Avram Grant has been confirmed as the new manager of West Ham United on a four-year contract.
Grant was widely expected to take the reins at Upton Park after standing down as Portsmouth manager on May 20.
The Israeli coach led a beleaguered south coast club to the FA Cup final last season and was the only candidate interviewed for the job by joint chairmen David Sullivan and David Gold.
"I am proud and honoured to be the manager of West Ham. It will be an exciting challenge and I am ready to do my best," the former Chelsea manager told the club's official website.
"This is a fantastic club with great fans and a history that is respected around the world.
"I am already looking forward to getting to work with my players in July and preparing for the new season."
The Hammers parted company with Gianfranco Zola last month after he had guided them away from the Premier League's relegation zone and Sullivan is confident that he has appointed the right man to revitalise the east London club.
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He explained:"We have taken our time over this appointment and are certain we have got the right man.
"We are all looking forward to next season with new players coming in and Avram's arrival is just the latest reason for real optimism."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
So in the past few years, we’ve had allegations of bungs, bribes, match fixing, false advertising in the case of Torres and Carroll – strikers? Well they certainly do not do what it says on the tin, and now the latest storm for football to weather is that of tax perks.
It was reported over the weekend that HMRC are more than a little curious about the ‘secret perks’ that footballers are enjoying at the courtesy of clubs and their owners. It is not just holidays or even cars that are interesting HRMC, oh no – they are even asking about health benefits and intimating tax could be paid on these.
Basically it is anything that are ‘benefits in kind’ so it is not wages obviously, which footballers in the UK get absolutely crucified on already, especially in comparison to other countries, but the ‘perks’ they are receiving, and the ever greedy HMRC state that they would not enter into such investigations if they did not feel a great deal of money could be reaped from it.
That alone illustrates not only how serious they feel about this issue – why wouldn’t they, a further chance to fill their chest with gold – but also how successful they feel they have the potential to be. If you rack your brains, it is not hard to think of which ever club you support, your favourite player and a benefit he has received from the club – it may not be a holiday or a car, perhaps it is just accommodation for a few nights on arriving in England, whatever it is, there are more than enough examples, and the HMRC have cottoned on to this.
Now don’t get me wrong, I am not sitting here asking you to cry into what is left of the beer from New Year for the footballers who have so much in comparison to the rest of us, and I am fully aware that it is not just footballers who pay a huge amount of their earnings to the HMRC, not to mention the fact that we are also expected to pay tax and national insurance on the ‘benefits’ we get – but before this turns into a rant about the government and our tax system, I am simply highlighting the fact that it is not even just football in which the taxation differs massively in the UK to other countries.
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Rafael Nadal for example has chosen to forgo playing at his usual Wimbledon warm-up tournament of the last few years at Queen’s in London, in favour of Halle in Germany for the next three years due to the difference in tax on the payment and winnings – England take half the appearance fee and also a substantial proportion of their world wide endorsements – determined on how much time they spend competing in the UK.
Is this right for Rafa to do– no it is not, and when I read this a few months back I was disappointed in Rafa for prioritising the money over anything else, but at the end of the day, it is a vital factor for sportsmen these days, and do we really want to isolate the UK even further by attempting to seize more of the wages the footballers earn?
Eventually, they will become like Rafa Nadal and chose to play their trade in La Liga or elsewhere – it is hardly like England can compete with the weather, the winter break, the women – I could go on, and as a country we do not want the best talent to go elsewhere – we want it here.
Do I feel good attempting to defend footballers over their astronomical salary – no I do not, and this is not what I am trying to get across here, but at the end of the day, if you have the choice between playing abroad paying less tax on firstly your wages and then your ‘benefits’ or in the UK where you are heavily taxed on all of these, which would you go for?
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As the Premier League reaches its quarter stage, many players have excelled and impressed in the opening nine games with some high score demolitions and last gasp winners. However, some players have not been up to expectations and this is a chance to name and shame.
The Champions of last year have been embarrassed by their rivals; however they have inflicted similar defeats of their other rivals. Some teams have underachieved so far and some the complete opposite but there is no denying that some players have just been poor. Whether it be missed chances, lack of effort, goalkeeping howlers or defensive mistakes, plenty of performances have raised eyebrows this season for good and bad reasons and here is a list of the top 10 players that have disappointed so far this season.
