Football legends going crazy - funny video!

I'm not going to write a big piece or pretend this is a serious article ha ha - I just found this vid on the net and it made me laugh!

Enjoy: When footballers have too much sugar this happens



Have you ever been so mad steam came out of your nostrils?

Francesco Totti - Il re di Roma

Il re di Roma

I haven't done a post on the great players from the past and this legend certainly fits into this category. What's even more amazing in the modern game is that he was a one club man so props to him for loyalty.

Totti played as a attacking mid/second striker for Roma and was incredible. To be honest I won't go on a lot as he is pretty recent and  I'm sure you know all about him anyway.

Best thing to do is check this link out for Totti mad skills and marvel at the man in action

Liverpools Current Poor Form - whats up Jurgen?!

Think Jurgen, think damn you!

What a month it has just been for Liverpool and their fans! It looked like they were going along really well in the English Premier League but they have floundered of late. Boss Jurgen Klopp once had the midas touch but seems to have lost it, at least for now. One game won out of seven is a desperate stat for a team who did have ambitions of a title challenge.

So where has it gone wrong for the Reds?:

1. Klopp looks like a tramp

ha ha sorry had to get that in there as an Everton fan.

2. Losing key players to injury

It has to be said that they have been unlucky with injuries losing key players such as Joel Matip, Phillipe Coutinho and Jordan Henderson in previous weeks. This naturally has led to a downward dip in form as any team would face with the core of the team missing. What it really shows is that the depth of squad at Liverpool is not good enough and that is one area they need to improve on.

3. Mane going to the AFCON

Could the loss of one player be so pivotal? In the modern game you wouldn't think so but it seems Sadio Mane going to the African Cup of Nations was just that. Without Mane, their attack looked slow and predictable and they struggled to score. Now he is back they must hope he gets back in the goals quickly!


Mane skills in slow motion at AFCON

4. Fatigue
                                                                                          
Klopp famously likes to play the high energy pressing game and some critics has said it would be hard to keep up all season. It was so effective in the first half of the campaign but looks like it may be taking its toll on the players now. It may also be that teams have worked out how to play that way and nullify their threat.

I feel these are the root causes of Liverpools problems right now but most can be solved so hopefully they'll be on the right track again soon.

Bundesliga Jan 2017 Transfer Window Highlights



Before he left Malli did his version of 'My Way' for the fans

The man known as the Human Cannonball, Yunnus Malli, was the big move in the Bundesliga. He went to Wolfsburg for just short of £11m in what could be called an internal transfer (ooooh matron). Good signing for me - I think the price is just about alright , wouldn't have paid much more to be honest but he is a good player.

In what was a big window for wingers moving around, Leon Bailey moved to Bayer Leverkusen from Genk for £10.3m. The Jamaican winger has been in fine form for Genk but is still somewhat a risky buy. It remains to be seen if he can step up to the Bundesliga level but he does seem to possess the raw ability to do so.



Isak liked nothing better than a game of hopscotch

AIK Solna made some wedge in the window too, selling Alexander Isak to Dortmund for £8.6m. The Swedish player is a highly rated forward and I think Dortmund will see the goals flowing from him like a champagne filled fountain before long.

They were pretty much the main moves in Germany so for now that's it from me!

Ligue 1 January transfer news

Julian Draxler striding like a colossus

So the big news that got everyones attention in France was the transfer of Julian Draxler to PSG. The Paris club signed the 22 year old German for a whopping £34m! It sounds a lot but to be fair I think it's about the going rate for a talent like him in the modern game. Draxler is a real gem and will flourish in Ligue 1 I think - his pace and tricky running will be an asset to PSG that they will cherish.

PSG were also paying out a big chunk of cash for Goncalo Guedes from Benfica - he cost them £25.5m. It surprises me the  Paris based club picked both these players up as Guedes is a winger too, much in the same mould as Draxler. I guess the plan is to play one on each wing but with the players already there it could be tricky fitting them all in the same team.




How rude!

Marseille were another team waving their wad around, finally landing Dimitri Payet from West Ham. This was a rather ugly saga but one that has come to an end with the player getting his move at a cost of £25m to the French club. To be honest, I hope Payet falls flat on his face as the way he engineered his move from a club that had got him where he was left a bad taste in the mouth.

