It will come as no shock to any living Englishman that has kicked a ball that Harry Redknapp is looking to add to his squad. As sure as we are that Frank Lampard will score 20 goals this season, and that in the near future we will stop and ask ourselves how Garth Crooks remains employed by the BBC, we know that when the transfer window is open, Redknapp rubs his hands together with the same glee as Yaya Toure in an Eastlands boardroom. There is no doubt that to contend in the four competitions that Spurs will this season they will need a hefty squad, but if Harry is after an attacking midfielder, he should resist temptation and look no further than his own training ground.
Giovani Dos Santos’ first two seasons in England have not gone to plan. It won’t have helped that the manager that signed him, Juande Ramos, was sacked within two months of his arrival, and during Harry Redknapp’s overhaul of the squad, the Mexican was overlooked. Redknapp has questioned Dos Santos’ commitment and attitude after claiming that he spent too much time in nightclubs and was regularly late to training on a Monday morning. How ill-disciplined his time has been at the club will only be known by those at White Hart Lane, what we know is that that same period of time has only resulted in seven competitive appearances for Dos Santos, as he has had to make do with loan spells to Ipswich and Galatasaray to get games under his belt. This may now be time to start afresh for all those concerned.
One of the obstacles for Dos Santos is the number of players competing for games in the Tottenham wide positions: Modric, Lennon, Kranjcar, Bentley and now Bale. What will encourage Dos Santos is that Redknapp does give players a chance, and if the performances are good enough, they are then rewarded with a run of games: both Roman Pavlyuchenko and David Bentley got runs of games after months on the side lines. In addition, many Spurs players, like Dos Santos, can be shifted around. Will Bale play at left-back of further forward? That could depend on whether Modric is deployed wide, or in the middle, which depends on who Redknapp wants to play with Huddlestone. If Redknapp is wary about his striking options, he could play Dos Santos off a main striker (although he usually plays two) during European away days when he wants to swamp the midfield and get time on the ball.
After missing the early part of pre-season, having been given time off because of the World Cup, Dos Santos has impressed in the games that he has featured in, providing energy and imagination, particularly in the game against Fiorentina in which he was the architect of most of Spurs’ best moves. He has carried on from where he left off at the World Cup; if Tottenham can get the player that plays for Mexico then they will have saved a good lump of money. Redknapp and Spurs fans will be hoping that Do Santos feels he has a point to prove, after the stuttering start to his Tottenham career. In a transfer market that is becoming increasingly difficult to negotiate – if Redknapp is having problems, times must be tough – then his efforts should go towards a defender to cover the troubled King and Woodgate, who both look set for another trying season. Potentially, Redknapp could move for another striker, but that will cost more money, and he has greater options in that department, even if he isn’t totally happy with them.
Dos Santos has shown on the biggest stage in the game that he has the attributes to be a top player, and if he does need a word in his ear and a confidence boost, there are few better in the Premier League than Harry Redknapp at that sort of man-management. Dos Santos turned 21 last May; quick, young, eager, talented – think Gareth Bale this time last year – Spurs have a potential gem among their ranks.
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With the PL season nearly upon us, let’s see the WAGS that will be keeping the players on their toes. Click on image to VIEW gallery
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There is a feel good factor around Anfield this week after two excellent results and Kenny Dalglish is right to suggest that Liverpool FC are making good progress on the pitch. One of the players more than playing their part in recent weeks is Martin Skrtel, who took the time out to answer various questions about life at Anfield.
FFC: Martin, what is the realistic target for Liverpool F.C. this season?
MS: I think that the target is to finish in the top four, and of course we want to be as high as we can, but we will see how things can go after the Christmas [period] – but I think if we finish in the top four that’s gonna be great for us.
FFC: The club made a lot of new signings over the summer. In which areas do you feel the side has progressed most from last season?
MS: The whole team because the last season, especially the beginning of the season, wasn’t the best for us and then after Kenny [Dalglish] came in together with Steve [Clarke] a lot of things changed. New players come in and I think we start playing better as a team. Also after the new signings in the summer we are getting stronger as a team and I think we can see that on the pitch.
FFC: You mentioned Kenny there and obviously Kenny Dalglish is a living legend at the club. How inspirational is he to have as a manager?
