Cole arrival lifts Liverpool gloom
The arrival of Joe Cole at Liverpool has sent the Anfield fans into raptures and already the doom and gloom has started to lift.
But new boss Roy Hodgson will need more than Cole to lift the ailing club’s fortunes in the season ahead. The 28-year-old does look a perfect fit for the side though, especially after Yossi Benayoun left Merseyside. He is the perfect replacement for the Israeli and will prove to be a huge hit with the fans on the Kop.
Cole left Chelsea at the end of last season after failing to agree a new contract with the club and has now signed a lucrative four-year deal at Anfield.
His arrival has been met by delirium on Merseyside and if Hodgson can now persuade Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres to stay put he will surely be given the freedom on the city. But the depth of his squad still looks perilously thin. In truth Liverpool’s starting XI is as good as any in the Premier League and they showed that two seasons ago when they went so close to the title. Their efforts came off the rails last term but, if you look at the first team Hodgson can put out, they should be challenging for honours.
With Pepe Reina, Jamie Carragher, Martin Skrtel, Steven Gerrrad, Javier Mascherano, Fernando Torres, Dirk Kuyt and now Cole, Liverpool have a strong starting XI, but when injuries and suspensions bite they look vulnerable. Hodgson is desperately short of cover and he has some serious work to do in the next month or so.
July 20, 2010
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Roy looking to take the Micah
Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson is ready to test the resolve of Manchester City and make a move for Micah Richards.
Hodgson is well aware of the need to bolster his Anfield squad and the former Fulham boss is keen on adding British players with the new home-grown player rule coming into force this season.
Eight home-grown players must be named in a squad of 25 and Hodgson is making sure he won’t be left short by the new rule.
Richards was regarded as one of England’s bright young things a few years ago, but he lost his way at Eastlands last term making 23 top-flight appearances and his action could well be limited even more this season with the arrival of Jerome Boateng from Hamburg. He is expected to cement a place at the heart of City’s defence meaning Richards could be tempted to move elsewhere.
Hodgson doesn’t have a huge transfer budget and Richards won’t be allowed to leave on the cheap, but he is keen to bolster the centre of his defence and sees Richards as the ideal recruit. The 22-year-old is believed to favour a central role and Hodgson is confident of persuading Richards his future lies at Anfield.
Spurs boss Harry Redknapp is also believed to be pondering a move for the player who broke into the City team when he was just 17 years old. Redknapp and Hodgson are both confident they can transform Richards into a top-class defender.
July 19, 2010
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Aguero would be perfect fit for Chelsea
Atletico Madrid striker Sergio Aguero is up for grabs this summer and he would be a perfect fit for Premier League champions Chelsea.
Aguero, 22, is widely regarded as one of the hottest properties in Europe and the son-in-law of Maradona is believed to be ready to take on the challenge in the Premier League.
He said: “Of course Chelsea is of interest to me as they are one of the most powerful teams in European football.
“They show their intent summer after summer in the transfer market and more often than not that intent will see them end the season with at least one trophy.”
The Argentinean forward was a bit-part player for Maradona’s men at the World Cup finals and only managed just over 100 minutes of action as Argentina were knocked out at the quarter-final stage by Germany.
The former Independiete star has shown more consistent form in La Liga though and has scored 20 goals-plus in each of his last three seasons at the Vicenete Calderon.
Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti has been quiet in the transfer market so far and although the Blues are not expected to spend huge money this summer, they are likely to strengthen their options.
The champions looked short of attacking options at the start of last season with Didier Drogba, Nicolas Anelka and Daniel Sturridge the only senior strikers on the books, but such was Drogba’s form – he scored 29 goals – they went on to take the title.
However, this season might be the time to add to their attacking options and Aguero’s clever movement and pace makes him the perfect partner for Drogba. He would cost in excess of ВЈ20million but he could well be the man Chelsea need to go on and claim back-to-back titles.
July 14, 2010
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