Well this season is just getting harder and harder to predict. Having just absorbed last week’s action Game Week 15 is here and no doubt will throw up plenty more surprises.

The Premier League weekend kicks off Saturday lunchtime at Villa Park. Two wounded team’s line up looking to bounce back from disappointing results. The majority of Villa’s midfield is currently residing in the treatment room. Step forward Barry Bannan and Stephen Ireland, Bannan (4.5) has performed well so far and Ireland (5.9) is eager to get his Aston Villa career up and running. Arsenal are still sitting pretty in third, despite apparently being in crisis, it’s a crisis that 17 other Premier League sides would be delighted to find themselves in. Robin Van Persie (9.5) will be looking to get his season up and running this weekend. Cesc Fabregas will be out for two weeks after picking up a hamstring injury against Braga. But Arsenal still have a wealth of talent to call upon in the absence of their inspirational skipper.

West Ham host Wigan in the basement battle of the weekend. It’s a must win game, both teams will be hoping their match winners will see them through a nervy encounter. Carlton Cole (5.8) has voiced his frustration at the lack of quality balls into the box. Now would be the ideal time to give the Hammers front man the service he craves. Wigan will miss star striker Hugo Rodellega (Suspension) but have the continually impressive Charles N’Zogbia (5.7).

Top of the table Chelsea are struggling too and face a long trip to St James Park this game week. The last time Chelsea lost two league games on the bounce everything was in black and white. They visit a Newcastle side who can’t quite decide whether to score five or concede five every week. My head say’s it all adds up to a dull no score draw But my heart is saying goals so get Andy Carroll (6.1) in your starting XI, John Terry is still absent from the Blues back line and the boy Carroll is guaranteed to give any defence a rough ride.

Sundays late game see’s Tottenham host Liverpool. Spurs cruised past Werder Bremen and into the last 16 of the Champions league Wednesday night. There can be no excuse of tiredness come Sunday, Harry Redknapp’s side had time to stop and feed the ducks on their midweek walk in the park. Jermain Defoe (8.6) is fit again and looks desperate to make up for lost time. If you have the funds available snap him up, he’ll be back in the goals sooner rather than later. Rafael Van Der Vaart (8.5) looks certain to feature after missing out in midweek. Liverpool are starting to turn the corner, but their form on the road is horrendous and they look likely to head home empty handed.

Final mention goes to Johan Elmander (6.3), Kevin Davies (6.5) and Chung-Yong Lee (5.3), I tipped them to be in the points last week and they didn’t disappoint. A home tie against Blackpool this weekend almost guarantees another return from them and hopefully, they will again keep my final shreds of credibility intact for a little while longer.

That’s your lot for this week. If you feel like joining in the fun then join the EPL League by visiting: http://fantasy.premierleague.com/ the code you need to join is 13413-5300

It’s the North London derby this weekend. Arsenal, who are fast becoming serious title contenders play Host to Tottenham. The Gunners sit second, 2 points behind Chelsea. Tottenham find themselves seventh after a much needed win against Blackburn last weekend. Three points for either side would see them make significant strides up the Premier league table, so a point a piece it will be at the Emirates.

With the calibre of attacking players available to both sides you get the feeling it won’t be a goalless encounter. Make sure you have North London’s big hitters in your starting line up by Saturday lunchtime. Arsenal have no fresh injury worries as yet, but Tottenham have lost the services of string-puller Tom Huddlestone for a few months.

Elsewhere in the Premier League it’s the battle of the big number nine’s at the Reebok stadium, well it’s technically three number nine’s. Newcastle’s Andy Carroll acquitted himself well on Wednesday night, considering he was half way back to Newcastle by the time England forged any meaningful attack and will be looking to add to the 77 points he’s already picked up this season. Bolton’s Johan Elmander and Kevin Davies continue their fine form, add midfielder Chung-Yong Lee to the mix and you could find yourself in the points. However, the way this season is going a match featuring a trio of the League’s top strikers is bound to finish in a stalemate.

On paper Stokes trip to West Brom doesn’t look the most exciting match up, but this could be the dark horse of the weekend. Stokes flying winger Matthew Etherington and yo-yo midfielder Dean Whitehead are a risky gamble worth taking. Similarly the home side have mister consistent in Chris Brunt (58) and their very own goal machine in Peter Odemwingie (47), both could reward you with a healthy points haul this game week.

