Well, What a Day!

It's been an enthralling day in the footballing world, both at home and abroad, as the end of season merry-go-round has gotten into full swing.
First off, there have been a few managerial appointments that have been confirmed today as clubs look towards the summer and the chance to rebuild their team.

QPR appointed a new manager (again), as Jim Magilton, the ex-Ipswich manager was given the chance to work under owners who have been quick to chop and change in the past. Personally, I feel that Magilton is a top manager, who gets his team to play good, honest attacking football. However, I feel that in the past, Magilton has not been given the funds that he has needed to improve the squad, and therefore, I feel that this move to Rangers could provide him with the perfect opportunity. He has a half-decent squad at present, and with room to manoeuvre in terms of his transfer budget, he can look foward to starting next season with a team that can aspire to gain a place in the Play-Offs, at the very least.

And then, there was good ol' Brucie, who left another club in the lurch to jump at the chance to join the revolution at Sunderland. Wigan got their compensation, and Sunderland got a Newcastle United fan. In his press-conference, Bruce said that he had waited 9 years to manage club the "size" of Sunderland, but I'm a bit lots. When he was at Blues, he was offered the chance to go to Newcastle, and he was in the chase for the job before Joe Kinnear was hired, but both times, he came out and turned down the job. For Sunderland, they have hit the jackpot - even though their fans may not agree with me. Bruce is an adequate manager, who has the ability to motivate a team to go out and play for the fans, and I think he could do well at the club. However, the Sunderland fans will still be mulling over the fact that their new manager in charge is a massive Geordie by the time that next season kicks off. Some will love him, and some will hate him but then again, Bruce has never had it easy.

While all this was happening, Wigan owner Dave Whealen appeared on Sky Sports News, and appeared to be wishing Steve Bruce all the best in his new job. Well done Mr Whealen, very kind and admirable of you...Oh...what's that? You're still talking?...Ahh, and there is the reason that Whealen appeared on Sky Sports News. Tapping up Roberto Martinez. Whealen constantly referred to the fact that he allowed Sunderland permission to speak to Bruce "immediately" because he feels that people ahve the right to talk to who they want to. Whealen then put an immense amount of pressure on the Swansea hierachy, by constantly linking Bruce's situation to the storm clouds gathering above the Liberty Stadium. Along with Wigan, Celtic are seriously considering Martinez for their managerial position, and this means that Swansea Chairman Huw Jenkins will have a massive fight on his hands if he is going to keep the manager who has performed admirably since joining the Welsh club.

...And that was just the managerial news!

The summer is traditionally the time of year when the big money transfers take place, and this summer, even in its infancy, has been no different.

On the home front, my very own side, Birmingham City, have smashed their own record transfer fee to sign 23 year old striker Christian Benitez from Mexican side Santos Laguna for an undisclosed fee, believed to be around £6.5 with another £3 million pounds in add-ons. The striker has a good scoring rate for his club and country. He has scored 14 goals in 18 games for his club side this term, along with 10 goals in his past 17 appearances for Ecuador.
Benitez is a 5 foot 6 bundle of energy who is built like the hulk according to all reports. It is said that he is one of the hottest talents in South America, and a top 6 Premier League side, along with a few European sides were after his signature, and therefore it is a major coup for the Blues that Alex McLeish has got him to sign on!

Across the city, Gareth Barry has had an eventful few days, as he went from potential Liverpool target, to Manchester City's new signing. Barry moved for £12 million but his move has caused outrage amongst Villa fans who believe that he has let down the club. Barry said that he wanted to leave (last summer) because he wanted to go and play Champions League football, and so fans find it ridiculous that he has moved to Manchester City, who are nowhere near getting into Europe, forget the Champions League.

In the aftermath of his transfer, with the desire to clear his conscience clear for many to see, Barry wrote an open letter to Aston Villa fans through the local paper, where he tried to justify his move. He praised those who have helped him in the past and he would have hoped that this letter would put him back in the good books of Villa fans. The first reaction that I received from a friend and Villa fan? "He's still a tosser." Oh well Gareth, better luck next time.


Over in London, it has been yet another busy day at Chelsea FC, where Ricardo Carvalho expressed his desire to leave the club this summer. He reflected on his "wonderful" spell at the club but he felt that it was about time to move on to a new challenge. Carvalho cited reasons such as his frustration at not having played enough games this season, but at the end of the day, that is because he was injured more often than not.
Methinks that Carvalho is dreaming of a move to Inter Milan where he would once again be reunited with ex-manager Jose Mourinho. Mourinho managed Carvalho at Porto and then brought him to Chelsea and Carvalho has always proclaimed his great respect for Mourinho and the job he has done. Nevertheless, Chelsea will be hit hard by Carvalho's remarks, as when alongside Terry, Chelsea are a much improved side. However, this is the perfect chance for Michael Mancienne to come in and try and leave their mark the team, along with Alex, the defender who has profited the most this season from Carvalho's injuries.

And now we come, to the biggest transfer story since, well, January. Kaka to Real Madrid...Or was that Chelsea? It appeared yesterday that Kaka was all set to sign for Real Madrid before reports which stated that Kaka's father demanded that Kaka talked to Chelsea before making his final decision.
Then, it was mid-afternoon today when startling reports emerged. These reports said that Chelsea had made a massive £73.5 million bid for the star, with a contract offer that would leave the Brazilian with £10 million a year, after tax.

If that wasn't good enough for you, there was yet more developments a few hours ago when Chelsea categorically denied making a bid for the star. So the plot thickens...


Well, what a day it has been! The breaking news just kept coming, and I'm sure that we haven't heard the last of a few of the issues mentioned above.
Rumours. Don't you just love them?!