MS: Yeah, it’s a big thing for us you know? Because I think everybody knows him and what he’s done for Liverpool, and also what he is doing now for Liverpool so I think Kenny is an inspiration for every single part – trying to progress the unit for him, for the fans and for the club.
FFC: With yourself, Carragher, Agger, Coates and young Martin Kelly at the club, there is plenty of competition at centre-back. Do you feel that Liverpool could comfortably switch to a 3-at-the-back system in the future?
MS: I think that is not a question for me but for the manager. But I think it’s only a good thing if he gets, for every single position, more players because then you have to work hard on the training [ground] and in the game as well because only 11-players can play and start the game. So I think that’s good for ourselves [the centre-backs] and for the team as well.
FFC: You wear number 37 at Liverpool FC. Did you choose that number and if so, were there any particular reasons for doing so?
MS: Yes [smiles]. You know before in Russia [with Zenit] I play with the number-3, and also in the national team I play with the number-3. But when I came to Liverpool Steven Finnan was wearing number-3 so then I made the choice to take 37 because number-3 is my lucky number and number-7 is a lucky number for my girlfriend, so together it’s 37 and I’m quite happy with that number!
FFC: Since joining Liverpool FC, in which areas do you feel you have improved most as a player?
MS: I think tactically and also physically because after I came here I had to learn a lot of things…how to play, how to do a lot of things on the pitch, because under Rafa we were working….everyday on the tactics based [approach] so it was helping me a lot. All of the football is much, much stronger and quicker here than Slovakia and also in Russia and so in this way I have had to learn a lot as well.
FFC: You turn 27-years old next month. Do you really feel that you’re coming into your prime?
MS: I hope I will be – just [get] better and better now because you know all of the people talking for the defenders [say] if they are getting older, they are getting more experienced and they are better on the pitch, so I think that it’s going to be my way as well.
FFC: You recently made your 100th appearance in the Premier League with Liverpool and kept a clean sheet…what have been the highlights of your career in England so far?
MS: In England? Difficult to say just one moment because during the four years I’ve been here we’ve played a lot of good, memorable games. I always remember the first game I played for Liverpool and also the first game I scored for Liverpool and I hope in future we’ll get some trophies and the highlights of my career will come in the future.
FFC: Who is the best striker you have ever come up against?
MS: Hmm…there’s a lot of them in England because the Premier League, for me, is the best league in the world with the best players in the world so…I can say Drogba, Rooney or Adebayor, but that’s only three of them! But in every single team you can pick one great player and a big star there.
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FFC: Martin Kelly, Jon Flanagan and Jack Robinson have all made the breakthrough to the first team squad in recent times. Are there any other youngsters that Liverpool fans should look out for in the future?
MS: Yes, you said those three but also we can say Jay Spearing or Nathan Ecclestone. I think the guys at the academy are doing a great job and we can see if any lads come in from the academy and train with the first team, you cannot see a big difference with them and between the guys from the first-team, so I think every single player from the academy can be, in the future, a Premier League first-team player.
FFC: Is it true that you began playing football as a striker or winger? If so how did you come to play centre-back?
MS: Yes! [smiles] Yeah, I started playing as a winger then as a striker but when I [was] getting older and older I was going more back and back! [laughs] At 16 I played for the national team in Portugal and our centre-back got sent-off and another one got an injury so the manager just asked me if I can try to play centre-back, so I tried and I’ve stayed here until now!
FFC: Rumour has it you were quite the Ice Hockey player in your younger days, is this true and do you still follow the sport?
MS: Yeah! When I was younger I was playing ice-hockey but now I don’t have time for that because all year I am here and also I think it’s too dangerous to play ice-hockey now! So I just try to watch it on TV and I like this game and really enjoyed it.
FFC: At international level, who is your most talented Slovakian team-mate?
MS: Difficult to name. Hmm…if I had to pick just one…maybe [thinks more]…Vladimir Weiss.
FFC: You were a team member of your country’s first appearance as an independent nation at a World Cup in 2010. What were your best memories and highlights of the tournament?
MS: It was a great summer and a great tournament for us because it was the first World Cup for Slovakia and I think we did well there. We got through from the group, but then we couldn’t beat Holland so…I think it was a great tournament and I will always remember that.