Premier League matches have been so hard to predict this season, so I’m not even going to mention Chelsea’s trip to St Andrews or Man Utd taking on Wigan, and as for Liverpool Vs West Ham, well I’m saying nothing. Sunderland’s fantastic performance at the bridge last Sunday summed up the Premier League perfectly, anything can and will happen in a game week. It’s a pundit’s nightmare.

I am however prepared to stick my neck out in regards to Sunday’s matches – Blackburn Vs Aston Villa and Fulham Vs Man City have got 1-1 written all over them. It will be a day where defences will triumph. Fulham’s Brede Hangeland and Villa’s James Collins will sure up any defence and both have weighed in with a few goals this season.

Game week 14 concludes with Everton’s trip to surprise package of game week 13, Sunderland. It goes without saying that Asamoah Gyan is the star man at the stadium of light right now, but his strike partner Darren Bent could return from injury in time for Monday nights clash. Everton themselves have a few potential bargains available, defensive rocks Phil Jagielka and Sylvain Distin are good value at 5.8 and 5.5 million respectively and young full back Seamus Coleman (4.9 million) is improving every week.

That’s your lot for this week. If you feel like joining in the fun then join the EPL League by visiting: http://fantasy.premierleague.com/ the code you need to join is 13413-5300

It’s been a busy week in the Premier League and the fun just doesn’t stop. Game Week 13 is here already and we have another full fixture programme to look forward to.

It’s at the foot of the table where the excitement and the points are to be had this weekend. The bottom three are all at home and these fixtures would have been double underlined in red as winnable at the start of the season.

West Ham play host to the still free scoring Blackpool. Piquionne and Parker did the business Wednesday and will be looking for a repeat performance on Saturday. If recent form is anything to go by it will be a goal fest at Upton Park.
Wolves – who, if points were awarded for pride and guts would be top of the league – entertain an in form Bolton. Mick McCarthy’s men need to shut down not only Kevin Davies but also Johan Elmander. The big Swede has finally worked out the difference between a set of goal posts and the side of a barn, the reward for this realisation is 62 points for the Trotters front man. Wolves will be relying on the likes of Matthew Jarvis (5.3), Stephen Hunt (5.3), Kevin Doyle (5.1) and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake (5.0) to breach Wanderers stubborn back line. Wolves will edge a narrow victory here.

Wigan are in desperate need of a win, so far their season’s star performers have been Hugo Rodallega (5.8) and Charles N’Zogbia (5.5). Another big performance from this pair is required against West Brom. All things good for the Latic’s seem to come from these two, take a gamble and give them a run out this game week.

Stoke are hovering above the drop zone and Welcome a rejuvenated Liverpool side. Stoke at home are always a difficult prospect. Big Robert Huth is a mountain at the back and a genuine goal threat going forward, a 4.9 million price tag has returned 37 points so far. Striker Ricardo Fuller weighed in with 9 points in the last game week and is available for a mere 4.8 million.

Manchester City will be looking for a positive reaction after a dishwater dull Manchester derby. Chelsea are beginning to pull away at the top and the Eastland’s outfit cannot afford to lose anymore ground. Birmingham could well find themselves on the wrong side of a City backlash. Blues keeper Ben Foster (4.9) could be in for a busy afternoon.

Last special mention this week to Blackburn stopper Paul Robinson – sitting 4^th overall in the goalkeeper table having so far amassed 49 points – is yours to buy for 4.6 million. An absolute bargain if you’re looking to generate some cash to strengthen other areas of your squad.

If you feel like joining in the fun then join the EPL League by visiting: http://fantasy.premierleague.com/  the code you need to join is 13413-5300

Yesterday’s result at Anfield has seen a lot of chatter around this and other Blogs, mostly negative and mostly about Liverpool. However, two teams played yesterday and after an odd set-back (for my money you kick a ball when it’s still you’ve taken the free-kick) Sunderland were Liverpool’s equals. Steve Bruce has done an excellent job picking up the reins from Ricky Sbragia after Roy Keane’s Irish experiment. Sunderland are almost unrecognisable from that time but they have maintained a high level in the Premier League, they may not be challenging for Europe just yet but on the evidence of this season and last they will be very soon. The main factor behind this revival has been the influx of Niall Quinn’s money and the exceptional way that Steve Bruce has used it.

Harry Redknapp lost it when he was referred to as a ‘Wheeler-dealer’, the reaction from everyone else seemed to be a bit of an over-reaction but that he was right to feel aggrieved as he was now a Champions League manager. If he is no longer worthy of that tag then his natural successor must be Steve Bruce. Over the last 3 years Steve Bruce’s transfer record is enviable in the quantity and quality of the players brought in. They may not all be gems but Bruce has brought some very good footballers to these shores that may not have had the chance otherwise.

