move to a bigger club during the January transfer season.

8. Clint Dempsy (Fulham: Attacking Midfielder)

As with every hot prospect every transfer season, Arsenal  are apparently interested; but a return of 16 goals from 134 shots, 6 assists from 34 appearances from a midfielder in a team that finished outside the European places would tickle any manager.  If Arsenal do sign him, he would probably do an an Arteta. If Fulham hold onto the American international and part time you tube rapper, it would be a massive plus for them.

Clint Dempsy Rap Video: 'Don't Tread'

9. Gylfi Sigurdsson (Swansea: Attacking Midfielder)

The Iceland international on loan at Swansea from TSG Hoffenheim alongside Newcastle’s Cisse are the stars of the January transfer season. At 22 years, Swansea can underlay their ambitions by reviving their botched January bid

With a goal to game ratio of 1:2 (7 goals in 15 games from 61 shots) and 2 assists, the rumors that he could be headed to the Emirates or Old Trafford would be welcome to both sets of fans following the trophy-less campaigns just ended. He loves the ‘Cesc area’ ghosting in and around the opposition box as the most forward midfielder in the team, can pick a pass and good defensive play.

10: Van Persie (Arsenal: Forward)

Arsenal’s worry here: wages (read: current EPL Champions Manchester City), the fact that Alexis Sanchez doesn’t look any part Barcelona material and just about anything else you will read about in the papers.

11. Pikillton (Norwich: Forward)

He did better than a Koscienly-by passing Championship football all the way to the top flight from lower league side Brighton. In 28+ appearances, Pikillton has netted 8 times with 1 assists. Of the eight goals, was the spectacular opener at White Hart lane as Norwich overrun the lilies in one of their sizable upsets the past season.


Premier League Transfer Wishlist 'B'

Kyut (Liverpool: Attacking Midfeilder)

Kyut is the Toyota of football players. At his age, the more likely move would be one back to Netherlands, although he is a leading candidate of a Benayoun- Arsenal kind of deal considering his age defying work rate.

Emmanuel Adebayor (Manchester City: Forward)

Mancini is an interesting one : A treat it is now that Manchester City has bagged the premier league.  His press conferences are sheer journalist delight. He definitely is Italian. Consider his Balotelli gamble and Teves affair. But our pick has to be his loaning out of Adebayor.

It’s hard to come round how he can semi-peddle the Togolese. A player, whose performances gave Tottenham the dream of Champions League football; a player with 14 league goals to his name, placing him just above the stellar company of Ballotelli and Dzeko , but head and shoulders  above his direct competitors with 11 assists, outstanding team play and commitment.

Internet reports indicate that Adebayor and Tottenham are deep in negotiations as we speak.

Steven Fletcher (Wolves: Forward)

The Scotland international’s 10 league goals failed to save woeful Wolves from relegation.  He would be a hot pick for any of the bottom half teams, especially the likes of, QPR and Aston villa.

Demba ba (Newcastle: Forward)

The Senegalese wants PSG and doesn’t hide it. Oh, he even wants Real Madrid: seems to us a player angling for a move while their stock is still hot. Sadly, this aspect of his manner reminds us of that other side of his compatriot,

Banan (Aston Villa: Midfeilder)

Little has been seen of the youngster. The glimpses though paint an interesting picture. Banan looks set to have a good 2012/13 season under a different manger and under a new system. Whether this is going to happen at Aston Villa is another question altogether.

Coloccini (Newcastle: Defender)

Coloccini was set to be the Captain who led Newcastle, for the first time ever, as a Champions League side. In spite of his workman like performances this season, a move looks unlikely.



Premier League Manager Transfer WishList
 
Roberto Martinez (Wigan )

Director of Wigan’s  ‘Great Escape’ miniseries. In talks with Liverpool, the Spaniard was voyeuristic in his execution of strategy as Wigan beat Manchester United, Arsenal and Newcastle in succession.  His choice of an attacking 3-5-3 formation at certain stages of the matches with these English football giants was sheer delight.

Brandan Rodgers ( Swansea)

Looks set to continue his work at Swansea having brushed off Liverpool’s advances. His side has been the surprise package and has pleased with their possession football.  As the AVB  experience at Chelsea taught the football world, it might prove too costly for a team to try teach old dogs new tricks: he fits like a glove to Swansea and may fail to effectively impart his football philosophies at another stable.

AVB

Andre Villas Boas. Somehow, everyone outside Chelsea is willing to lend excuses rather than abuses when
asked of their take on AVB’s reign at Stamford Bridge. The Portuguese draws so much sympathy from many yet, once he left and his deputy leads the team to a FA Cup and Champions League double.
Liverpool are eyeing him, seemingly in support of the widely held view that AVB by accepting the Chelsea job was walking into a private member’s club. A decision that is somewhat akin to unknowingly and voluntarily being part of a fraternity, whose culture you have no clue of and worse still trying to impart your values there.

