SoccerBlogs

By Alan Duffy

Who do you think you are kidding, Mr Fowler?

With that much-vaunted Indian Premier League payday postponed for the moment (it was meant to be starting towards the end of the month), that international man of mystery, Robbie Fowler, is back in Blighty and looks set to join Championship side Blackpool until the end of the season.

Former Liverpool defender Gary Gillespie has reiterated his claims that Charlie Adam can be as good - if not better - than Xabi Alonso.
The Spanish international became a cult hero during his five-years at Anfield, although left for Real Madrid under a cloud in 2009 after falling out with manager Rafael Benitez.

As a follow up to my previous blogpost related to the different nationalities represented in the Premier League I thought it might be interesting to slice the data slightly differently. This time I'm going to look at player nationality by club. The data in this article relates to the nationality of players who started matches in the Premier League last season (2010/2011).

Liverpool will need £9 million to secure the services of Charlie Adam from Blackpool, according to the Mirror.
The 25-year-old's move to Anfield has been on-off all summer as Blackpool fight to get their best price for their prized asset.
And after Liverpool reportedly offered a player-plus-cash deal for Adam, the Tangerines have slapped a £9 million price tag on the Scot.

Charlie Adam's move to Liverpool appears close after Blackpool welcomed former Manchester United midfielder Bojan Djordjic to the club, according to The Mirror.
The Scot's move to Liverpool has stalled in recent weeks after the clubs failed to agree a fee, but Djordjic's arrival at Bloomfield Road, a player very much in Adam's mould, is the first sign that Ian Holloway is prepared to sell.

As we finish up this past weekend, we also have finished up the season for most of the clubs playing in Europe. As has been the case in the past few weeks, more championships have been decided, e.g., Lille taking home the French Ligue Un title and Porto winning the Taça da Portugal. Much more was decided this past weekend with respect to clubs that are destined for relegation, but we don't publish a Bottom 25 Clubs of the Week, so you can find discussions of those on other sites.

As we finish up this past weekend, we also have finished up the season for most of the clubs playing in Europe. As has been the case in the past few weeks, more championships have been decided, e.g., Lille taking home the French Ligue Un title and Porto winning the Taça da Portugal. Much more was decided this past weekend with respect to clubs that are destined for relegation, but we don't publish a Bottom 25 Clubs of the Week, so you can find discussions of those on other sites.

This sounds bad but I almost want Blackpool to win. It's been nice having those Tangerines with us in the Prem, and with a killer final fixture, they need a result against us to salvage any hope of staying up. While Blackpool are fighting for survival, Bolton don't seem to be fighting for much anymore.

Season over. That's the rumour. The lottery winners from more Northerly climbs have finally gotten their act together and it couldn't have happened at a more fateful time. While they start to inch clear of the ruddy-faced and wheezing pack, we of Spurs are betwixt a run of eight games which has seen just a solitary win procured from its beginning to end.

So when pundits say the title race isn't over till it's over, it looks like it might actually not be. Although it probably is. Well done to United and Chelsea, and Arsenal for that matter, and almost certainly the officials at Stamford Bridge who have kept the race alive, although having not lost a single game at Old Trafford this season, United are still very much in the driving seat; Hernandez is probably riding shotgun.

Picture from Who Ate All The PiesA round-up of all the results and scorers in the English Premier League, matchday thirty-three.
The Premier League title race might be all but over but the relegation battle certainly is not. An error-strewn Blackpool performance has left Ian Holloway's side in the relegation zone, with Wigan leaping above The Tangerines after a comprehensive 3-1 victory.

Jonjo Shelvey has thanks Liverpool teammate Charlie Adam for his advice after impressing on loan debut for Blackpool.
The England youth international described his first appearance for the Tangerines as 'perfect' after scoring from distance with a free kick in a 5-0 romp against Bristol City.
Ian Holloway has reportedly been tracking the teenager for some time, and Shelvey admits the short-term move came about after conversations with Scottish international Adam, who was Blackpool captain for their Npower Championship promotion and subsequent relegation last term.

Blackpool Close in on Tom Ince

Blackpool are closing in on a deal to sign Liverpool's Tom Ince, it is understood. The Seasiders have already wrapped up a deal for Gerardo Bruna, and are now looking to his former team mate to provide more attacking options to the squad.

Bruna Completes Blackpool Move

Gerardo Bruna today completed his move from Liverpool to Blackpool, both clubs have confirmed. The 20-year-old has penned a two-year deal at Bloomfield Road and will link up with his new team mates for pre-season training this week. We brought you this news last week when it was also reported that the Seasiders were tracking Tom Ince, but a deal is yet to be agreed for the latter with Liverpool only thought to be willing to loan him out at this stage.

Liverpool and Manchester United are favourites to land Blackpool's Charlie Adam, according to bookmakers William Hill.
The Scottish midfielder was relegated with the Tangerines after defeat to United at Old Trafford on Sunday.
But after Adam scored a stunning free-kick at the Stretford End and following Sir Alex Ferguson's comments earlier in the season that Adam's corners alone were worth £10 million, United have jumped to the front of the queue, along with long-time admirers Liverpool.

Harry Rednapp's faltering Spurs side dropped more points again this evening, at home to Blackpool.
Charlie Adam put the Tangerines in front with a successful penalty kick, having had one saved minutes earlier by Gomez.
Blackpool were looking good for all 3 points until a great strike by Jermaine Defoe on 89mins saved Harry's and Tottenham's blushes.

Liverpool were back to their irresistible best as they cruised to glory in the Selco Mersey Masters tournament at the Echo Arena on Saturday evening.
A Patrik Berger-inspired Reds saw off Everton and Blackpool in the group stage, before thumping Bolton Wanderers 5-1 in the final.
It's Liverpool's first Masters title in five years, and the victory gives them the opportunity to be crowned national champions later this year, when they'll contest the Grand Final at Wembley.

With the longest active losing streak in the Premier League at three games, Bolton have the potential to end their last five matches of the year with absolutely zero points to show for it. Blackpool need the full three points from a big win in order to have any shout of staying in the top flight for another year.

And then there were seven. But realistically four.
West Ham, 33pts - West Ham, West Ham, West Ham... I suppose technically the Hammers "turned things around" this past weekend against Blackburn, earning a 1-1 draw from the fixture. Add this point to what they've accumulated in the five matches prior to this weekend and you get a grand total of.

Kevin Phillips to make Blackpool switch Blackpool FC Blackpool Gazette.

Encouraging news this morning from my old stomping ground on the NorthWest coast of England that former England international Kevin Phillips today signed a one year deal that takes him to Bloomfield Rd for the upcoming season.