The key to a successful ‘wheeler-dealer’ is to use all the resources at your disposal positively. Whether it be free-agent signings, small acquisitions, transfers for the future or blockbuster moves a true wheeler-dealer will use all of these to improve his football club. Something that Steve Bruce has done continuously over the last 3 years. Though I must be clear, whilst Steve Bruce maintains the overall responsibility for transfers his scouting network has been instrumental in all of the below. These people will very rarely get the kudos but bear in mind that Ricky Sbragia did not leave Sunderland when Bruce arrived but took up the post of chief scout.

When Bruce took over at Wigan in November 2007 it was after some animosity at his previous club. Wigan improved under Bruce after a disastrous reign under Chris Hutchings and in his first transfer window he showed the pedigree of his scouting network and his eye for a player. Wilson Palacios was already in England at Birmingham but made a permanent move to Wigan, he was joined by fellow Honduran Maynor Figueroa. Wigan finished 14th that season in the summer Bruce continued to show his keen eye in the transfer market signing Lee Cattermole and Amr Zaki. Zaki caused the most interest of these signings as he was a complete unknown, however according to mysterious FIFA rankings he was the best striker in the world. Zaki roared off to an unbelievable start but off the field problems affected on-field performances and he ended the season with a whimper. Lee Cattermole was a tenacious young midfielder whose stock rose throughout the season.

The January of 2009 saw the vindication of Bruce’s transfer policy as he made a tremendous profit on Wilson Palacios, Bruce re-invested the money in another unknown in Hugo Rodallega. The Colombian striker has not been prolific but his pace and ability has made him a main-stay in the Wigan team beyond Bruce’s reign. In the summer of 2009 Bruce moved to Sunderland where under Niall Quinn he was given money to go with his transfer reputation and he did not disappoint. Bruce set about pruning the team in places selling Chopra, Edwards and Danny Collins. He used that money to bring in Bruce old boy Cattermole, Michael Turner from Hull and Frazier Campbell. In the first of a few surprisingly ambitious signings Bruce brought in Marseille captain Lorik Cana (whose one year in England was as good as it was brutal) and in one of the transfer stories of the summer bringing in Darren Bent. Darren Bent has been a revelation at Sunderland finding the form he had for Charlton in the North-East, scoring the bulk of the teams goals he is key to their continuing success. It can be no surprise that Bent was instrumental on Sunday scoring two goals but it wasn’t all about him as other Bruce signings showed their class.

Coming into this season, Sunderland continued their ambitious ways. The biggest story of course was the eventual signing of World Cup star Asamoah Gyan, the signing of Gyan can be seen as a risk in the same mould as Darren Bent and if they get the same result Sunderland could be the team to overtake Everton, Aston Villa and even Liverpool. Gyan was the star attraction but Bruce also made moves to strengthen the team around him. John Mensah’s loan was made permanent, he also brought in Titus Bramble, whose reputation has soared since his mistake’s (on the pitch) have cleared up. However the biggest surprises of the season so far have been the performances of two unknowns. Steve Mignolet was a 2 million pound singing and was thought to be the back-up to Craig Gordon, however an injury to the scot forced the young Belgian to step in and he has done a fine job. In front of him though has been the transfer that not even I noticed, as another Egyptian has stolen the limelight under Bruce. Ahmed Al-Muhammadi is on a season long loan at Sunderland and has shown exceptional talent so far, his pace and crossing ability have made him a very useful winger in England and Darren Bent has fed off of his deliveries. Ably supported by another loan pick-up in Nedum Onuoha, Sunderland have threatened down the right in every game.

Through free-agents (Zenden), loan signings (Onouha), domestic based players (Cattermole), international players (Mignolet) and blockbusters (Gyan, Bent). Steve Bruce has quietly built a very good squad at Sunderland and their results this season have been more impressive than their 10th place position is indicating. Sunderland have already played Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City and it could be better if Lee Cattermole could control himself.  If the team can play like they did at Anfield for the majority of the season & keep 11 men on the pitch, Sunderland could be the surprise team of this Premier League season and it will all be built around the ‘Wheeler-Dealer’ in Steve Bruce – but I wouldn’t say it to his face just yet.

With the transfer window slamming shut tomorrow Tottenham have surprisingly been one of the most inactive clubs. But should Harry Redknapp make a last ditch attempt to strengthen his squad ahead of their assault on the Champions League?

