Football News: Injuries, Racism, Deaths And Debt, Football This Week

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1. West Ham act to cut back injuries
With Slaven Bilic putting the blame for West Ham United's growing injury list on to the quality of the pitches at the current training ground, Chadwell Heath, the Hammers have accelerated their plans to move to a new training ground, Rush Green. Instead of moving for next season, the players will train at the new complex from next week. Bilic is hoping this will cut back on injuries, such as those recently suffered by Winston Reid, which was put down to a soft surface but overly hard undersoil.

2. How on earth have Bolton ended up in such a mess
Considering their debt was almost entirely owed to one man, their owner Eddie Davis, they really should not be in such a mess. Bottom of the Championship, managed by Neil Lennon, owing £170m, failing to pay their players in November, up for sale and now they are handed a winding up petition by HMRC over an unpaid bill for £600k, the situation is shambolic. None of it should have been allowed to happen, and the blame has to be lain at the owner's door. No real attempt was made to live within their means, even before their demotion from the Premier League they were building up a debt load on the club that was beyond the club's ability to repay it.

3. RIP Arnold Peralta
Sad news that the 28 year old Honduran international, only released by Rangers in January to sign with Club Deportivo Olimpia in his home country. He was shot and killed while on holiday in his hometown of La Ceiba. It has been described as a drive-by shooting, as it was reported that a gunman on a motorcycle rode by and shot Peralta. Robbery has been ruled out as a motive because his belongings were not taken.

4. What is Smurthwaite up to?
The owner of Port Vale, which he has put up for sale, Norman Smurthwaite, has complained that he felt unable to hire Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink as the club's manager due to problems with racism at the club. While I fully understand what he is saying, though completely disagree with his reasoning as he is just pandering to the racist morons by not hiring a manager due to the colour of his skin, the point is, why is he saying this now? This is not an issue from last week, but from a couple of years back, when Port Vale were having a major issue with racial abuse from the stands and the club faced the threat of having stands closed by the FA due to it. Last year Smurthwaite, remembering the issues, decided against appointing Hasselbaink in case the abuse was too much. So why bring it up now, while the club is up for sale? In fact why mention it at all? It does no one any favours, it shows Smurthwaite to be a coward bowing to pressure from a racist minority, reinforcing them as a power in the game, at a time when they should be anything but. To add to that what kind of buyer is going to go near what will now be considered a toxic brand?

5. Garde confirms interest in Cole
Aston Villa's new manager Remi Garde has confirmed he is interested in signing former England fullback Ashley Cole. The left back has failed to make an appearance so far for Roma this season and so would be available in the January transfer window. Odd choice for me, while the former Chelsea and Arsenal defender was once, probably, the best left back in the world, it is clear his legs have gone and he is no longer even a good left back. Garde talked about his experience, but they already have Joleon Lescott, Micah Richards, Alan Hutton, Gabby Agbonlahor and others with experience. Do yourself a favour Remi, steer well clear.

6. Roberto Carlos quits the ISL
The newly formed Indian Super League has been hit by a major blow as one of the major marquee players, Brazilian superstar Roberto Carlos, has announced he will not be back for next year's ISL. Carlos, who is also Delhi Dynamos' manager, has offers on the table from other clubs. This comes on the back of another Brazil great, Zico, currently coach of FC Goa, confirming he was considering his options and was likely to leave at the end of this season. Losing both would be a huge blow to the new league, as it struggles to establish itself.

7. Eric Lamela finally showing what he is capable of
Tottenham Hotspur's Argentine winger is finally showing what he is capable of this season. A hattrick in the game with AS Monaco is just a symbol of his emergence in North London. Still just 23, Lamela joined Spurs as part of big splash the club made in its attempts to replace Gareth Bale, when he was sold to Real Madrid. Up until last season, he had been considered a flop, but the arrival of a fellow Argentine, new manager Mauricio Pochettino, has revitalised him, as the faith shown in him has lifted him. Lamela has cemented his place as first choice right winger, leading to the club offloading Aaron Lennon to Everton and relegating Andros Townsend to the sidelines. When Spurs signed Lamela from AS Roma, he came with a big reputation, but people failed to take into account his youth and expected a finished product, rather than an extremely talented potential superstar for the future. Spurs are finally getting the reward for keeping the faith in him, despite offers to take him back to Italy from the likes of Inter Milan.

8. No wonder Chelsea are struggling
Their best player so far this season is Willian, yes really, Willian. When he is the best player you have, then you are going to struggle. Despite being Brazilian, and as we hear repeatedly from the media all Brazilians are exciting footballers with flair, Willian's main talent is for running around a lot. Or rather was, because he has now added a talent for free kicks to his reportoire. So now he can run around a lot and can provide a good dead ball. Other than that, he really is an extremely limited footballer who is more of an auxiliary fullback than an attacking threat. He lacks skill, vision, passing range and does not score enough goals. When he is your best player, then you know you are in trouble! It is time for Eden Hazard to step up.

9. Well deserved awards
Jamie Vardy has won the Premier League player of the month award for November, but the one that is particularly well deserved is that his manager at Leicester City, Claudio Ranieri, has won the equivalent manager of the month award. Having guided the Foxes to the top of the Prem, Ranieri will be hoping the fabled curse of the manager of the month award does not hit as he prepares his Leicester charges to face his former club Chelsea at the weekend.
Other awards:
Championship manager of the month: Mick McCarthy (Ipswich Town)
Championship player of the month: Daryl Murphy (Ipswich Town)
League One manager of the month: Graham Westley (Peterborough United)
League One player of the month: Jacob Murphy (Coventry City)
League Two manager of the month: Chris Wilder (Northampton Town)
League Two player of the month: Jay Simpson (Leyton Orient)

10. Beckham's Miami FC launch their new kits
David Beckham's Miami FC will compete next season in the USA's second tier league, NASL, under AC Milan and Italy legend Alessandro Nesta. They paraded the kits with three players that will be playing for the team in 2016, Dane Richards, Jaime Chavez and, most interestingly, Wilson Palacios. The Macron kits just look like cheap training tops, hardly what you would expect of the style conscious Beckham. Is that a sign that his interest is only really about getting the team into the MLS?

Written by Tris Burke December 11 2015 07:24:26