I’m about to disappear for a week and hope that all our transfer dealings take place when I’m away so that I have something substantial to write about when I get back. News Now has been littered with stories and rumours and suggestions in this past week, with no end in sight. And I’ve grown a little weary of summing up the latest rotten ITK info falling from the grapevine. However, at the time of writing, this is the latest hack news:
Young to Spurs. Or Chelsea.
Bent to Villa. Bentley to City.
KJH is still a target.
Vieira practically signed.
Robben still being flitered with.
Negredo a done deal for £13M.
Kyle Naughton and Kyle Walker allegedly doneth and dustedeth.
Medical for Young today apparently, yet that appears to have been quashed by Martin O’Neill who has stated he is not going anywhere. Bent and Bentley have been eternally linked with moves away yet other than Sunderland (who are now looking at Crouch) there is no other movement for the two unloved stars. Robben won’t happen. If it does I’ll happily eat humble pie, but I just can’t see it. His ego, his wage demands, his dad. Nope, won’t happen. As for Vieira, that’s cooled a little mainly because everyone is talking about Negredo being a done deal and Klass-Jan Huntelaar apparently taking time-out to decide between us and Stuttgart.
It’s all very muddled. Defoe is obviously going nowhere. Bent must be. Pav is an uncertainty. And Keane also remains a mystery. If we do sign two strikers then that can only spell the end of the three mentioned above, with Jermain remaining a Lilywhite. Do you see why I’m weary? Theorising over the much criticised ITK leaked info and tabloid exclusives is a redundant idea considering there is no real way of knowing who it is we are aiming to sign until said player has been signed. Practically all of the ITK whispers have been reactive to what you may have read already. The papers mention Robben, suddenly there are several pieces of leaked info relating to ‘talks’ with the player. All signed off with the usual textbook, don’t shoot the messenger get out clause.
As for the Sheffield United pair, apparently we've stolen them from the grasp of Everton for a peachy £8M. If this has happened, there's a fair chance both players will remain at United for another season. If they joined us and did not return to Sheffield on loan, then what that means for Gunter and Hutton and Chimbonda is another wonderful conundrum, as our right-back collection grows and grows. Some fetish.
Damn it, I’m doing it again, aren’t I? Summarising.
I’ll be following the latest by browsing the back pages of the English newspapers whilst I sun it and hope that my consistent record of being abroad when Spurs open the transfer floodgates continues.
Only other thing I want to mention before signing off is our 3-0 win against Exeter last night. Defoe, Modric, Lennon and Huddlestone all looked sharp. Pav and Bent were solid and Dervitte (our young French centre-back) wasn’t too shabby alongside Corluka. Bentley also did well and The Prince lined up impressively with Palacios in the second half. At least in his head he did. He looks the part, but just don’t think he plays the part. Pre-season should allow Harry to decide whether he is adequate cover for the central midfield.
Danny Rose played ok. I expect the young lad to play some part in the season ahead, a cameo here a cameo there. Shame there was no Adel. Not sure whether this is due to injury, but that’s wishful thinking.
Gio not present, but that might have to do with International duty. Keane wasn’t all there. Still looking a little broken after his Liverpool mis-adventure.
But let’s chill out, it was Exeter and it was our first pre-season game. It’s going to be interesting to see who plays a part as the week’s progress. I guess we can start talking about breaking the Top 4 after we thrash Barca 5-0 at Wembley.
Anyways, see you on the other side. By the end of next week here’s to an England Ashes victory and one or two brand spanking new players unveiled at the Lane.
COYS.