Redknapp’s quiet summer has been quite surprising when you consider his reputation as a bit of a wheeler and dealer. But in truth I think he has been shocked at the sheer cost of strengthening a side that was able to qualify for the Champions League.

Champions League football has meant that Tottenham are in the market for elite players, but elite players means inflated transfer fee’s and although Spurs aren’t short of money Redknapp appears to be reluctant to risk value for money.

Take Luis Fabiano, Spurs were unwilling to meet Seville’s valuation of over £20million and quite rightly so for a player who only has a year left on his contract. But Redknapp must understand that this is the price you pay for a player of Fabiano’s ability. Transfer fees are greatly inflated but for the top bracket players they are inflated even more.

Spurs look set to make a deadline day move for Ashley Young who himself will come with a greatly inflated price tag, even more so after James Milner’s departure from Aston Villa, so in truth a deal looks unlikely.

The question though is do Tottenham need reinforcements? The defeat to Wigan would suggest they do if they are going to challenge domestically and in Europe this year. Redknapp shouldn’t buy for the sake of buying but he should be aware that his side may struggle with the lack of quality in depth.

That eventually proved to be the downfall of Liverpool and is the reason why they are not in the Champions League this year and Tottenham should have invested in the squad a long time ago and not left it to last minute because that will only inflate prices further.

I think they are one or two additions away from having a side that can compete for the Premier League however I can’t see them arriving to White Hart Lane now. If injuries hit Spurs may struggle and Redknapp may live to regret not delving in to the transfer market.

It has been a quiet season on the transfer front if your name isn’t Roberto Mancini. Of the teams who finished in the top 4 very few ‘big’ transfers have been made. Sure we are excited by the prospect of Chamakh and Chicarcito (who scored AGAIN last night against Spain) but their transfers do not create the same commotion as the saga’s of Ashley Cole, Dimitar Berbatov and Cristiano Ronaldo. This has been the summer of the non-transfers, the fact that Gerrard, Torres and Fabregas have not moved is more important that those who have moved. However amongst the hustle and bustle of the world cup and the aftermath there have been a few key transfers you may have missed. We start at a fairly recent one and one of the biggest fees paid this summer.

1. Kenwyne Jones: Stoke have paid 8 million for the Trinidad and Tobago striker. Jones was a transfer target for Liverpool in January and this move is a sign of ambition from Stoke. 8 million is a lot of money but Pulis obviously feels Jones can add something to a strike-force which has often relied on the quality of Matthew Etherington rather than the strikers. Jones would find time limited at Sunderland behind  Darren Bent and  boss Steve Bruce has indicated that he and Jones had not seen eye-to-eye and felt that he was not achieving his potential under him. Jones has been at Stoke before but that was as a raw 20 year old. Jones will be the starting striker for Stoke as Beattie and Kitson are both on the transfer list at the moment.

2. Ivan Klasnic: Klasnic has rejoined Bolton on a free transfer which has been the story of Bolton’s off-season. With a few free transfer pick-ups Owen Coyle is hoping to fashion a budget attacking side. Klasnic was not prolific in the previous term with only 8 goals in 27 games. However that was his first season in the Premier League and in a team that was not performing well overall. With an increase in the attacking nature of Bolton and the better delivery from someone like Martin Petrov the 30 year old may prove to be a bargain.

3.Sandro: Formally signed in March Sandro’s transfer has probably been forgotten over the course of the summer as Harry Redknapp chases all and sundry. Tottenham have been uncharacteristically quiet in the summer with very few players moving in or out. If Sandro proves to be their only signing then it is not a travesty. With competition at almost every position Sandro could provide some quality in midfield alongside Palacios and Luka Modric. Sandro is a physically intimidating midfielder who at 21 has youth on his side. With only one cap under his belt so far it is tough to know exactly what to expect from Sandro as he has only played in Brazil so far in his career but has proved to be a vital player for Internacional. Sandro won’t join Tottenham until 18th August so don’t be putting him into your fantasy team just yet.

4. Mauro Boselli: Wigan have splashed out big on the Argentinian striker, officially listed as 6.5 million. Often known for their America’s scouting regime Wigan have often brought in quality from the other side of the Atlantic. Boselli is a striker with an excellent goalscoring record, in the pre-season he has been banging them in albeit against weaker opposition. Boselli was the top scorer in Argentine football in the previous season so comes with a certain aura of expectation. Don’t expect him to light up the ground with skillful play though, Boselli is a goal-scorer first and foremost so expect to see him bungling it home from 2 yards rather than beating a few players. They all count though.