FFC: Which other defenders in world football really impress you and who are your favourite players?
MS: The player I was always looking up to, to be like him was Fabio Cannavaro because, for me he was one of the best centre-backs, so he was the favourite player for me. And if you’re asking now? Favourite player…I don’t know because I don’t have favourite players now – all the big players are my opponents and I play against them so I just look at them as my opponents!
FFC: Finally, Slovakia unfortunately failed to qualify for next summer’s Euro 2012 tournament, so who is your tip to win the competition and who, if any, will you be supporting?
MS: [Thinks] I think Germany are quite strong now, and also Spain – they are the favourite – and also England, so I think one of those three teams will win. And I think I will support England or Spain because I have team-mates there so, one of these teams.
OK Martin, we’ve got some quick fire questions for you:
FFC: First match you ever went to see?
MS: [Laughs] Hmmm, I can’t remember because I was too young but was definitely some game in the Slovakian league.
FFC: Best player you’ve played with or against?
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MS: With…best player I’ll say was Stevie G, and against…Zinedine Zidane.
FFC: What’s the best goal you’ve ever scored?
MS: [Laughs!] Erm? Maybe it was the goal [when] we played for the national team against Cyprus and it was 1-1, then I scored for 2-1 then we won this game, so maybe this one!
FFC: Best stadium you’ve ever played at?
MS: Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid.
FFC: If you weren’t a footballer, what do think you’d be doing now?
MS: Difficult to say. I hope I would be a footballer for as long as I can [remember] so, I don’t think about what I could do if I wasn’t a footballer!
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Martin was speaking on behalf of Liverpool’s official betting partner 188BET, who offer Great Prices, Every Match. To back Liverpool to beat Fulham away next Monday (5th Dec) at odds of 2.25, visit www.188bet.com.
Tottenham defender William Gallas is likely to see out his playing days in England after agreeing to a new two-year-deal with the club.Gallas, 33, initially joined Tottenham on a one-year deal at the end of last season from arch-rivals Arsenal but has impressed in his 28 appearances this season.
He has also formed an important defensive partnership with Michael Dawson as Spurs reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
“The club is delighted to announce that William Gallas has signed a two-year contract extension which runs until 2013,” a statement on the club’s website said.
“The experienced France defender has impressed at the heart of our defence since joining the Club in the summer following the expiration of his contract at Arsenal at the end of the 2009/10 campaign.”
“A two-time Premier League title winner with Chelsea, William has made 28 appearances in our colours to date as well as captaining the side on occasions in both the Premier League and Champions League this season.”
Both Owen Hargreaves and Jonathan Woodgate have recently suffered yet another injury setback in their careers which has been riddled with them. It is a devastating blow for not only Manchester United and Tottenham, but England in particular.
Sir Alex Ferguson is uncertain of Hargreaves’ comeback which seems to be delayed time and time again:
“He will not be ready for the start of the season. I do not know when he will be back.”
As for Tottenham’s Woodgate, his manager Harry Redknapp believes his centre-back is facing a make-or-break month if he is to be involved for much of the coming season:
“It’s make or break for Jonathan now. He has got to come back and play. If he is not ready for the start of the season it will be difficult for him.
“When he gets the boots on and starts playing hopefully he will be alright. He’s a fantastic player; one of the best centre-halves around. We just take it day by day with him and see how he progresses.”
Both Ferguson and Redknapp have a tremendous amount of respect for their injury-prone stars and know all about their qualities as players, so it is a shame that their clubs and England have missed out on their talent because of their failing fitness.
Three Lions boss Fabio Capello could have done with the pair in South Africa as the defence and midfield had its problems during England’s abysmal World Cup campaign.
After the tournament many were quick to criticise the likes of John Terry and Matthew Upson who were torn apart by a young and impressive German side. So it is a shame that during his career Woodgate never truly reached the potential that attracted Real Madrid to him back in 2004 as his career has been so interrupted, but when he is fit he is one of the better English centre-backs and is a lot quicker than most who play in that position…when he’s not on crutches of course.
England’s holding midfielder during the tournament was Gareth Barry, who had his injury problems going into the tournament and was probably at some fault for at least two of the goals against Joachim “Jogi” Löew’s side.