Click on Roger Johnson to unveil the top 10 players to have disappointed this season
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List compiled by Brad Pinard
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After a fairytale season for Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League this year following their triumphant assault on the ‘top four’ last year, many expected come the end of May for the Lilywhites to be there again, especially with a faltering season for Aston Villa and, once again, Liverpool, and with Manchester City still trying to find their best ‘World XI’. White Hart Lane, however, isn’t guaranteed European football of the highest order (or even at all) next season after having capitulated in recent months, the North London outfit dropping points against Wolves, West Brom and Blackpool; this is the same side that beat both San Siro giants, but why have Spurs struggled against the ‘lesser’ teams this season?
Tottenham boast a squad that doesn’t have the greatest Champions League experience, so when playing in European venues like the Bernabeu and the San Siro, then re-accommodating yourself with places such as Molineux and Bloomfield Road, no matter who you are it is a huge ‘come down’. I’m not saying this is the case, but Tottenham’s players may have the mentality that these games pale into insignificance alongside such epic European nights. Not only is this a grave disrespect to these ‘smaller clubs’, whether intended or not, but it is also suicide in footballing form.
Tottenham have this bizarre trait in which it appears that they only really get going once they concede; thriving on pressure is what can make the good clubs great. However when the lesser teams of the league come to the ‘big boys’, they tend to try for a point, so if they do nick a goal, they then play a 10-0-0 formation (otherwise known as ‘the bus’), not even an intricate flick for Van Der Vaart can unlock such a compact and determined defence on their day.
Harry Redknapp isn’t famous for being the greatest tactician, more of a man motivator, and his ‘lack’ of tactical awareness has probably been the key to Spurs’ European heroics. In Europe, the Spurs manager plays a more fluid system, allowing the likes of Lennon and Bale to switch flanks and Van Der Vaart to drift, but this isn’t the case in the League for Spurs and ‘Arry knows this. Having to play a rigid formation doesn’t suit spurs, but it is the Premier League way, so playing Van Der Vaart as a winger doesn’t get the best of the Dutch midfielder as it doesn’t allow him to be at his most attacking. It is this apparent preference for personnel over team play that seems to be hindering spurs against the lower teams, who tend to play fast counter-attacking football. No doubt this con-tributes largely to spurs’ defensive lapses against these teams
If the form book is anything to go by then Tottenham will more than likely become accustomed to Channel Five Thursday nights again next season and will be cursing such scenarios as Stephen Fletcher’s 87th minute equaliser for Wolves back on 6th March.
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Listen to the third episode of our brand new podcast – The Football FanCast. – Featuring Razor Ruddock, Gary O’Reilly and singer/songwriter Alistair Griffin, who performs a live version of his cult tribute to Mark Viduka, with Razor on backing vocals!
Watching the US Masters as an occasional break from my constant diet of football, it became clear that no matter how much people knock him and all his personal problems you just cannot keep Tiger Woods down.
Woods hasn’t won the tournament by a long stretch but only three shots off the lead has left many of his detractors dumbfounded. The sports biggest star being written off and criticised for personal problems only to put it all behind him and show the world he’s still one of the best.
Sound familiar? The correlation between the recent career or Woods and a certain Scouse Striker cannot be ignored. This got me thinking which other Masters contenders are the most like certain United strikers here’s a brief list which you may or may not agree with.
Tiger Woods/Wayne Rooney
The similarities are obvious. Prodigious talents, that at one point seemed almost freakish in their excellence at such an early age. Won every major honour there is to win and still hungry for more. A fondness for the ladies which has caused a little bit of embarrassment but regardless of the press crucifixion who would bet against this year being another massively successful one?
Phil Mickelson/Michael Owen
One of the most gifted golfers of the modern era and one of the best footballers, yet for all their successes there’s still a small feeling that they haven’t quite achieved what they could have. With four major championship wins and almost 40 event wins, you can hardly call Mickelson’s career anything other than a triumph. Owen on the other hand has won every domestic trophy there is bar the league, has won the UEFA cup and been named European footballer of the year.
Yet for both men, there ‘great’ could have been ‘greatest’ Mickelson at one point looked like the man who was actually going to usurp the all powerful Woods as the world’s best golfer but never quite managed to become the world’s number one, despite some amazing victories. Owen was once the most talked about striker in the world but has never quite reached the success of a Rooney or a Thierry Henry despite his obvious abilities.
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Lee Westwood/Dimitar Berbatov
People may have knocked both Westwood and Berbatov over the years and claimed they hadn’t achieved all they could, yet both of them are still proving critics wrong and who’s to say there isn’t more to come this year. Berbatov may have been found wanting at times last year when United needed someone to step into Wayne Rooney’s boots- although almost every Red denies ever saying that now, yet he’s shown this season he’s one of the world’s best.
