As speculated yesterday, Goal.com was right for a change, Hull City have their man and Jozy Altidore will be moving to the Premier League on a year long loan. Opinion on US message boards is mixed but all in all I think it's a good move for Altidore. The bare cupboard at Hull likely means that the 19-year-old will get immediate playing time in the best and deepest league in the world. Here's hoping he develops a nice combination with Geovanni, Ian Ashbee and Jimmy Bullard and hits the back of the net several times this season. Who knows, maybe Hull can recapture their early 2008 glory and make a run and not end up in the relegation zone as predicted by just about everyone, including me. One thing for sure I'll have yet another reason to check every game recap this season with Kenny Cooper in Germany and Jozy Altidore at Hull.
Speaking of Cooper, here's another take on his transfer from Greg Lalas of Sports Illustrated. I don't agree completely with Lalas but am in agreement that it's a gamble. I think it's a worthy gamble and I have a feeling that Cooper will prove himself with a one year spell in Munich and move up to first division club via transfer in January or next summer.
Finally, while we're on the subject of US National Team forwards here's some speculation by Ivan Galarcep on the roster for next week's mega-match in Mexico City. How excited am I about this match? I'll be in Milwaukee on business next week and called the hotel I stay at to make sure they'll have Univision so I can see the match. I'll post on my prediction closer to the match. Let's just say I have a good feeling about the US and their chances. As far as the US is concerned my only big hope is that they partner Altidore and Charlie Davies, avoiding Brian Ching at all costs. I realize he'll be trying to get immersed into his new team but I'd like to see Kenny Cooper get a call up. The other player I expect to see and am hoping to see is Stuart Holden. His boo boo against Everton aside Holden's form of late has been been fantastic and he deserves a roster spot.
Showing posts with label Hull City. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hull City. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
EPL- Can two promoted teams stay up?
Last year saw fast-starting (but slow finishing) Hull and consistent Stoke stave off immediate relegation and stay up for a second year in the top flight. Like clubs such as Reading have learned, it's often the second season in the top flight that is the most difficult. This season the dire financial situation in Portsmouth may provide an opening for at least one or two clubs to fight off relegation and pull a Stoke and stay up. Before getting into who I think will stay up it's important to look at the three teams that will go down.
1. Portsmouth: Unless there is a speedy fix to the ownership situation and the sale to UAE billionaire Sulaiman al-Fahim goes through allowing the club to make some last minute transfer deadline signings, the prospects do not bode well for Portsmouth. Such are the modern football times that a club like Portsmouth can go to competing for the Champions League and winning the FA Cup in 2008 to an absolute fire sale of epic proportions. If the of David Nugent goes through Portsmouth will have virtually liquidated anyone of value on their roster leaving a team that could potentially rival Derby County for lack of Premier League talent. It's going to be a painful year in the south of England-- Pompey are surely going down. You have to wonder why the UAE group would want any part of the club anyway. Fratton Park is obviously in need of an upgrade. It's the poorest of the top flight stadiums and just doesn't provide the capacity or revenue that the club needs. I'm curious why the ownership group didn't take a long look at Newcastle as an acquisition.
2. Hull: I can't see Hull surviving another year. They haven't upgraded their squad at all, and they struggled mightily the entire second half of last season-- you can't expect them to get much better considering the fact they haven't acquired anybody. Up front they are in an absolute dire situation. The loan of Jozy Altidore would be nice from a US fan standpoint but you can't expect him to light the world on fire immediately. Jimmy Bullard, the big January pickup, is still injured and likely out the first couple months of the season. To make things even worse their top defender Michael Turner is rumored to be going to Liverpool. You have to wonder if the antics of Phil Brown last season have hurt his ability to attract players. Right now they need all the help they can get.
3. Birmingham City: I think Birmingham will be sent right back down. I realize Alex McLeish has worked wonders in the past but I just don't see the talent on hand at Birmingham to keep the team afloat. The Barry Ferguson acquisition would have been nice three years ago but at this point he's probably too old and beat up--- I don't expect the Barry Ferguson of five years ago. Their best bet is to play the Stoke style, defend their home turf and keep things even on the road.
With the three clubs above going down it's obvious who's staying up, Wolves and Burnley. I really like what Owen Coyle has done at Burnley and at as the fall turns to winter they could very well have a Stoke City like home advantage, as victories over Arsenal and Fulham in the Carling Cup this past season can attest. All eyes will be on Stephen Fletcher as the sole big offseason acquisition. At Wolverhampton Mick McCarthy has put together a solid club with some real forward talent. In the end I don't expect either of these clubs to neccessarily lock up a top ten finish but in contrast to the three clubs listed above I do see them staying up.
1. Portsmouth: Unless there is a speedy fix to the ownership situation and the sale to UAE billionaire Sulaiman al-Fahim goes through allowing the club to make some last minute transfer deadline signings, the prospects do not bode well for Portsmouth. Such are the modern football times that a club like Portsmouth can go to competing for the Champions League and winning the FA Cup in 2008 to an absolute fire sale of epic proportions. If the of David Nugent goes through Portsmouth will have virtually liquidated anyone of value on their roster leaving a team that could potentially rival Derby County for lack of Premier League talent. It's going to be a painful year in the south of England-- Pompey are surely going down. You have to wonder why the UAE group would want any part of the club anyway. Fratton Park is obviously in need of an upgrade. It's the poorest of the top flight stadiums and just doesn't provide the capacity or revenue that the club needs. I'm curious why the ownership group didn't take a long look at Newcastle as an acquisition.
2. Hull: I can't see Hull surviving another year. They haven't upgraded their squad at all, and they struggled mightily the entire second half of last season-- you can't expect them to get much better considering the fact they haven't acquired anybody. Up front they are in an absolute dire situation. The loan of Jozy Altidore would be nice from a US fan standpoint but you can't expect him to light the world on fire immediately. Jimmy Bullard, the big January pickup, is still injured and likely out the first couple months of the season. To make things even worse their top defender Michael Turner is rumored to be going to Liverpool. You have to wonder if the antics of Phil Brown last season have hurt his ability to attract players. Right now they need all the help they can get.
3. Birmingham City: I think Birmingham will be sent right back down. I realize Alex McLeish has worked wonders in the past but I just don't see the talent on hand at Birmingham to keep the team afloat. The Barry Ferguson acquisition would have been nice three years ago but at this point he's probably too old and beat up--- I don't expect the Barry Ferguson of five years ago. Their best bet is to play the Stoke style, defend their home turf and keep things even on the road.
With the three clubs above going down it's obvious who's staying up, Wolves and Burnley. I really like what Owen Coyle has done at Burnley and at as the fall turns to winter they could very well have a Stoke City like home advantage, as victories over Arsenal and Fulham in the Carling Cup this past season can attest. All eyes will be on Stephen Fletcher as the sole big offseason acquisition. At Wolverhampton Mick McCarthy has put together a solid club with some real forward talent. In the end I don't expect either of these clubs to neccessarily lock up a top ten finish but in contrast to the three clubs listed above I do see them staying up.
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