There has already been £145,000,000 million spent this summer in the Premier League, with the likes of Phil Jones, David de Gea and Jordan Henderson moving for big money. To put this into perspective, last summer, approximately £400 million was spent in the entire summer of 2011, a figure that falls to around £260 million if you discard the spending of Manchester City, a club who are yet to really get going this summer.
With another Premier League season looming over the horizon, the typical question is yet again in hot debate amongst football fans; who will win this season’s domestic title?
Southend United have their first pre-season friendly tonight, away at Dartford. What already? cried the wife in genuine amazement. Oh yes, I said, and not a moment too soon. The last time I saw my beloved Shrimpers was a 1 all bore draw with Burton Albion back on the 30th April. And that seems like years ago.
Having recently been instated as Birmingham City boss, Chris Hughton has been handed the task of guiding the Blues back to the big time – a feat he succeeded with Newcastle United just two seasons ago.
Young, 25, will suit his new club due to his explosive pace and dead-ball ability, but one has to question that final delivery into the box. In that sense, he is not on the same level as someone like Antonio Valencia.
The footballing aristocracy breathed a sigh of relief when Michel Platini outlined the Financial Fair Play rules for UEFA in these last few years, they were relieved because amongst the pantheon of established footballing giants, other, ‘small’ clubs managed to poke their heads in, and decided they liked it.
Back in the summer of 1983, Dario Gradi was offered a route back into club football management after being cast into the wilderness as a result of failure at Crystal Palace. That June, he embarked on an unbelievable journey that begins its 28th year at Gresty Road in charge of Crewe Alexandra.
Why doesn’t Pep Guardiola’s mentor, Juanma Lillo get the admiration he deserves?