AND so it starts…
Transfer Deadline Day is looking like an interesting one this January – not yet 9 o’clock and already there are twists and turns.
Sunderland target Danny Graham, who was one of the main players in firing Swansea in to the Premier League, is now looking likely to be doing the same for Middlesbrough.
The deal is reported to have been hijacked by Boro boss Tony Mowbray for around £5m.
middlesbrough
Downing to be downgraded to defence
LAST season Stewart Downing was set to be Liverpool’s supply line for £35m target man Andy Carroll – this season Downing is set to fight the likes of Jose Enrique for the left-back spot.
After a season of 36 league appearances, no assists and no goals – with the only statistic of real note being that Downing became the first Premier League player in seven years to miss three consecutive penalties – new boss Brendan Rogers is set to take drastic action.
He said: “I think it is a big possibility that he can play left back. If you look at the modern-day full-backs, Alba, Ashley Cole – Ashley Cole was a centre-forward.
“When Middlesbrough reached the Uefa Cup final against Sevilla, he played left-back on that run. Sometimes it can release the pressure on players. His job at the top end of the pitch is to create and score goals.
“Time will tell. I don’t like to just give up on players.”
In other news, Carroll has been given a security job, while Charlie Adam is to take up a new role in catering.
Team GB men’s team announced
FIVE Welsh and 13 English players have been selected for Great Britain’s men’s Olympic squad for London 2012.
Team GB manager Stuart Pearce has not picked any Scottish or Northern Irish players for the tournament.
The announcement of the squad confirmed that David Beckham has missed out with Ryan Giggs, Craig Bellamy and Micah Richards named as the three over-age players allowed – all the others have to be under-23.
Swansea have three players named, the most of any club – Scott Sinclair, Joe Allen and Neil Taylor, while Tottenham defender Steven Caulker, who has also been included, was on loan at the Liberty Stadium last season.
Chelsea’s Daniel Sturridge is also chosen, as is Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey and Manchester United Tom Cleverley. Tottenham’s Gareth Bale would have been selected but has been ruled out due to injury.
Pearce said: “It has not been an easy task to finalise my squad for this tournament, and the stature of the competition and uniqueness of the occasion has underlined the importance of every choice I have made.”
The squad in full – Jack Butland (Birmingham), Jason Steele (Middlesbrough); Ryan Bertrand (Chelsea), Steven Caulker (Tottenham), Craig Dawson (West Brom), Micah Richards (Manchester City), Neil Taylor (Swansea), James Tomkins (West Ham); Joe Allen (Swansea), Tom Cleverley (Manchester United), Jack Cork (Southampton), Ryan Giggs (Manchester United), Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal), Danny Rose (Tottenham), Scott Sinclair (Swansea); Craig Bellamy (Liverpool), Marvin Sordell (Bolton), Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea).
Referees right over Billy Sharp and Kevin Prince Boateng
IN TWO instances last night, referees failed to apply the letter of the law over goal celebrations – and Goaltastic applauds them for this.
In their 3-1 loss to MIddlesbrough, Doncaster Rovers striker Billy Sharp removed his shirt after scoring the game’s opener.
Underneath he wore a shirt saying “That’s For You, Son”, a reference to his two-day-old son who had tragically died on Saturday.
And In AC Milan’s 1-1 tie with BATE in the Champions League, Kevin Prince Boateng removed his shirt to show a “Cassano 99” Milan short underneath, in solidarity with his teammate who is rumoured to have suffered a stroke.
In neither instances did referees show a yellow card – a mandatory punishment for removing a shirt – and they should both he heralded for not doing so.
Supermodels ditched for Champions League final
MOST men would rather see their team play in the Champions League final than go on a romantic date with a supermodel.
The survey for cometition sponsor Heineken showed 52 per cent of blokes would plump for the football rather than go for a candle-lit rendez vous with the likes of Tyra Banks or Heidi Klum.
A spokesman said: “It just goes to show how the tournament captures the imagination of men around the world and the lengths people would go to in order to see their favourite team triumph in Wembley and be crowned champions of Europe.”
Of course, none of this will ever be a problem for me – I’m a Middlesbrough supporter.
