Transfer Deadline day Summary

"Deadline Day". Here, I found a definition for you all:

Designates the approximate point in time at which work begins in earnest; employee motivation is frequently observed to be "dead" before the deadline draws near.


"Christ, it's the nearly deadline already?! Hey Pete, put down the controller my friend - it's time that we looked at these shuttle schematics."

 

Football managers may not be studying the ways in human beings can safely be transported to the moon in a space shuttle, but they are spending millions on young men who kick a ball around for ninety minutes every week. To many, like me, it is extremely important. Yes, today is "Deadline Day" and that means SkySports reporters getting extremely excited about exclusive reports and proceeding in giving us all a headaches as they scream down the expensive camera lenses to us at our homes.

 

I'm going to then start with a transfer which surprised me somewhat. Alexander Hleb has joined Birmingham City on a season long loan. The former Arsenal man who is currently owned by Barcelona, has been described by Alex McLeish, City's manager as "top quality" and a player whom he thought he would only realistically get in his dreams (or on the FIFA football games maybe?). Birmingham's spending doesn't stop there though! No, because Hleb joins fellow new signing Jiranek (Centre Back) who came from Russian club Spartak Moscow for an undisclosed fee, while the Chilean winger Jean Beausejour is expected to complete his transfer to St Andrew's later today. The arrivals take Birmingham's summer signings to six in total, as McLeish has already added Nikola Zigic, Ben Foster, Enric Valles and Matt Derbyshire to his squad. With all those signings strengthening their squad, I am tipping Birmingham to finish in the top half of the table, creeping into the Europa League spots. This Carson Yeung fellow who has pumped millions in for new signings is sure to get his reward! Isn't he?

Next, and we are with Liverpool. They have completed the signing of Paul Konchesky on a four year deal. Some are surprised by the signing of the former Charlton, West Ham and Fulham left-back who has never really attracted interest from the top clubs, but Hodgson obviously got along well with his former player and believes he can fill the somewhat problematic postition (one of many at Liverpool) of left-back.

In addition, with only Fernando Torres and David N'gog as their star strikers - and I use "star striker" loosley with N'gog, Hodgson is trying to hammer out a deal for Carlton Cole - West Ham's "star striker". With reports that Ryan Babel had been in a helicopter over London today, you could be forgiven if you thought that maybe Hodgson was trying to use Babel as a makeweight for the deal, with Babel heading to Upton Park. However Babel dashed Liverpool's fans hopes that they will be getting rid of the dissapointing, un prolific and waster-of-the-ball-almost-every-time-he-gets-it, by telling his followers on Twitter that he is "going nowhere".

Owen Coyle supported claim's saying that he like to play "good football" by buying a young Brazilian. Rodrigo Moreno came from Benfica and will bolster Bolton's side with his ermm.... quickness. He can also play in the wide positions as well as up-front.

Moving from one Brazilian to another, and Manchester City uber-flop Robinho has joined AC Milan for around £12 million. The figure will increse, not that City need the money, to £18 million depending on how well he does etc.

With Wigan losing 4 - 0 to Blackpool and 6 - 0 to Chelsea on their opening to games, you would think they would improve their defence. Instead, Martinez has opted for better attacking options. He has signed Manchester United 21 year old promising center midfielder, Tom Cleverley on a season long loan as well as Chelsea striker Franco Di Santo.

Sunderland have smashed their transfer record fee with the signing of Ghana international, Asamoah Gyan for £13 million. It breaks their former record of £10 million which they paid Tottenham for Darren Bent.
Finally, speaking of Tottenham, they have signed a new goalkeeper in Stipe Pletikosa from Spartak Moscow on a season long loan.
AND BREATHE!

Transfer Deadline Day

Asamoah Gyan is at the Stadium of Light discussing a move from Rennes

Klaas Jan Huntelaar has joined Schalke

Reading's Gylfi Sigurdsson has moved to Hoffenheim

Marcus Bent has joined Wolves on loan from Birmingham

Stipe Pletikosa has joined Spurs on loan from Spartak Moscow

Birmingham Sign Alexander Hleb on season long loan


Robinho to have medical at Milan this afternoon, with a view to signing four-year deal

Fulham say Mark Schwarzer is not leaving

Two Liverpool youngsters heading to Fulham as part of Konchesky deal

Tottenham have made a Robbie Keane plus cash bid for Steven Pienaar

Chelsea Begovic deal is definitely dead

Eidur Gudjohnssen is heading to Stoke

Ryan Babel on his way to West Ham in a helicopter

Liverpool Bag Defender and Midfielder

£10.7 Million Replacement

Roy Hodgson moved quickly to strengthen his squad after the departure of Javier Mascherano by quickly using the funds from his sale to invest in a replacement. A more attacking one at that, but one who will give good support to the attacking players like Torres, Gerrard and Cole in Raul Meireles.

