June 27, 2006

Sale! Sale! Sale! (“Cheap” Sale only applies for Chelsea)

So we’re already midway through the last 16 and already the World Cup merry-go-round has started with the first “confirmed” World Cup signing going to Tottenscum for Didier Zokora.

Sure he’s a good player, but fret not, supporters of the big four (oklah five, since we have a Newcastle fan on board). World Cup signings (usually from African nations) tend to be average joes, who had their 90 or so minutes of fame during the World Cup and will most likely go on loan to a relegation threatened club by the end of the season before slipping back to obscurity. Recent examples include Aliou Cisse and Salif Diao, while Poborsky and John Jensen didn’t exactly set the world on fire (ok fine, they were spotted during EURO, but you get my point). Even established stars fail to live up to their billing post World Cup, such as Nicky Butt and Davor Suker.

The top 10 FIFA World Cup 2006 potential stars/footnote-in-EPL-history are: -

1) Hatem Trabelsi – His agent already claims that there is a contract ready to be signed. Er, is it the same unsigned contract since the summer of 2004 when he was supposed to join the Arse? Did the agent misplace it then? But with a name like “Hatem” I’d think that he would be more suitable at Stamford Bridge (Hate ‘em. Get it? Haha).

2) Dirk Kuyt – So a prolific scorer in his native league, touted as a possible match-winner, who didn’t score in the World Cup is heavily linked with Newcastle…. Stephane Gui’varch, anyone?

3) Didier Zokora – Powerful displays in midfield for Ivory Coast has attracted the likes of Scum scrambling for his signature. He looks quality no doubt, but may well end up at Bolton/Pompey after a year or two after being ousted from Spurs by Jermaine Jenas… Er.. Hold that thought…

4) Artur Boka – The so-called African Roberto Carlos. He’s got the height and the bombarding runs down to a pat. But 2002 also saw a similar player on the other flank for Senegal by the name of Ferdinand Coly. He made only one appearance with Birmingham before packing his bags to Perugia and making the grade with their B team.

5) Javier Saviola – Prolific at international level. Proven scorer at club level too, but unfortunate to have Super Eto’o ahead of him at Barca. Personally, I’d like to see him with Arsenal but the lad prefers the likes of Real Betis and Espanyol over the spanking new Emirates (ugh) Stadium. Good luck to him then.

6) Maxi Rodriguez – I have to admit, my knowledge of the Madrid teams are skewed towards the one with the creaking stars. But surely I would have heard of this guy with all my years of playing Championship Manager… But I didn’t. 3 goals in 3 starts is an excellent return for a winger, and if Liverpool wants a right winger, this is the one they should get.

7) Aaron Lennon – I read somewhere (can’t remember the source) that Chelsea are interested in a player plus cash deal involving Shaun Wright-Phillips. Let’s hope he gets better fatherly advice than SWP.

8) Random Aussie dude(s) – Expect him/them to sign for the outside-looking-in clubs, ie, Middlesborough/Blackburn/Fulham.

9) Fernando Torres – Man Utd and Arsenal has shown some interest in the young lad. Expect him to sign for Chelsea by the end of the World Cup.

10) Carlos Tevez – See above.

P/s: Dirk Kuyt is rubbish.

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