5. Stephen Hunt: Probably the player that you know the most about on this list. Wolves got their signings made early this season picking up players from the cash-strapped relegated clubs. Stephen Hunt should help alleviate the aura of negative football that hung around the Molineux last season. Stephen Hunt has played for several relegation candidate teams but continues to be one of their better players an out-and-out left winger Hunt can deliver an excellent cross, beat his man and often goes over the line of determination into outright aggression. These qualities are always needed for a relegation-threatened team as he very rarely gives anything other than his best. Hunt will take the left wing spot for Wolves and should provide many assists over the coming season he is for Wolves what Chris Brunt and Charlie Adam are for their teams, the main attacking outlet.

There’s been an interesting undercurrent of first choice World Cup goal keepers performing brilliantly in the tournament so far who represent Premier League clubs. Besides a few early blunders from keepers, the goalkeeping has in fact been quite solid throughout the majority of the tournament.

Maybe they’ve gotten used to the controversial Jabulani ball, or maybe they’ve just gotten the early tournament jitters out of their system. Regardless, a few not so first choice keepers for club are starting to prove their worth and making the most of the opportunity they’ve got to represent their respective countries at the World Cup.

Of course the Premier League is incredibly well represented at the World Cup with a list that runs a mile long, but the story of Ghana’s Richard Kingson, currently third choice at Wigan, is definitely one worth praising. Making his first international appearance in March of 1996 v Brazil, Kingson has gone on to represent his country 81 more times and even has one international goal to his name.

A Premier League player many didn’t know before the tournament, Kingson was the only Ghana player to complete all 12 qualifying matches for his country while he’s now been on the books at Wigan Athletic since 2008, his tenth professional club.

Kingson in goal for Ghana never seems to instill a great sense of confidence in the neutral observer. His movement is that of a lumbering, inexperienced goalkeeper, yet his play on the field proves his detractors wrong. He seems to make save after save and also has a strong command of his box when dealing with corners and long balls into the box.

In the round of 16 game v the US, Kingson was brilliant in keeping the US attack at bay by making multiple saves on way to a quarter final appearance for the Black Stars. In terms of statistics, Kingson is on par with the USA’s Tim Howard with minutes played, saves, passing, and has let in 2 fewer goals thus far. Surely most important for Kingson is the fact that Ghana remain in pursuit of a very realistic shot at a World Cup semi final when they take on Uruguay in a few days.

The pride the Ghanaian players will play with for the duration of their tournament as the only remaining African nation is sure to be unmatched by any other nation who also remain in pursuit of the World Cup title. For the neutral observer, the untimely injury and subsequent absence of Ghana’s and Chelsea’s Michael Essien remains a shocking occurrence as Ghana push on without their most important and arguably best player.

One would think after his solid World Cup display, Kingson would be a first choice keeper at Wigan as I’m sure Roberto Martinez will have taken notice of his third choice keeper. Although it’s yet to be seen whether or not Kingson will start any games for Wigan this season, it’s important to point out that Serbia’s Vladimir Stojkovic, who was also solid for Serbia before their elimination, is one spot up on the Wigan pecking order behind first choice Chris Kirkland. Such is the life of a goalkeeper.

One thing’s for sure, if Kirkland has a drop in form this year for the Latics, Roberto Martinez will definitely have a few World Cup veterans at his disposal, Kingson in particular, that would be chomping at the bit for some 1st team Premier League minutes.

The aforementioned keepers, Howard, Kingson and Stojkovic join a list of fellow Premier League keepers who’ve also seen action during the World Cup such as Stoke City’s Thomas Sorensen for Denmark, Fulham’s Mark Schwarzer for Australia and also Slovakia’s #1 Jan Mucha who recently secured a high profile move to Everton from Legia Warsaw in Poland. The move will take effect in July of this year.

Can anyone remember the last time Hull City won a Premier League game? December 6th at home to Middlesbrough was the last time. Since then, they have been very much in freefall.  When Hull first arrived in the Premiership, they were tipped to go straight back down but decided to tear up the script and go to well established top flight sides like Arsenal, Tottenham and Newcastle United and win. How dare they!

 Since then however, Hull have had a bit of a reality check. Despite two very credible draws at Anfield and Stamford Bridge, a couple of resounding batterings from Manchester City and Sunderland, accompanied with some less humiliating defeats and the odd draw have seen Hull fall into thirteenth. By all means this is a respectable position but the worrying thing for Phil Brown’s side is that they are looking over their shoulder now, rather than towards the dizzy heights of Europe that their early season form suggested.