Formula 1, So Much For Ke Nako

Ke Nako Image: aysoworldcup

“Waka Waka ehe waka waka ehe”  that tune, the soundtrack of the time. The time for Africa it was said. Big things were going to go down, down South. Even bigger things expected of the continent as fortune, rather too optimistically, like a drop of ink in a glass of water diffuse its arrival announced by the din of the Vuvuzelas.

Ke Nako time for Africa. The much awaited time when the land of lions,elephants and giraffes would sit with pride, shake up the corporate world and  with heads held up high cease being the problem and   provide solutions to prevailing global situations. You see, the gloom in the world markets like malaria and Aids had been infectious. Spectating on from its perennial designate position- the sidelines- was Africa.


Lost to the audience catching on the on goings in the Euro zone and Americas was what the big deal was about being unemployed or having no home to rest your weary body. To some, it was just short of an ill placed joke the only amusing thing were the names being floated around Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, funny names for a bank they thought.

The pundits on the tube told us that this gloom, these social problems were born of the global economic meltdown. Problems that in the homes of the spectators were bread and butter issues. Not so though was hosting the world's most watched event, the world war without bombs: The FIFA World Cup. Thus every reason for the 800 million inhabitants of the mother Continent to sing along to Shakira's rendition of the tune they knew of so well 'Waka Waka' after all, it was Ke Nako.

Everything said it was Ke Nako. For once CNN , BBC (just to name names) spoke well of the dark continent. Nonetheless as they say, even good things come to an end. Some premature end this was as way before Barcelona,pardon me,  Spain were crowned champions of the South Africa 19th  edition of the FIFA World Cup, reality had reared it's ugly head disrupting the African hosted party.

The problem was not with the host as 'haters' had gone waxical about in the run up to the event, but with the caterers (multinationals from lands beyond keen to grab the marketing opportunity that big sport graciously offers) as sections of the party goers started to feel discriminated, served scrapings from the bottom of the pot or missing out on rations all together.

Forget the nonesence noise about the Vuvuzelas and the subsequent preemptive bans from European stadia , forget the ticket prices out of reach for the thousands whose homes had to make way for the multi dollar stadiums, think the young ones whose potato chips had to find their way from their grasp into dustbins just because they had been fried by the wrong brand.

All the same all taken in stride in lieu of the symbolism of the time. In South Africa, lay hope and hope is one thing hard to rubbish. Kenya started dreaming of the Olympics in a few decades just to sample some of the high of the moment. At the very least, the return of Formula 1 to South Africa. Such is the sense of family in Africa . Your brother is still your brother even if sibling rivalry best defines the relationship.

When Ghana failed to progress into the semifinals of the world cup in a fashion that typifies the African situation, the disappointment was shared from the cape of good hope all the way to Alexandria. When the 2011/12 Formula 1 calender was released just recently, the glaring miss was a difficult pill to swallow for Formula 1 enthusiasts across the continent. So much for Ke Nako

March 11-Bahrain
March 18-Australia
April 1-Malaysia
April 11-China
April 22-Korea
May 6-Turkey*
May 20-Spain
May 27-Monaco
June10Canada
June17-United States
July1-Valencia,Spain
July 15-GreatBritain
july 29-Germany
August 5-Hungary
September 2-Belgium
September 9-Italy
September 30-Singapore
October 14-Japan
October 28-India
November11-AbuDhabi
November 25-Brazil
* Subject to confirmation

**Coming Soon: Russia
***Hopefully this Africa- Kyalami circuit South Africa? Libya- rebirth of the Tripoli grand prix? Nigeria?

In the media blitz surrounding the African World Cup, a cornered Bernie Ecclestone had this to say:

"When we speak about the Formula 1 World Championship, we are aware that Africa is missing. We had talks a couple of years ago and almost reached a deal but at the moment they are so wound up with the football World Cup - there was not much point in talking."

To me a dismissal rather than a note of hope “...so wound up with the football World Cup- there was not much point talking!”  with all due excuse me Mr Ecclestone. Nonetheless, in a miniscule way you have a point. You see too much talking has always been the problem. Talking in conferences, capacity building workshops and the likes. Maybe it's time for a hush and then some action. Till then for Africa Formula 1 back to the reserved seats in the sidelines as is norm.