The Portugese midfielder played well in the World Cup alongside fellow countryman Cristiano Ronaldo, so he is no stranger to playing with quality players. And now he has the chance to prove his worth at Liverpool, as he tries to live up to the £10.7 million that Liverpool have splashed out on him. The Portugese came from FC Porto who wanted to make some money out of him now, worrying that, with only two years left on his contract, that he could go for a free in two years time.

Konchesky

The spending for Liverpool doesn't stop there, as Paul Konchesky will undergo a medical to join Liverpool over the week-end. Hodgson confirmed that he had spoken to his former player earlier in the week, and with Fulham already prepared to let him go after bringing in a replacent yestarday in Carlos Salcedo, the move seems inevitable.

All Liverpool need now is a striker. With the only real established striker at the club being Fernando Torres, with David N'gog still learning, Liverpool still need a quality finisher in backup for some extra fire power. Reports suggest that this could be Carlton Cole of West Ham.

Platini's refusal to admit that he is wrong is stupidity of the highest degree

Irritating

With calls for technology in the game of football being as loud as can be, you would think there would be a response from the heads of UEFA. Well there has been a response. But it isn't a good one. Michel Platini, who is still fiercely against technology in football despite so many big decisions being judged wrongly, believes that the resolution to refereeing mistakes is to have two more referees. Not only that, but he is, with the help of Pierluigi Collina is going to make all referees as fit as the footballers themselves. With such a magnificent idea as that, he must be so proud of himself *extreme sarcasm*.

He believes that this new, revolutionary idea (again, oozing sarcasm) will, according to him, provide a "99 to 100 percent" guarantee of no more mistakes. 5 referees were present and supposedly working together to get all the decisions correct in the game between Tottenham and the Young Boys on Wednesday, and all five of them missed Jermaine Defoe's handball. Conveniently, when asked, Platini hadn't seen the incident. But this means, that this incident is down to the referees fitness. Is that what your telling us Platini?

Embarrassing: Referees Decision

It just makes you want to laugh it's so ridiculous. If there is a guarantee that 99 to 100 percent of the time, there will be no mistakes, which I doubt very very much, then why not make it a 100% guarantee that there will be no mistakes by introducing video technology?

I have seen no evidence as yet that five referees makes any difference to the final decision. There have been very few times when the officials behind the goal in Europa League games have intervened during the big decisions, either because they haven't seen it, or they are too scared to over-rule the referees decision. It takes less than 20 seconds for us watching at home to see on the replays what actually happened, yet Platini and Blatter's ego's are to vast for them to admit that they are wrong and turn to video technology to make football decisions accurate, but most importantly, fair.

If Players Refuse to Play, Clubs should Refuse to Pay.

Refusing to play: Mascherano

Football clubs and the F.A should come down much harder on these players who refuse to play for their clubs in the hope that they can encourage a move to another club which will make them, and their agents more money. Some football players must understand that they are owned by their football club, and they are under contract to them, and so when they are available to play a match, and they are picked, then they have no choice but to do as their clubs say.

However, with the recent transfer story involving Barcelona and Javier Mascherano of Liverpool, this was not the case. Mascherano refused to play for his club last week in the hope that his little "strike" would be noticed, and he would get his wish and move away from the club. With news today that Liverpool have now agreed to let Mascherano hold talks with Barcelona over a possible move, he has gotten what he wants. Surely this only encourages more players like Mascherano to do wrong and refuse to play in the hope of moving to another club.

Mascherano is not the only player of recent weeks to do this either. The Stoke City goalkeeper Asmir Begovic also refused to play in the hope that he could make a move to Chelsea possible. In addition, Hatem Ben Arfa of Marseille is presently refusing to play for the French club because he wants to play for Newcastle. In my opinion, it seems like most moves like this are mainly money related. Harry Redknapp said that when players do this it is usually down to the agents wanting more money and suggesting the player use tactics like these to fuel a move for more lucrative deals.