Westwood may still be searching for that elusive major but how many players out there can say they’ve been world number one? Both are a tad unappreciated
Rory McIlroy/Chicharito
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A year or so ago you could be forgiven for not knowing who McIlroy was yet following his successes in 2010 and this year he’s now established as one the world’s top golfers at the age of just 21. Chicharito is the same, having come from seemingly nowhere to now be regarded as one of the most exciting attackers in the world.
What’s the betting that the United striker goes on to become one of the world’s top strikers- he’s on his way already- as for McIlroy, call me optimistic but there’s every chance we could be seeing the dawn of a new era in golf- much may depend on how The Masters pans out to see whether now is truly the Northern Irishman’s time.
Why not have a flutter on The Masters before it’s too late?
Read more of Justin’s articles at the excellent Red Flag Flying High
A common line that has begun to tag itself to any transfer conducted by Manchester City is that whoever they are signing is ‘going there for the money.’ Now I’m not disputing that players are attracted to the riches that come with pulling on the sky blue of City but I honestly don’t think that money is the primary motivation for the players who have decided to join City in the window.
Watching City splash HUGE amounts of cash on individuals has become common practice in the transfer window ever since the Abu Dhabi group bought the club in 2008. Fans, managers, players and agents have come to accept that they will never be able to compete with City’s financial muscle. But one term that always seems to linger at the end of every big transfer made by the club is that the player they are signing is only interested in the money going into his bank account at the end of each month. Like I said, I’m not going to disagree with the fact players are interested in earning the highest wage possible. A football career lasts for 15-20 years at best and it’s no shock that players will make a move to better themselves financially in the future. But to suggest that money is the primary motive to make a move to Man City is foolish and naïve.
In the window just gone Samir Nasri and Sergio Agüero both signed for City in a double deal that cost the club almost £70 million in transfer fees not to mention they’ll both be earning just under £200,000-a-week at the Etihad Stadium. Nasri was instantly labelled as ‘greedy’ and a ‘sell-out’ and was only joining City because they were offering to treble the wage he was on at Arsenal. The manner of his departure stung Gunners fans and many others in the country. The same wasn’t said for Agüero though who was glorified by both the press and fans. Why?
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Probably because he didn’t leave Atletico Madrid in acrimonious circumstances. But surely he is after the riches City are offering? In my opinion both moved to City for the money but also to be given the chance to actually challenge for trophies. It’s not like either of them are bursting at the seams with medals. In fact Nasri has NEVER picked up a winners’ medal during his time in England whilst Agüero only has the Europa League and Super Cup to show after five years playing for Atletico. Despite both being labelled world class they’ve won hardly anything in their short careers. Therein lies my point. Both players see City as a viable avenue to triumphing in cup competitions.
The duo left clubs who are in a state of decline and firmly out of the Champions League picture. Players of their undoubted calibre need to be testing themselves against the best players in the world. If someone came to me and said Nasri and Agüero lacked ambition I’d laugh straight back in their face. Any world class player that looks at City at this current time will will see a club who are prepared to spend the money necessary to make them capable of holding their own against the best. That is something they both see and who can blame them for wanting to join a club brimming with aspirations like that? Whilst there a few players at Manchester City who’s sole purpose is to earn money I’m not afraid to say that a vast majority of the current crop see this club as a sleeping giant ready to win leagues and cups. David Silva, Edin Dzeko, Vincent Kompany and even Joleon Lescott joined the Citizens to win trophies. Obviously I don’t condone what clubs are paying players these days but to say that Nasri and Agüero are joining City solely because of the number of zero’s on their monthly cheque is absurd. Even Gael Clichy, who left Arsenal on a free to join City, has an eagerness to win trophies, improve himself as a player and pick up a tasty wage, which is something he’ll do at the club.
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Many fans hold a grudge against City, which is driven by jealously. The same old lines of ‘they’re trying to buy the title’ or ‘there should be a cap on their spending’ are continually bandied about. However would you complain if your club had resources like that? I’m guessing no. Players see City as a means to both money and silverware – not one or the other. Lets just accept it, move on and enjoy watching the football they play. Admittedly it is delicious at the moment, don’t you agree?
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce is remaining tight-lipped on reports linking him with a move for Manchester City midfielder Stephen Ireland.