It is a great shame that Hargreaves, 29, has not been fit to play in the holding role as I believe he is a much more accomplished player in the position than Barry, who only seems to be able to pass backwards. But Hargeaves has only played four games for Manchester United over the past two seasons and United may seek to replace him as it seems as though he will never truly be over his problems.
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The England fans never really took to the former Bayern Munich man initially and originally many questioned why former England coach Sven Goran Eriksson repeatedly picked him. But he impressed during the 2006 World Cup where many started to realise how vital it is to have a spoiler in midfield doing the dirty work allowing the attacking players to do what they do best. His performances prompted Fergie to make a move for him that summer and although the player worked hard to force a move to Old Trafford, he would have to wait a further 12 months to secure a deal as Bayern refused to sanction the sale.
Let’s not forget that injuries have also robbed us of England’s best finishers in recent times, Michael Owen. The former Newcastle forward is England’s fourth most prolific forwards for his country of all time and has scored 40 goals in 89 caps. But injuries and lack of playing time is the main reason behind Capello omitting him from his squads (he still somehow justifies Emile Heskey’s place, go figure that one out).
However, many argue that the Italian has been wrong to do this in the past and even if he wasn’t to be a Three Lions starter again I’d much rather see the likes of Owen coming off of the bench when England need a goal that Heskey or Peter Crouch.
Is there any other players fans think we have been robbed of as a nation for injuries or any other reasons?
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Click on image to see a gallery of the BEST BABES at the World Cup this summer
One of the Premier League’s best managers last season has so far endured a torrid start to the 2010/11 campaign. Owen Coyle continues the battle to bring Bolton Wanderers up from relegation dog fights and into a more safe environment of mid-table. But facing a confident Stoke City, who make their first appearance in the Europa League this season, The Trotters have an uphill battle to grab all 3pts in this crucial Premier League encounter.
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Tony Pulis will surely be looking to take advantage of a Bolton side depleted by injuries to key players and a very much subdued Reebok crowd by enforcing his secret weapon in Rory Delap. A win for Stoke will signal an incredible start for The Potters, who at the moment lie 3pts out of European places in the League. But more importantly, a loss for Owen Coyle’s side will set off alarm bells as they battle to fend off suitors to their starting XI’s finest and, of course, the nightmare of relegation.
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Steven Fletcher grabbed the hosts a late equaliser as Wolves and Tottenham shared an action-packed six-goal thriller at Molineux on Sunday.The substitute headed home in the 87th minute just when it seemed two highly controversial refereeing decisions would deprive the strugglers of a share of the spoils after Roman Pavlyuchenko and a Jermain Defoe double had canceled out Kevin Doyle’s brace for Wanderers.Prior to kick-off, both sets of supporters honoured former Wolves and Spurs defender Dean Richards with one minute’s applause, as representatives of each of Richards’ former clubs joined his family and the players out on the pitch to celebrate the 36-year-old, who died last week.And the 90 minutes that followed would have delighted the talented England Under-21 international as both sides set out with the sole intention of claiming a vital win. Wolves’ wing play set out to expose Heurelho Gomes’ vulnerability at claiming crosses, and sure enough, on 20 minutes, Spurs fell behind to just such a move as Doyle found a yard of space between the Tottenham goalkeeper and his defence to flick home Nenad Milijas’ pinpoint cross from the right.Tottenham showed their class by weathering the storm to hit back with two pieces of clinical finishing from Defoe.First, the England striker curled a sumptuous shot beyond a full-stretched Wayne Hennessey to level matters and bettered it soon after with a top corner finish from 25 yards out.That lead evaporated within five minutes as Doyle sent Gomes the wrong way with a penalty after Alan Hutton had tugged the arm of Milijas in the area.With many debating whether Hutton’s yellow card warranted more severe punishment, Spurs made Wolves pay by regaining the lead just three minutes after the restart as some hesitant defending allowed Pavlyuchenko time to slam home another impressive long-range finish. Milijas and Defoe both hit the woodwork in an absorbing finale that saw Richard Stearman’s header controversially ruled out for an apparent foul on Gomes before Fletcher climbed highest to claim the draw that both teams had earned.
Premier League champions Chelsea have been linked to many players during the current transfer window and many fans have discussed who they should go for and who they need the most.