If a player wants to move to another club, he should go about it in a more mature manner. It seems so immature and a bit of a disgrace for them to just say "Well I won't play until I get what I want" like a spoilt little brat. And frankly, if I was an owner or a manager, I wouldn't pay them their wages and would fine them on top of that for refusing to play. If they are fit and able to play, and get picked for the team but refuse, why should they be payed for doing nothing?

Champions League Draw

Group A: Inter Milan, Werder Bremen, Tottenham, FC Twente

Group B: Lyon, Benfica, Schalke, Hapoel Tel-Aviv

Group C: Manchester United, Valencia, Rangers, Bursaspor

Group D: Barcelona, Panathinaikos, Copenhagen, Rubin Kazan

Group E: Bayern Munich, Roma, Basle, Cluj

Group F: Chelsea, Marseille, Spartak Moscow, MSK Zilina

Group G: AC Milan, Real Madrid, Ajax, Auxerre

Group H: Arsenal, Shakhtar Donetsk, FC Braga, Partizan Belgrade

Transfer Stories Today

Why is he so sad?

After praying that Manchester United would sign a new striker before the end of the transfer window, it seems that I forgot to specify that the striker should be good. New United striker Bebe has been deemed so poor in training that he was dropped from the United reserve team. Unfortunatley, this means that the £7.4 million that Ferguson spent on the little known, former homeless street striker may have been wasted, and also begs the question; why couldn't these funds have gone towards someone who is of actual proven quality?

After Liverpool's dismal defeat to Manchester City on Monday, Roy Hodgson is now weighing up a bid for Carlton Cole. there is no doubt that Liverpool need a new striker at the moment, with only an un-fit Torres and on/off Ngog to lead the teams attack. Hodgson believes £6 million should be able to do it, however, he may want to hurry up about it. Their attacking options against a team called Trabzonspor, who's name I clearly just copy and pasted, is even more withered, as it has been made clear that neither Gerrard ot Torres will be risked in the Europa League game on Thursday.

But the Carlton Cole transfer story is not the only one concerning Liverpool. SkySports "understands" that Hodgson is very close to bringing in Paul Konchesky from his former club, Fulham. The former Charlton man is highly regarded by Hodgson, and Liverpool will attempt to grab him with a fee of around £3.5 million.

Next, and struggling Premier League team Wigan are now struggling to hold on to one of their key players in Charles N'Zogbia. The flying Frenchman has impressed at Wigan over the past few seasons, and Birmingham manager has taken notice. "We've made another bid for Charles and we wait to see if it's successful or not," said McLeish. Sunderland were also interested, but they had a £10 million bid rejected by the Latics earlier in the summer.

Everyone wants to know: Why can't you buy new scales

Sir Alex Ferguson's weighing scales are broken. Thats what I have decided anyway, because he is still "weighing up" a move for very long-term target Stephen Defour. He is a very promising young player with similar attributes to Paul Scholes, and seeing as Owen Hargreaves may be out for a while (again) United may be needing some one like him to be a good, solid replacement. However, the dial on Ferguson's scales is still moving from left to right, and then back again - hovering over yes. Or no.

Mame Biram Diouf Scores A Hat-trick for Blackburn

Manchester United's youth seems to be getting better and better. The promising 22 year old striker Mame Biram Diouf, who was sent by Sir Alex Ferguson out on loan to Blackburn for the season to gain some Premier League experience scored a hat-trick on Tuesday night to help Blackburn beat Norwich 3 - 1 in the Carling Cup.

Sir Alex seems to have an eye for the younger players, after the signings of Chicharito Hernandez, Chris Smalling and Diouf. Either that or United's financial position is forcing Ferguson to go for un-established, young players with potential. Nevertheless, they seem to be slowly proving their worth.

With Chelsea seeming like they could run away with the Premier League title this season with their six goals a week policy, United need all the firepower they need. Diouf may not be with them this season, but he certainly seems to be one for the future after begginning to prove himself as a great goalscorer.

Sloppy Liverpool outplayed by Manchester City

It was a night to forget for Liverpool. They were wasteful, sloppy, slow, unconvincing on and off the ball, and were completely outplayed by the Mega-Bucks stars from Manchester City. As soon as City got their first goal, I saw no way back for Roy Hodgson's team.

I felt starting with Torres was a mistake, because one, he is clearly un-fit and unable to last a good 90 minutes, and two, when Liverpool need a goal late on, they have no-one of any better quality to bring on and change a game. If Torres had started on the bench, he would have been able to come on and have some impact against tired defenders. But starting with an un-fit Torres against top class and fit defenders - Torres couldn't get in the game.