Both Ireland and Paraguay World Cup striker Nelson Valdez are reported to be on Bruce's summer shopping list.
However, the Black Cats boss is keeping his transfer cards close to his chest.
Bruce is reported to be on the lookout for a new central midfielder in the mould of City's Ireland following last week's surprise sale of former skipper Lorik Cana to Galatasaray.
"We have got a couple of irons in the fire and we have put a bid in today (Wednesday) for a player," he said.
"I am not going to tell you who, but we hope we can make inroads on it.
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"I would envisage we will get a couple of new faces in before the season starts."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Fabio Capello will discuss his future with the Football Association in the wake of England's humbling World Cup exit.
Capello revealed after Sunday's 4-1 defeat to Germany in the last 16 that he was planning to hold talks with Club England chairman Sir David Richards to discover whether the FA still retained faith in him.
The 64-year-old Italian still has two years remaining on his £6million-a-year contract but has been left fighting for his future following England's dire performance in South Africa.
Asked if he was considering resigning in the aftermath of England's worst-ever World Cup finals defeat, he said:"Absolutely not.
"But I want to speak with the chairman and then decide my future and I need to know whether the FA have confidence in me or not."
Capello will hold a press conference on Monday lunchtime where he will face questions about England's disappointing campaign, which brought two draws and one win in the group stage before the last 16 debacle.
"We probably arrived a little bit tired at the end of the season," suggested Capello immediately after the defeat in Bloemfontein which included a disallowed goal for Frank Lampard when the ball had clearly crossed the line with the Three Lions trailing 2-1 at the time.
"But after the game that they played against Slovenia, we suffered from Germany's speed.
"But I say again, I am sure that a big mistake from the referee stopped us from going forward.
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"We scored. It is incredible. In this period of technology, in this period where we can have five referees, we cannot decide if that was a goal or not.
"We have to speak about this goal. We have to speak about a mistake from the linesman – and the referee because I could see it had gone in from the touchline. I saw the ball bounce and go over the line.
"I do not understand this mistake."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
The Thai Tims and Paul Lennon need help to reach their goal. In the memory of Reamonn Gormley, lets get: “Just can’t get enough” by the Thai Tims to Number 1.
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The above is the official video for a charity single released by the Good Child Foundation (Thai Tims). This song came about after Reamonn Gormley was tragically killed after watching Celtic in an unprovoked attack. Reamonn in his gap year worked at the Good Child Foundation in Thailand.
Below is the news clip of the singles launch at Celtic Park.
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The Good Child Foundation was set up by Celtic Fan Paul Lennon and his wife to provide Love – Inclusion – Education – Independence to all and is the only school that offers placements to children of all abilities including pupils with Downs Syndrome at its school in Thailand.
To get an idea of the work they do read the story below.
This wee lad in my arms is called ‘Bee’. He goes to school with the Thai tims and he has Down syndrome. Bee needs an operation on his eyelids to improve his sight. His parents collect rubbish by the side of the road to sell for it’s recycle value. They are very poor and can’t afford the transport and care costs for the hospital trips to Bangkok, where the surgery must be carried out.
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The good news is that Bee and his family are not alone. The Celtic family is behind them and through the Good Child Foundation, little Bee’s family are in the arms of The Celtic Family.
The good news is that Bee will travel next week to start his hospital appointments. All down to the work of the foundation.
I’m going to go all Bob Geldof here. If like me you have become a big bubbling wreck after watching the above videos and reading Bee’s story then Download the fecking single now. Not, next week, not when you come back from the shop. Now. It will help children like Bee and also help stop knife crime that decimates the lives of innocents. Click on the image, buy each track separately it all helps.
Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier has admitted the late equaliser conceded in Saturday's 1-1 Premier League draw at Fulham was a bitter pill to swallow.
Brede Hangeland notched at the death to cancel out Marc Albrighton's opener at Craven Cottage and the Frenchman admitted that the last-gasp setback made the result feel like a defeat.
Despite the untimely leveller, Houllier praised the team for their goal and has backed his impressive youngsters in the process.
"The atmosphere in the changing room was like we had lost because we didn't get the points which we felt we deserved today," he said.
"I think we played well, we had chances before we scored and had we been a bit more clinical, I would say we would have won the game.
"The goal was great quality with young players involved. There were four players on the field who were aged 20 or under (Nathan Delfouneso, Barry Bannan, Albrighton and Ciaran Clark).
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"I'm disappointed with the result but not with the quality of the performance.
"With the effort and quality of the game, we deserved more than one point."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email