Personally, I think that Bayern Munich and Germany star Bastian Schweinsteiger should be made Carlo Ancelotti’s number one target this summer and the club should do their best to bring the versatile midfielder to Stamford Bridge ahead of the 2010/11 season.
The 25-year-old would be a perfect fit for the Blues due to his playing style and would help alone replace the void left by departures such as Michael Ballack, Juliano Belletti and Deco, who is expected to be out of the door soon.
Schweinsteiger has mainly caught the eye of fans following his impressive displays in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa where he helped a young and exuberant Germany side into third place, with his best moment probably being the superb run and low cross which setup Arne Friedrich’s tap-in for Germany’s third goal against Diego Maradona’s Argentina side.
The 25-year-old also showed his quality for his club last season as Bayern won a league and cup domestic double as well as making their way into the Champions League final where they lost to Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan side.
Schweinsteiger was mooted as a replacement for Ballack even before the World Cup and perhaps it would be a lot harder to prise him away from Bayern now, as well as being a lot more expensive.
He has been at his current club for his entire professional career which began in the 2002/03 season and is willing to remain loyal to the Bundesliga outfit believing he can still achieve a lot there:
“There are always a few offers, but I have a contract with Bayern until 2012 and I respect the contract and the club.
“I know that there is something great at Bayern. We didn’t reach the UEFA Champions League final without good reason – and to win it is my ambition.”
However, he also revealed that a potential move abroad excites him:
“To end this talk I will just say that I am not married to Bayern.
“The Bundesliga is great, and has become more important, but if I were to move on then, of course, the idea of going abroad is what excites me.”
Schweinseiger has recently been successful in a deep-lying midfield role, similar to the role played by Ballack during his last few Chelsea games, but the Bayern man is also capable of playing a more offensive midfield position or even in a wider role. Due to his versatility he would arguably be well suited to the Blues’ 433 formation and Ancelotti’s original diamond formation.
Many Chelsea fans argue that Michael Essien is somewhat wasted when he is played in a deeper role and having someone like Schweinsteiger in the team could allow the Ghanaian to go forward more and attack. Also, Frank Lampard would benefit from having two workhorses of midfielders alongside him and allow him to continue his late runs into the box which has made him so successful and prolific.
Schweinsteiger has never really been prolific himself, but can chip in with the odd goal (32 goals in 304 Bayern Munich games). More impressive are the amount of assists he makes (59 in his Bayern career) and the way he can control a game by bossing the midfield.
Should Ancelotti make signing Bastian Scweinsteiger a priority for the Stamford Bridge outfit, or do Chelsea fans think there are better prospects out there?
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Click on image to see a gallery of the BEST BABES at the World Cup this summer
Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish has stated that he will stand by striker Luis Suarez, after the attacker was accused of racism in the 1-1 draw against Manchester United last weekend.
United defender Patrice Evra claimed that the Uruguay international racially abused him, with the supposed incident under investigation by the FA.
Depsite this, the Scottish coach has supported his South American forward, and feels that the player is hugely important to the Anfield club.
“The only thing I will say – and then it is put to bed – is that the football club and everyone at the football club is totally and utterly fully behind Luis Suarez,” Dalglish told the club’s official website.
“There was an allegation after the game about him diving all over the place and there was an allegation from Patrice Evra. Obviously the two things are emotive but we support the wee man on both things.
“At the start of the week the club made their position known and apart from what I have said we won’t be adding to it. We are fully looking forward to a complete, transparent report from the FA and we will co-operate 100 per cent,” he concluded.
Suarez is set to compete for the Merseyside outfit against Norwich on Saturday, as Liverpool look for three points to get them into top four contention.
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Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has backed out-of-sorts forward Jermain Defoe to go on a goal-scoring run – starting with Sunday’s trip to Wolves.
The England striker hit 18 Premier League goals last season but has yet to find the net in the league this term.
“He has gone through one of those spells where he has not managed to score. Normally at this time of the year he has 15 or 16 goals so we are hoping that he will go on a run and if he does that it will make a massive difference to our points tally,” Redknapp said.
“It’s about confidence and once he starts hitting the back of the net I’m sure they’ll come along in their numbers but at the moment it’s just a case of getting off the mark.”