There was a lack of spark and creativity in the Liverpool side, who lacked width, and despite Gerrards best efforts, the City defence were too much for one man. Joe Cole of course was missed after being suspended against Arsenal. His creativity, trickery and width, would have been greatly appreciated in a game where Liverpool looked similar to the failing team of last season.

No credit, however must be taken away from Manchester City's brilliance on the night. The young English players, watched by Capello's right-hand-man, Baldini, played magnificently, in Hart and Johnson. Adam Johnson was involved in everything. How ironic it is that he has been one of their cheapest signings but has made the biggest impact. He tore Liverpool's left-back to shreds, won a penalty, delivered some great crosses and had a few good shots. Hart too, is quickly cementing his place as number one for both club and country. Another solid display, in particular with a fine double save from Ngog and Torres to deny a Liverpool comeback. Dare I say it, but England's goalkeeping nightmare may have found a long term solution.

Two contrasting clubs in terms of their ownership. Manchester City are on the up, with billions of pounds to spend on anything they please, and aiming for new heights. Whereas Liverpool, have been on the decline from their glory days for a while, with the American owners plunging the club into masses of debt with the club with very little to spend on new recruits. With prospective buyers pulling out of deals to save the club, and teams around them getting better, Roy Hodgson has a big job ahead of him.

Berbatov back in Business?

Something to Prove? - Berbatov

A convincing 3-1 win against Chelsea in the Community Shield for Manchester United, with Valencia, Hernandez, and Berbatov getting on the score sheet. It turned out to be brilliant preparation for Manchester United as they head into the new season next Monday against Newcastle.

Rooney set up the first after a brilliant pass from Scholes and Valencia sweeped the ball into the net.

United new boy "Chicharito" scored an awkward, quite funny goal as he slipped as he went to place it and it came off his baby- face into the Chelsea net. While Berbatov scored a delightful chip at the end to nicely round off United's pre-season.

Berbatov had a hard season last season, as fans questioned his commitment as well as the price Ferguson paid for him, at £30 million. It was hard for him to live up to expectations as he walked in Rooney's shadow for much of the season, and as we willed him to grab a goal which would set him off on a goal-scoring run, nothing happened. But he has scored an early goal now, against quality opposition in Chelsea. It will do wonders for his confidence as he ran, smiling to the United fans after the goal to celebrate - a sight that wasn't seen very often at all last season.

He has pressure now for a starting spot with the impressive Mexican Javier Hernandez, or "Chicharito" as his shirt reads, as well as the experienced goal-scorer Michael Owen. His future is in his own hands, because Ferguson has shown that he has faith in him, by playing him many times, often with no reward. But with an early goal under his belt, and the United fans starting to warm to him, it could be Berbatov's season at the Theatre of Dreams.

Robinho any one?

I remember seeing the breaking news on Sky Sports almost two years ago that the golden era of Manchester City had begun, as they began to buy world stars. Their spending spree, which is still continuing, started with Robinho from Real Madrid for £32.5 million. It was really just a panic buy as the transfer window closed in a desperate attempt to send out a message to the Premier League to show that they are actually there and they do have money to spend.

At first it seemed like it was paying off - Robinho scored a free-kick against Chelsea and made teams sit up and notice them... for about twenty minutes. Chelsea, the team that were also interested in buying Robinho at the time, won the game after coming from behind - showing City how real title contenders perform.

Now, however, Robinho's career in Manchester seems well and truly dead. He seemed un-fit when he did play for them, and he was shipped off to Brazilian club Santos, where he seemed to regain some fitness and form. But while he was at Santos, City built up a striking force that even a fit Robinho can't struggle into, and City are still building.

Robinho wants to stay at Santos, but Santos can't afford to buy him on a permanent basis, and though City don't want him, they don't want to loan him out again because they want to re-coup at least £20 million for him. Other potential suitors who could afford the transfer fees are put off by his massive wage demands of £160,000 a week.

Unless Santos can negotiate a deal with City to acquire Robinho's services on loan for another season, he could be left to rot on the City bench, or even worse, with the new 25 man squad and home-grown player rule, he may be left out of the squad altogether. 

Fabio Coentrao, Ashley Cole and Karim Benzema thrown together in Transfer Window Speculation

Coentrao in, Cole out?