Kolo Toure Doping Saga: In His Defense A Can Of Worms

Image Gunnersphere

Any parent would be proud to have two have nee two world beaters. Top athletes at the top of the game, rubbing shoulders with the best in their sport and sharing the occasional beer after a well fought out duel on the sporting arena away from the television cameras. Likewise it is a pride of a nation whenever those breed of the fruits of its soil fly the flag on the world stage. For a continent like Africa seen to be the world's basket case, it is always a joy when one of the brethren overcomes malaria, malnutrition, prejudice, poverty and its brothers and makes it.

Understandable it is therefore that Uruguayan hero Luiz Suarez draws disgust courtesy of his cheating hand that kept the goal that could made the Black Stars of Ghana the first African nation to make it to the semifinals of World Cup right here on African soil in the 2010 South African edition. What is even harder for the public to understand is how such unsporting behavior, such blatant cheating in the full light of the floodlights of  Soccer City stadium could fail to draw personal liability.

Maybe it's on account of such happenings and on the back of tales passed down generations- most notably the suspect manner in how Cameroon was officiated out of another milestone way back in  the 1990 Italy  edition- that the six month ban imposed on former Arsenal ' The Invincibles' team member, now former Manchester City captain, Ivorian national team automatic pick Kolo Toure; after his 'B' sample failed the doping test, has been met with muted reaction in most of Africa.

Arsenal fans remember the shock when Arsene Wenger chose the Sheik's petrodollars over the dedication, handwork and 'die-for-the-badge' attitude that Kolo Toure put in week in week out for Arsenal even when it became more apparent that age was catching up with the defender. For some it was good business as Kolo Toure had without doubt done his bit for Arsenal and it would have been selfish of Wenger's to deny the Ivorian the call of a new challenge and the well known perks that come with being a Manchester City player- probably not bad boy Mario Balotelli but definitely Kolo Toure deserved all that.

When Yaya Toure was spat out by super Barcelona after years of service comparable only to his brother, to well wishers, it was a football fairy tale when the Toure brother's reunited at Manchester City. Though Yaya's move was more about the money the Ivorian would be making as a Manchester City player bringing to fore what Arsene wenger labels as financial doping in football, it is the other Toure's doping calamity that has left a stink.

In a paper “Doping in Sport: From Strychnine to Genetic Enhancement, It’s a Moving Target” Gary I. Wadler then a associate professor of clinical medicine at New York University School Of Medicine notes “ Competition, at its most basic level, appears to drive athletes to do whatever it takes to win. Perhaps the need to win at all costs is a Darwinian response, an adaptive mechanism..” As a sports fan it is often hard to forget the pressure on the shoulders of our favored athletes.

Taking the case of Yaya Toure for instance, the noise has only quieted down on account of his impressive end of season form where his contributions to Manchester City's first cup in over half a century were taken to be worthwhile paybacks for the monies that he takes home as the game's top earner. No telling the pressure on his brother's shoulders when he chose to take, as he puts it in his defense, his wife's slimming pills

Doping is as old as sports Wadler quips “Even as long ago as the 3rd century B.C., the Greeks, inventors of democracy and the Socratic method, were known to ingest hallucinogenic mushrooms to improve athletic performance. In the Roman era, gladiators used stimulants in the famed Circus Maximus (circa 600 B.C.) to overcome fatigue and injury, while other athletes experimented with caffeine, alcohol, nitroglycerine, opium and even the potent stimulant, strychnine.”

On the day that Barcelona face Manchester United at Wembley in the 2010/11 Champions league final, it is worth noting one of the star attractions-super Messi- were it not for a defined medical reason could be said to have benefited from doping.

 The Messi legend goes that Barcelona acquired the services of a player who Wenger reckons that hisexploitss in the modern game could only elicit one responsee: Kneeling down- as the Catalan outfit were the only team interested in the young exceptionally gifted yet puny player (on account of a genetic deficiency in  growth hormone) , who could afford the treatment that the now 21st Century god of football desperately needed.  

So dicey is this doping in sports affair that even the definition of what doping is remains problematic. Others argue for the need to demonstrate intent on the athletes part which as Wadler notes is problematic as “notion that we can actually assess one’s intent, both qualitatively and quantitatively” is futile leaving room for the use of  “surrogate measure, the testing of bodily fluids, especially urine, has become a marker for assessing intent.”

That said, did Kolo Toure INTEND to gain unfair advantage by taking his wife's slimming pills? Qualitatively? As one of his fans, probably not. Quantitatively? The 'B' sample says it all. Worth noting is that in the eyes of his fans, probably the qualitative measure counts more than any quantitative measure thus the n muted repose and overwhelming public opinion in his support. Nonetheless, those six months ought be enough to hit the gym.

My father oftened told me the truth is often simple. The simplest of explanations oten bear the truth. Though Kolo Toure's defense was as simplistic as they come, as Wadler notes “ It’s a struggle between the manipulators versus the investigators and each side’s armaments grow more advanced each day.”

