Mourinho's Notebook - September 12
International Breaks Are Dumb
Sure, we had some great moments, but most of the action was typically stolid nation vs nation football. Thankfully, the club stuff returns this weekend and we can all exhale. Finally, a purpose to Saturday nights! A milestone, a marker. Something to drink towards.
Ahh, but there were a couple of things worth repeating. Gareth Bale sparked a Welsh victory with a double, with this lil beauty proving the winner against Andorra.
Also, Brendon Rodgers is NOT a happy chappy after Daniel Sturridge returned from England duty with an injury that could force him out for 3 weeks and 6 games. Good thing they bought Mario Balotelli then, innit? Must be Super Mario’s time to shine now.
While the Portuguese coach Paulo Bento has been given the old Daisy Root after his side lost 1-0 at home to Albania. Yeah, no kidding. That was without Cristiano Ronaldo, mind you. Bento had been in charge since 2010 and was probably already under some heavy pressure having failed to get the team out of the group stages at the World Cup.
Louis Van Gaal on Danny Welbeck
"I have given all the players a chance to convince me of their qualities. Danny Welbeck was here when he was nine. He played here for three seasons after Sunderland, but he doesn’t have the record of Van Persie or Rooney and that is the standard. That is why we let him go, because of Falcao, but also the youngsters who can fit in."
Anyone Wanna Buy A Football Club?
There are a few going cheap. Perhaps your best option is Hull City, whose owner Assem Allam has said he’d give the club away for free as his dispute with the FA continues. Assam wants the team’s name changed to the Hull Tigers but the governing body keep throwing that out. Now out of pride in the sanctity of his own word, the club is up for sale. You’ll probably have to pay more than $0 to buy them, but they’re taking offers at least.
Tottenham have denied that they’ve had a £1b bid for the club. Spurs are in a bit of a pickle at the moment as their new stadium has seen delays and there were rumours that they may try to share the Emirates with Arsenal for a season – which Arsene Wenger categorically denied. They may end up sharing with MK Dons, borrowing West Ham’s Olympic Stadium or possibly even Wembley. The issue is with the current landowner of the site, who is kicking up a legal fuss. To be honest, any takeover amidst all this sounds pretty doubtful.
Contrary to recent press speculation, neither the Club, nor its majority shareholder, are in any takeover discussions and the focus of the club is fully on delivering the new stadium project.
And one more club potentially for sale is Newcastle. Mike Ashley may be selling up and moving to Scotland as his business with Toon has gone as far is it probably will go. Ashley’s all about the marketing and his Sports Direct chain is hardly about to get European exposure with Newcastle. Ashley has become involved with Rangers recently and it is said he wants to expand his ownership there, which would mean selling Newcastle under UEFA regulations (he cannot own both as they could theoretically face each other in European competition). Rangers obviously need lots of money as they try to climb the divisional ladder back to where they once were and their eventual chances of Europa League or even Champions League football are a lot higher given the standard of competition.