Today's transfer news begins with Chelsea and Real Madrid, as Jose Mourinho is apparently very keen to bring his former left back Ashley Cole to his new club Real Madrid. He seems like he will try everything to get what he wants. The Portuguese tactician regards Cole as one of the best left-backs in the world, and so in order to get him, he is willing to offer Karim Benzema as part of a deal, according to the Mail. The Mirror, also reporting that Mourinho wants Cole, states that even though Carlo Ancelotti claimed that Cole was going no-where, he is prepared to do a U-turn and allow him to leave, just as long as he gets the Portuguese World Cup left-back Fabio Coentrao. Coentrao looked very bright in the World Cup. He bombed down the left side, skipping passed players like they weren't there, and delivered beautiful crosses in the box for his attacking colleagues such as Ronaldo to blast into the back of the net. He created a lot for Portugal, and prompted the commentators to suggest that English clubs may take an interest in this bright young talent, their prophecy may yet become a reality with Chelsea.

Next, and to the team with strikers to burn, Manchester City. Yes, even though they have probably enough strikers to create a whole squad , apparently, they are monitoring Zlatan Ibrahimovich and his situation at Barcelona. The Swede didn't really win the Spanish fans over last season, and hasn't really lived up to expectation at the Nou Camp, much like Berbatov's situation at Old Trafford. However, Mancini isn't reportedley interested in Berbatov - despite being reportedley interested in every other striker.

I'm Staying!

Meanwhile, Adebayor has told reporters that he would like to move to Juventus. Maybe he sees challenging for a place in Manchester City's over-populated team as too much, or maybe he wants a change of scenery. Who knows? He was speaking too fast to understand.

Cesc Fabregas' boring and annoying transfer saga has stopped - at least for one more year, as he told Sky Sports that he is sorry for not speaking sooner to clarify his position, but he is an Arsenal player and 100% commited for the up-coming season. Even though, he says it now, there is probably no doubt that he will leave for Barcelona at some point in the next 2 years.

Arsenal are still trying to find a new defender. This time, reports suggest that they want Roma defender, Phillipe Mexes. They have wanted Phil Jagielka, Per Mertescaker, as well as a few other defender's and were also intereted in a few goalkeeper's, including Joe Hart, Rene Adler, and Mark Schwarzer, but either their clubs won't let them move, or they just don't want to move. One things for sure though, Arsenal need a new goalkeeper.

£150 Miwwion?

Liverpool are closer and closer to being taken over by the Chinese business-man Kenny Huang by the day and he has told Liverpool that he will give Roy Hodgson £150 million to spend on transfers if he takes over the club before the end of the transfer window. That's quite a transfer kitty, and one Hodgson isn't used to, and so he will stick to what he knows and try to prise Shaun Wright Phillips from Manchester City - instead of using all £150 million to try and get Messi.

Michael Owen - The Goalscorer

Will Michael Owen ever lose his goalscoring touch? At thirty years old and playing for Manchester United, it doesn't look like it. He proved again last night, that when he is given the oppurtunity, even the smallest oppurtunity, he will take his chance.

Squeezing between two defenders, with the ball bouncing awkwardly in front of him, he showed once again that he knows where the goal is. It may have only been a little known team, low on quality, but he took his chance all the same, under the pressure of two defenders and an out rushing goalkeeper.

A delightful chip into the back of the net surely will ask the question whether Michael Owen should be in Manchester United's first team come the start of the season. He can score the goals and win the games. Or is he better coming on as an impact substitute? Either way, he will continue to get the goals and be a valubale member of Manchester United's team.

Almunia "Doen't need to convince anyone"

Almunia: Something to prove?

There are times when Arsenal fans thank God that they have Almunia as their goalkeeper. He sometimes makes some match winning saves that can keep Arsenal in a game, or help Arsenal to win a game. This, after all is a goalkeepers job. However, there are times when the opposition thanks God that Arsenal have Almunia in goal for he can be very uncertain and untrustworthy as he stands there, staring bitterly at his opposite number, wishing they could swap bodies as the ball is picked out of his net after another terrible blunder.

He said "I don't need to convince anybody – I just do my job". I tend to agree with the latter, yes, he does do his job, and he can do it well; last season he played 36 times and kept 13 clean sheets. Nevertheless, I have trouble agreeing with the first part. I know a few Arsenal fans who may disagree. His blunders last season cost Arsenal a few games, and this is not what you look for in a goalkeeper. Of course, you can allow for a few mistakes - everyone makes them, but Almunia has probably made a few too many, and for that reason he really does need to prove himself. I think, if Arsene Wenger shows a huge amount of faith and sticks with Almunia next season, the Spaniard does need to convince his fans of his abilities and his consistency, because so far in his career, consistency has been what is lacking.