Mendieta and friends in Butthole trip
AN ALL-STAR team is coming to Shepshed’s Butthole Lane ground for a charity football match on July 24, just a stone’s throw from Goaltastic’s Loughborough offices.
Former professionals including Valencia, Lazio and Middlesbrough midfielder Gaizka Mendieta, ex-Middlesbrough players Curtis Fleming, Marlon Beresford and Craig Hignett, former Manchester United player Andy Ritchie and ex-Norwich City and Northern Ireland player Paul McVeigh are set to take to the field at the home of Shepshed Dynamo.
They will be joined by celebrities including Big Brother stars Anthony Hutton and Ziggy Lichman, Emmerdale hunk Danny Miller, Hollyoaks actor Anthony Quinlan, former-Coronation Street and Dancing On Ice star Danny Young, and many, many more soap stars that Goaltastic’s WAG probably recognises.
Kick off will be at 2pm with tickets costing £8 for adults, £4 for under 16s and free for under fives. Proceeds will go to the Shannon Bradshaw Trust, which helps children with life-threatening conditions.
Pete Bull, club chairman, said: “We’re pleased to help out and support any charities.
“We’re hoping for a big crowd for people to be able to see some familiar faces and raise plenty of money.
“Everybody’s welcome – the more the merrier.”
Transfer Deadline Day XI
THE transfer window has now firmly slammed shut, but only after a few million pounds and about as many names have been tossed around nonchalantly, all in the name of football.
And you have to say it’s been a blast.
There’s been some surprising moves, and some grindingly inevitable ones too – and as the dust settles, invariably some fans will be happier than others with the way things panned out for their sides.
And yes, I’m prematurely assuming that the Torres and Luiz deals will go through for Chelsea.
To help you decide which camp you fall into, here are Goaltastic’s picks for the top signings of the day – although inclusion in the 3-4-3 formation XI below doesn’t necessarily represent the best value for money today…
GK – Ricardo (Leicester)
DEF – Luiz (Chelsea) – Haas (Middlesbrough) – Konchesky (Nottingham Forest)
MID – Reid (Blackpool) – Bradley (Aston Villa) – Ireland (Newcastle) – Suarez (Liverpool)
ATK – Torres (Chelsea) – Carroll (Liverpool) – Martins (Birmingham)
Woodgate and Leeds United to reunite?
EVERYBODY loves a happy ending, where two parties that are meant to be finally fall into one another’s arms and live happily ever after.
Well rumour has it that Leeds United are on the hunt for their very own Mr Right, central defender Jonathan Woodgate.
The England international enjoyed the most consistent spell of his career at Elland Road from 1998-2003 before injury-plagued stints at Newcastle, Real Madrid, Middlesbrough, and at present Tottenham.
And as the defender looks to rebuild the form which had him at one point marked as one of the best in the business, a return as a loan or transfer is on the cards to help bolster their credible Championship challenge in the second half of the season.
What a dreamboat, eh Leeds fans?
Souness for Boro role
IT BARELY gets a mention here, given the embarrassing situation the club is in a present, but Goaltastic is a Middlesbrough supporter.
The last mention was a post back in September, about how Gordon Strachan was trying – and in restrospect failing – to turn the club’s fortunes around.
Now he’s torn up his contract and walked away, leaving the Boro out of the Championship relegation zone on goal difference alone.
Now as pre-season promotion favourites, we clearly have the talent to climb back up, what we need is the bottle to do it.
That’s why I would like to see the ferocious Graeme Souness installed over favourites such as Tony Mowbray, Gary Megson and Paul Ince – he doesn’t mince his words with underperforming players, he’s taken teams to promotion before, and I think a blood and thunder approach like his is just what this division requires.
Never Mind The Boro…
DUE to a poor start to the season, with just four points from five games, Middlesbrough are now staring down the barrel – of a sex pistol, that is.
After looking pretty vacant so far this term, manager Gordon Strachan has said c’mon everybody and turned to Sex Pistol John Lydon to spur his team on.
Strachan met with buttler salesmen and punk icon Lydon and was inspired by the words “anger is an energy” from his 1986 hit Rise – with Strachan reacting to the QPR defeat by saying “I hope we are angry because anger is an energy.”
Hopefully it’ll help Boro rise up the table.
Goaltastic 