The other big move was a £17m switch for Memphis Depay from Manchester Utd in the Premier League to Lyon. This is a solid buy for Lyon I feel as Depay is a player and I'm surprised he didn't do that well in England and had to move on.

Vive la Francais!

La Liga Transfer News - Jan 2017

Montoya had forgotten his weights

It has to be said that the money being splashed around in Spain for this window wasn't quite as much as elsewhere in Europe. Having said that, there were still some interesting deals that went down.

The biggest one was Sevilla who signed Walter Montoya for £5m from Rosario Central. He will bolster their midfield options and give some steel & bite to Sevilla. I don't actually know much about this guy but he seems a good player.

Sevilla were actually quite busy as they picked up French central defender Clement Lenglet for £4.5m also. They have been a bit soft at the back so this could be a great signing to stiffen them up a bit in that regard and have a good finish to the season. 

Worst signing in recent memory for Leicester?

One of the more surprising moves was Luis Hernandez from Leicester to Malaga for £1.6m. Whats funny about this is that he only moved to Leicester on a free 6 months ago?! I mean it's great business for Leicester but doesn't say much for the player. Mind you with the season Leicester are having, he's probably glad to go!


Elsewhere, Granada picked up Sverrir Ingasson from Lokeren for £1.3m. This guy is a tough tackling defender who did well at the recent Euro's so is a good buy at that price.

It will certainly be interesting to see how the new signings affect the table at the end of the season. 

Serie A January 2017 Transfer Catch Up

Stop, it's hammertime

It was a busy old transfer window in Italy and I will bring you the major deals here now we know who has gone where.

Probably the biggest move in terms of coverage and fee was Mattia Caldara from Atalanta to Juventus for £13.1m. Juve had been keeping an eye on this player for a while and so will be happy they've got their man. I must admit I'm surprised Atalanta let him go now while they're having such a good season but I guess money talks!

Another side that surprised me is Genoa as they let TWO of their bets players go. Leonardo Pavoletti upped sticks to Napoli for £12.7m while Tomas Rincon went to Juventus for £8.1m. Rincon in particular I think is a wise buy as he will add some bite & steel to the Juve midfield. This to add with Ricardo Orsolini who went to the Old Lady also this window.




Run Forrest Run

Another big move was Iago Falque from Roma to Torino for £5.1m. He wasn't getting much of a look in at Roma who had loaned him out to Torino last season anyway so I don't blame him moving on permanently for more regular football. This guy is a tricky winger who Torino know well and will help keep their excellent season going.

All in all fairly busy for a January window and will make the rest of the campaign in Italy interesting now.

EPL Deadline Day Transfer News - January 2017

Manolo enjoyed the English summer

Now the dust has settled and the Premier League chairman have out their wallets away , I thought it best to round up the transfer new from the January window.

The main news was the man to our left - Manolo Gabbiadini. He was the most expensive player signed by a Premier League club this window, joining Southampton for £14m from Serie A club Napoli. I think he's a good signing - he's an intelligent player with good link play who will give them some craft and guile.

Burnley also invested fairly heavily, signing Irish midfielder Robbie Brady from Norwich for a deal rising to £13m eventually by all accounts. Brady is a skillful, tricky winger with a good set piece delivery on him so was a good piece of business by Sean Dyche.




Sakho could prove a good signing for Palace even if on loan

Whilst not a transfer, another move of note was Mamdou Sakho to Crystal Palace on loan from Liverpool. I feel a bit sorry for Sakho as he had at one time seemed to be establishing himself at the Reds. It seems Klopp doesn't fancy him though and this could be the spark he needs to re-ignite his career.

The other big spenders this January were Hull who signed Kamil Grosicki, Alfred N'Diaye and Andrea Rannochia . All seem wise signings to me and ones that could help Hull climb out of trouble. Grosicki and N'Daiye will add fair & bite to the midfield for them while Rannochia will shore up the backline for them.

There were of course lots of other deals so apologies if I missed any from your team out but these were the main highlights for me.