Rumours have circulated that Wenger is interested in bringing a new goalkeeper to London. With a £2 million bid for Mark Schwarzer being rejected, and rumours that German keeper Rene Adler is also wanted by Wenger, if one of the deals is completed, then Almunia will have something to prove.

What keeper, if any do you think Arsenal should buy to add some strength to their defence, and do you think Almunia has something to prove?

Premier League Transfer News

It's the start of August, and clubs have less than a month to haul their cheque book out of their designer suit pockets and splash the cash on the players that they believe will improve their squad and help them to win back some of the millions they spent and win some trophies along the way. It is also a time for newspapers to spew out ridiculous rumours which get every fans hopes up, only for us to be let down. So lets spoil ourselves and have an engaging but cautious look at the rumours that are circulating today.

Guiseppe Rossi is involved in an interesting rumour today. Apparently, Rossi could be on his way out of Villarreal, with a few clubs interested. However, those few clubs could be irrelevant because the player has a clause in his contract which allows Manchester United, his former club to have first choice as to whether they want to sign him or not. The price that United will be quoted however is £12 million. If United offer this, it would be even more perplexing than the players first name, as Ozil is also going for £12 million, and I would rather Ozil than Rossi.

Next, and former Arsenal midfielder, Mathieu Flamini, a man with an equally confusing first name, is interesting Premier League new boys Newcastle and the team still asking for a ridiculous £30 million for James Milner, Aston Villa. The Frenchman is currently playing for AC Milan, but after only starting 14 times last season, and often in defence, he feels unwanted, unloved, and wants to play more, so he sees a return to England as the perfect place to restore his career.

Arsenal are still trying to find some more defenders so they can play a 7-2-1 formation to protect Manuel Almunias goal. Oh, whats that? A new goalkeeper? Yes, Arsenal are interested in bringing German pair, Derdar Tasci (centre back) and Rene Adler (goalkeeper) to London to beef up their defence which is in dire need of beefing up as William Gallas and Sol Campbell have left - taking a lot of the beef with them. Many believe that Arsenals problem is that their defence is so poor, their goalkeepers make way to many mistakes, and those reasons are why Arsenal have had a poor trophy drought. So a new goalkeeper who isn't prone to mistakes and a solid defender added to the mix will do Arsenals title challenge the world of good.

Aiden McGeady seems sure to leave Celtic this summer, and Aston Villa could be his destination. The flying winger could be the perfect replacement for James "£30Million" Milner as Manchester City continue to struggle to prise Martin O'Neills firm grasping hand off of the amazingly overrated Milner. There is no doubt that if City finally do cough up the money for Milner, then Villa will have money to spend, and £10-12 million may be enough to see McGeady say goodbye to Scotland.

As Manchester City try and sell a few player, Olympiacos, Marseille and Fenerbache are the three clubs trying to buy Roque Santa Cruz, with no other reason than... he used to be quite good. Might as well throw in a completley stupid Manchester City rumor as well, but this time City aren't buying. I have no idea where this came from, but apparently Tevez is "depressed" in Manchester and Jose Mourinho wants to comfort him by offering him the chance to re-join Ronaldo at Real Madrid. Thats sure to cheer him up.

Man Utd's Anderson Crash

The newspapers suggest that Manchester United's Anderson is lucky to be alive after being dragged "lifeless" from a crashed car, moments before it went up in flames. It is not yet clear who was driving the car when it crashed, but what is clear is that the car is a two seater, and Anderson had two companions in the car at the time of the incident.

The idea that footballers are supposed to be role-models for young people is getting more and more ridiculous by the day as the accident came about because of the irresponsibility and recklessness of a player who is currently recovering from a cruciate tear in his knee. Anderson has a reputation for being a party goer and liking the bright lights of fame and fortune,but is this really the kind of player that Sir Alex Ferguson wants at his club? Not really. Especially considering that he hasn't done much to prove that he deserves a place in Uniteds team. One goal in three years as an attacking midfielder at Manchester United really isn't the greatest achievement for a signing of £18 million who was labelled as the "new Ronaldinho". Don't ask me who called him that, but someone did.

When Sir Alex hears of this, he will need some serious talks to Anderson over his future. He needs to get his feet on the ground and start playing to his undoubted potential. He may not be lifeless, but his United career could well be.