Tottenham have a massive Champions League tie against AC Milan to look forward to in midweek but Redknapp insists all eyes are on the Wolves game.
With Chelsea just one point ahead of Spurs in fourth place, it is important to remain focused on the Premier League.
“We have to look to get a result over Wolves. I think Wolves are a very good side. I have said that all season. They are a well-run club from the chairman to the chief executive and their manager Mick McCarthy is top class,” he said.
“McCarthy gets absolutely everything out of his players week in week out and we had a tough couple of games against them last year. They did the double over us then and we were quite fortunate to beat them at home this year.”
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“We were 1-0 down in the game and ended up winning 3-1. They are a good side and we have to make sure that we try to finish in the top four. That’s our priority. That’s important for us, to look to win on Sunday.”
Tottenham are missing defenders Vedran Corluka (ankle), Jonathan Woodgate (groin) and Younes Kaboul (knee), while in midfield, Tom Huddlestone (ankle), Rafael Van der Vaart (knee) and Gareth Bale (back) are all struggling.
For a plethora of reasons, Premier League clubs have frequently tried to cherry-pick the world’s best young talent. With young players often available at the fraction of the cost of more established names, the benefits of such a policy can be plentiful. However, such transactions are fraught with danger. There is always the risk that such a player may not develop as anticipated or adapt to the rigours of the Premier League. For every Cesc Fabregas, there’s a Jérémie Aliadière…
Jérémie Aliadière
Age: 27
Current club: Unattached
French striker Jérémie Aliadière is living proof that Arsene doesn’t always know. Aliadière failed to follow the path of previous Arsenal striking sensations Thierry Henry and Nicolas Anelka, and left North London in the summer of 2007 after scoring just once in 27 league appearances for the Gunners in six years as a senior player at the club. Aliadière moved north to Middlesbrough prior to the 2007/08 season, where he managed to bag a more respectable 11 goals in 78 appearances before departing the Teesside club at the end of last season.
David Bellion
Age: 27
Current club: Bordeaux
Signed during the same summer as infamous Manchester United flops Eric Djemba-Djemba and Kleberson, former Sunderland man David Bellion failed to justify the lengths the Red Devils went to to secure the Frenchman’s signature. Bellion managed just four league goals for the Old Trafford outfit, and was sent out on loan to both West Ham United and Nice, where he enjoyed varying degrees of success. After impressing whilst at Nice, Bellion was snapped up by Bordeaux, where he won the French league title in 2009.
Giovani dos Santos
Age: 21
Current club: Tottenham Hotspur
Hailing from the esteemed Barcelona youth academy, Giovani dos Santos appeared to be a major coup for Spurs when he arrived at White Hart Lane from Catalonia in the summer of 2008. Two seasons on, and the Mexican has appeared just 15 times for Spurs, with the midfielder enduring underwhelming loan spells at both Ipswich Town and Galatasaray. Still only 21, dos Santos still has time on his side, and could yet make an impact at White Hart Lane.
Nii Lamptey
Age: 35
Current club: Retired
Having led Ghana to the 1991 FIFA U-17 World Championship title, big things were expected of midfielder Nii Lamptey. Lamptey managed to display similarly dazzling form at club level with Belgian side Anderlecht, where he was hailed as the new Pele. After a brief spell at Dutch side PSV, Lamptey was brought to Aston Villa as a 20-year-old, where many expected him to light up the Premier League. After a failed season at Villa Park, Lamptey followed club manager Ron Atkinson to Coventry City, where he endured another miserable term. Lamptey left England in the summer of 1996 after making just 16 appearances in two seasons.
Anthony Le Tallec
Age: 25
Current club: Auxerre
Similarly to the aforementioned Nii Lamptey, Le Tallec was tipped for greatness on the basis of form displayed at a FIFA U-17 World Championship. During the 2001 instalment of the event, Le Tallec and then Le Havre team-mate Florent Sinama Pongolle won the Silver Ball and Golden Ball respectively, leading to a transfer to Gerard Houllier’s Liverpool. Initially loaned back to Le Havre for two years, Le Tallec failed to make an impact at Anfield, racking up a mere 17 league appearances during the course of five seasons upon Merseyside. During his time as a ‘Liverpool player’, Le Tallec was loaned out on no less than four occasions, before permanently joining French outfit Le Mans in the summer of 2008.