FIFA ELECTIONS Time For Sepp Blatter To Go?

On June 1st  one month after the world marks Labor day; as Kenya marks 48 years of internal self-rule following her gaining of independence from the United Kingdom; on the day that Arsenal battle Manchester United at the Emirates in one of the game's most passionate rivalries, in Zurich, another contest will be decided.

FIFA Headquarters in Zurich  Image: Hoogen Sport

Incumbent Sepp Blatter for the first time in 12 years has a credible challenge in the head of the Asian Football Confederation, Bin Hammam, for a post that almost became synonymous with the 74 yr old  Swiss; The FIFA presidency. In this match-up, the upcoming FIFA elections are finally generating the ad o that befits the influence of the what could easily be termed to be the world's most powerful autonomous body save for the United Nations.

Being The Godfather of a game popularly thought to have originated in the English midlands thereabouts a century ago, that  today is a global movement  is a momentous issue. Sample this, at the mere threat of a ban from participation in FIFA sanctioned football events, otherwise larger than life Presidents tuck in their tails, tow the line lest they are made to look like mere tribal chiefs.

The appeal of football borders on religion. As it was once said, religion is the opium of the poor; football happens to be the dope of the masses. Every week thousands congregate in stadia across the globe, millions more via live television and a couple more on the Internet just for the fix.

This global popularity of the beautiful game makes that the FIFA presidency surpass simple sports management, touch on the geopolitical and even has a say on how the world revolves and rotates.
It is said that  money makes the world go round. As you already know, what a ready market the football family is. Sponsorship deals, advertising and merchandise make football a multimillion industry.

Thus, a Don Corleone reference of the FIFA presidency serves especially taking note of the numerous occasions  where the workings of FIFA have been too Sicilian. No doubt the appeal of football has much to do with the well oiled structures and pristine organization running from the FIFA congress headed by an elected president right down to the grassroots. In places like Nyamira; places that you and I have never heard of through branch chairmen of affiliate local national football associations of the 120+ countries FIFA member countries.

An impressive reach that FIFA has nonetheless, some say the workings of FIFA are too much of a one man show especially so as over the four term reign of the incumbent. They argue as much as the different confederations are the roots that hold up the tree, it appears that the stem, roots and branches suck the roots and not the reverse where the roots feed the top.

While local affiliates and regional groupings like UEFA  bear the difficult task of  running the game,  bringing the masses to the games and keeping them there; when it comes to the major decisions they are just but lame ducks. Take the case of the football debate that has refused to go away- goal line technology. Going by the tones of the discussions, one may be mistaken to think that were it not for Sepp Blatter, goal line technology would have been a forgone conclusion.

Or the recent proposal by none other than Sepp Blatter to have the 2018 Qatar World Cup in winter to avoid the sweltering heat of summer in the Arabian desert. Lest you forget, loud grantles are still being heard in the football world over the decision to award the 2018 World Cup to Qatar and 2022 edition to Russia. It is such decisions that may have spurred Bin Hammam to suggest a term limit :“I genuinely believe eight years is enough for every president to focus on football....after that, he’s looking after everything else other than football.”

Understandable comments from the man hoping that the democratic fever causing dis-ease in the Middle East  catches on in Zurich as the audit on the impact that spreading the game to Africa in 2010 South Africa will have on the African game turns unhealthy outcomes. While the Brazil 2016 World Cup edition forecast looks gloomy, not forgetting only trace net gains from the 2002 South Korea and Japan edition on the Asian game.

Keen to ride on the disgruntled voices from the smaller footballing nations like the 40 votes rich CONCACAF region, Bin Hammam the head of one of Sepp Blatter's nobler projects- The FIFA GOAL Beaureu project is promising to increase disbursements to member nations to as much as half a million dollars. Peanuts if you ask me considering the colossal funds FIFA has a say on.

Being of this world, FIFA is not immune to some of the evils that embarrassingly still remain a problem in the 21st Century. While the 'say no to racism' ,'fair play' campaigns and the like are pleasing to the ear, they have been noted in some quarters to be largely political slogans. Corruption is still a vermin in FIFA like in any political organization (remember the aftermath of the host awarding process of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup editions). Bin Hammam being the good politician he is, is promising to rid FIFA of corruption.

On this task and the more immediate one that takes place in Zurich on the 1st of June, I wish him luck With the immediate future of the global economy in Asia's hands, a new world will indeed open up if the 46 Asian votes in the FIFA congress manages to push their man through. Some possibility but as they say in Korea, 'You think flowers and the sun don't exist just because you don't see them?'