This is my blog on the unpredictable world of football. Hope you enjoy it.

Friday, January 21, 2011

Villa's Bent Signing

Well Aston Villa have smashed their previous record transfer fee in order to secure Sunderland's front man Darren Bent. A transfer I'm sure not many people in the footballing world would have saw coming. Darren Bent hasn't quite been in the form that has seen him win seven caps for England, but he seemed quite happy at high-flying Sunderland. Villa have forked out a whopping 18 million pounds for his services and could see that figure increase another 6 million with added extras. It's another astute buy from manager Gerard Houllier, whom has also brought in Lyon midfielder Jean Makoun. These signings are what is needed to spark an out of form Villa out fit into a mid table finish. They have quite a good young squad that needs some more development and the likes of Bent and Makoun can help this along, now they just need some wins!

In other Villa transfer news John Carew is in talks with Stoke after Villa's signing of Bent. But they are not the only club in the race for the Norwegian target mans signature, West Brom and Birmingham also looking to pounce.

Steven Pienaar, a World Cup favourite has decided to join Tottenham instead of Chelsea on a four and a half year contract, after Everton accepted both clubs bids for the South African playmaker. Pienaar is already eyeing off silverware with his new London-based club. He believes he can prove to manager Harry Redknapp that he is good enough to be a regular starting XI member of the Hotspurs.

Liverpool are looking to make the most of the final week of the transfer window with club chairman Tom Werner stating that club owners NESV (New England Sports Ventures) are willing to splash the cash on a big name player to benefit the club in the long term. This you feel directly relates to the latest transfer rumour of Luis Suarez going to Liverpool. Suarez was a star for both the right and wrong reasons at the World Cup in South Africa for Uruguay. He is only 22 years old and has plenty left to learn, including curbing his anger and ill-discipline. But Ajax manager Frank De Boer insists it will take a massive bid for any club to get Suarez. Ryan Babel is almost on his way out of Anfield after Liverpool accepted a bid from Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga. He is now in Germany to discuss personal terms, further clearing the way for Suarez.

Finally to the A-League, it is nice to see Shane Smeltz return to the A-League for glamour club Gold Coast United and have an immediate impact. It is fair to say United have hardly look good in front of goals all season until the return of the 'golden child'. Now he is involved in a tug-of-war, with Perth Glory and Gold Coast wanting him for next season and beyond. However one feels he will now stay at United after two failed attempts to leave the club.

Flavour of the week? Big Aussie (adopted or not) centre-backs! Yes thats right the K-League love them, particularly after labelling current Socceroos and Seongham player Sasa Ognenovski "too slow". He then played a typical Ogre game and now it seems all Aussie centre-backs are brilliant for K-League clubs. First Adelaide's Iain Fyfe signed with Busan I'Park, then Bas Van Den Brink from Gold Coast joined him also for three years and now young Socceroo Matt DeVere signing for Gyeongnam FC.

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