Jermaine Pennant
Age: 27
Current club: Jermaine Pennant
Everyone’s favourite formerly-electronically-tagged winger became Britain’s most expensive trainee when Arsenal shelled out £2m for the then 16-year-old in 1999. The former Notts County man made a bright start to his Arsenal career, scoring a hat-trick on his full league debut against Southampton, but succumbed to a string of disciplinary problems. Failing to impress Arsene Wenger, Pennant was loaned to Birmingham City, where he was arrested and convicted for drink-driving. This did not perturb the Midlands side, who signed Pennant permanently in 2005. Following the St. Andrews’ side’s relegation, Pennant moved to Liverpool, where he made 55 league appearances in three seasons before switching to Spanish side Real Zaragoza.
Philippe Senderos
Age: 25
Current club: Fulham
A friend of mine once joked that whilst Philippe Senderos knows six languages, not one of them is defending. Whilst this may be a tad harsh on the Swiss defender, one would be hard pressed to state that he has been a resounding success in England. As a youth player, Senderos was courted by the likes of Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. His move to Arsenal was initially hailed as a masterstroke, with former Arsenal defender Martin Keown stating (of Senderos), “For me, he has what it takes to go all the way.” Despite featuring as a prominent part of the Arsenal rearguard that recorded ten consecutive Champions League clean sheets in 2005/06, Senderos’ form deteriorated soon after, with his mental resolve seeming increasingly fragile. Senderos endured something resembling a minor breakdown after Arsenal’s Champions League exit to Liverpool in 2008, and his Arsenal career declined soon afterwards. Senderos made 17 appearances over the course of the last two seasons during loan spells with both AC Milan and Everton, before departing for Craven Cottage earlier this month.
Florent Sinama Pongolle
Age: 25
Current club: Sporting Lisbon
Like cousin Anthony Le Tallec (see above), Florent Sinama Pongolle joined Liverpool on the basis of tremendous performances at the 2001 FIFA U-17 World Championship. During his time at Anfield, Sinama Pongolle endeared himself to the Anfield faithful more so than Le Tallec, famously scoring the equaliser in Liverpool’s 3-1 win over Olympiakos during the club’s triumphant Champions League campaign of 2004/05. Following a brief loan spell at Blackburn Rovers, Sinama Pongolle was sold to Spanish side Recreativo in the summer of 2006, where he finished as the club’s top scorer for two seasons running. This form attracted the interest of Atletico Madrid, and the Frenchman made the move to the capital club in the summer of 2008. Despite a bright start at the club, Sinama Pongolle fell out of favour and was transferred to Sporting Lisbon earlier this year.
Adel Taarabt
Age: 21
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Current club: Tottenham Hotspur
Yet another French-African midfielder billed as the ‘new Zinedine Zidane’, 21-year-old Adel Taarabt arrived at White Hart Lane on loan in early 2007. Despite exhibiting early promise under Martin Jol, Taarabt has failed to endear himself to both Juande Ramos and Harry Redknapp, managing just 16 appearances at White Hart Lane over the course of three and a half seasons. Taarabt has however, impressed on loan at Championship side Queens Park Rangers, where he established himself as one of the best players outside of the Premier League. With QPR unable to afford to secure Taarabt’s signature, his future remains unclear. Having stated that “The big mistake was to sign for Tottenham and not go to another club when I first came over”, and expressing a preference for fierce rivals Arsenal, it seems as though Taarabt’s White Hart Lane career is over.
Theo Walcott
Age: 21
Current club: Arsenal
A controversial selection given his undisputable quality, but it is safe to say that Theo Walcott has yet to justify his £12m price tag. After just 21 league appearances for Southampton, Walcott swiftly became the nation’s most coveted young talent. Arsene Wenger managed to fend off the interest of Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United to land Walcott in January 2006. Whilst Walcott has managed to rack up over 100 appearances for the London club and shown flashes of his brilliance for England, he has yet to develop consistency and has failed to progress at the rate expected. Like Giovani dos Santos (above), time is on his side, and Arsenal and England fans alike will be hoping that Walcott can build upon his early promise.
Any glaring omissions? Let me know below…
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Click on image below to see the BRAZILIAN babes at the World Cup