The run of form that they are in at the moment suggests only one thing; a relegation scrap. This is the last thing that they would have wanted or expected at the time of their last league win but have struggled to maintain the kind of form that shocked the world before Christmas. Credit to Brown, he acknowledged their slump and tried to shake things up by bringing in some new faces, most notably Manucho on loan from Manchester United (to replace the outgoing Marlon King) and record signing Jimmy Bullard from Fulham. The latter however seems to have backfired for the time being as Bullard required further surgery to his troublesome knee and is out for the remainder of the season having only made one substitute appearance for the Tigers.

A problem that is still rectifiable this season though is their home form. The KC Stadium has hardly been a fortress having picked up just three wins in the league there all season. Perhaps this is because it is a welcoming venue for travelling teams with nice facilities and doesn’t boast the most hostile of atmospheres. If a team is to avoid the drop, it is often their home form that will decide it. Stoke City are a good example of a side who are making the most of their home territory and in turn made themselves very difficult to beat there. Hull’s next three home games all come against sides who are in the relegation mix and the phrase ‘six pointer’ starts to take on some real meaning. Sunday’s match against a rejuvenated Blackburn Rovers is a crucial match and a win for Hull could spark a run that results in a comfortable finish to the season and doesn’t require the need for a positive result against Manchester United on the final day. Newcastle United and Portsmouth are the following home games for Hull while upcoming trips to Fulham, Wigan, Middlesbrough and Sunderland suggest that Hull should pick up enough points to survive.

Most neutrals would like to see Hull stay up, purely because of the way they shook things up in the opening weeks of the season and think it would be a waste to then throw it all away. Hull have achieved a lot in a short space of time and sending them back to the drawing board now would be harsh. However, you only stay up if you’re good enough and time will tell.

When the transfer window was brought in to the Premier League (being the last of the major European leagues to take up this format) it was met with a very mixed reception. Although it makes for some interesting television in the final few days, particularly in the January version, I believe that the transfer window has had more negative connotations than good.

Clubs who have had a good start to the season and are somewhat over achieving according to many pundits often find themselves being robbed of their finest assets come January. Wigan are a prime example of being this year’s victims of their own success. They are a relatively small club in comparison to some of the other (often self proclaimed) big clubs in the division and a good first half of the season has led to them having to endure their top performers, in the guise of Palacios and Heskey, getting poached. Granted they received a nice transfer fee for the former and were resigned to losing the latter in the summer anyway, but those players could still prove to be the difference come May, especially if the Latics find themselves in a relegation scrap.

Then there are the clubs who have started badly but expected much more. They bustle in and throw their weight around, paying over the top transfer fees and signing some average players on big contracts and bigger wages in order to galvanise their season. Birmingham in 2005 thought it would be a good idea to pay Brentford half a million pounds for DJ Campbell, a striker who cost them fifty thousand the previous summer and scored a decent number of goals in League One.  But then having been handed the task of saving Birmingham from inevitable relegation, he subsequently flopped as The Bees laughed all the way to the bank.

And then there are some completely strange deals that occur. Take for instance the recent re-signing of Pascal Chimbonda by Tottenham. The moody Frenchman is one of four right backs on the club’s books, Hutton, Corluka and Gunter being the others. Who needs four right backs? I get that two of them are versatile but it’s not like Spurs are improving the quality of their squad by signing an irrational full back who throws his dummy out of the pram on a regular basis.

For me, the transfer window sparks nothing more than chaos, panic and pandemonium across the country, especially for Premiership teams. Clubs are trying to accumulate a squad large enough to cope with any eventuality, rather than just doing the business that is needed at the time. I don’t really see what was wrong with just putting a deadline on all dealings for the end of March. Why restrict clubs to buying and selling players to certain times? If anything, it poses a legal question due to the restriction of trade. Perhaps by getting rid of the window, players wouldn’t have as much power by holding their club to ransom and then heaven forbid, contracts might actually mean something once more. It may even restore honour and integrity to the game…no ,no, that’s too farfetched. Smaller clubs however, may at least be able to stand up for themselves and keep hold of prize assets as they won’t have so many clubs throwing crazy money at them for their top players.

Of course that would involve Fifa having to step in and make a decision so in the meantime I will continue to breathe normally rather than holding it in.

Sweeping from the left

A goal only he could score

Zinedine Kilbane