jerradpeters.blogspot.com

Wednesday Football
27 February 2008
by Jerrad Peters

Kevin Keegan and Denise Wise are football’s version of Lewis and Clark. Like the New World explorers, the Newcastle boss and executive director are searching far and wide for answers. But instead of studying rivers, routes, and indigenous peoples, Keegan and Wise are hoping to overturn a handful of undiscovered footballing talents. This week, their expedition has taken them to Scotland.

Newcastle’s sudden obsession with Scottish footballers can be attributed to the embarrassing reality that no English-based players were foolish enough to join the club during the January transfer period. Everyone from Wes Brown to Lasana Diarra to Jonathan Woodgate resisted Keegan’s advances; and the Toon manager has had to look elsewhere as a result.

At the top of his shopping-list is Celtic winger Aiden McGeady. The 21-year-old has blossomed at Parkhead this season. He mixes lightning-quick pace with a good dribbling ability and is a dependable link-up man from the left of midfield. Hoops manager Gordon Strachan values the coveted youngster at roughly 12M-pounds. He will be highly sought-after during the closed season and Keegan would like to lay the groundwork of a deal before the end of June.

Steven Fletcher is also on the Magpies’ radar. Just 20-years-old, the Hibernian striker has become one of the most lethal forwards in the Scottish Premier League this term. His 13-goals in 2007-2008 paces the Edinburgh side and Scotland manager George Burley will, in all probability, have Fletcher in the lineup when Croatia visit Hampden Park at the end of March. Both Bayern Munich and Real Madrid have also expressed an interest in the player.

Keegan, meanwhile, has acknowledged his present difficulty in attracting players to St. James’ Park.

“First and foremost, I am looking for players with experience from within the British Isles – and, preferably, the Premiership,” stated the 57-year-old. “But the next step after that, if we can’t get those ones, is Scotland.”

The Premier League has conceded ground on its proposed 39th match. Faced with a barrage of opposition from fans, the media, the FA, and FIFA, Richard Scudamore canceled his meeting with Sepp Blatter yesterday evening.

The Premier League chief executive was scheduled to meet the FIFA president for face-to-face discussions regarding the matter on Thursday in Zurich. Blatter was reportedly prepared to give Scudamore the hairdryer treatment for proposing an extra game, above and beyond the current schedule, to be played at various, international venues.

In an attempt to save face, however, the Premier League has stated its intent to further pursue and fine-tune the idea in the future.

“We need to conduct further internal studies and consultation before seeking the advice of the governing body,” read an official statement.

The Premier League also expressed its disappointment over the decidedly unenthusiastic reaction to the proposal.

“Opinions were formed by many without detailed knowledge,” the statement continued, before boldly declaring that “this project is still very much in its infancy.”

Everton are pursuing Marseille captain Lorik Cana. The 24-year-old Albania international has also attracted interest from Bayern Munich and AS Roma, despite having recently agreed a contract which will keep him at Stade Velodrome until 2012.

Cana, at 6-foot-1, is a sturdy, defensive midfielder and is renowned for his superb fitness level. He was born in Pristina, Kosovo before fleeing to Switzerland where he enrolled in Lausanne Sports before joining Paris Saint-Germain in 2002. He made the switch to Marseille in 2005 and became captain of Albania shortly after earning his first cap in 2003.

Marco Van Basten will take the helm at Ajax after EURO 2008. The 43-year-old Dutchman, currently in charge of Holland, will step aside from the national team on July 1 to manage his former club. Current assistants John van’t Schip and Rob Witschge will join him at Amsterdam Areana.

Van Basten, who scored nearly a goal-a-game while at Ajax between 1982 and 1987, has agreed a four-year contract with the club. Ajax technical director Martin van Geel is delighted at the prospect of having a legend holding the reigns at the Dutch side. “It’s good that we now have clarity regarding the coaching staff for the years to come,” he stated as Van Basten’s plans were announced.

Current manager Adrie Koster succeeded Henk ten Cate after the latter joined Avram Grant’s staff at Chelsea in the autumn.

Atletico Madrid are expected to make an advance on Rafael Benitez during the summer. The Rojiblancos, currently fourth in La Liga, have a talented, dynamic squad and believe themselves to be on the verge of both domestic and European success.

Chairman Enrique Cerezo, however, seems to be of a mind that a new manager is needed before the club can realize its ambitions. Current boss Javier Aguirre has been in charge at the Vicente Calderon since 2002 and is probably headed out the door in June. A stunning loss to Bolton Wanderers in the UEFA Cup did nothing to enhance his job security at board level.

Benitez, likely facing the sack at Liverpool barring another Champions’ League victory, won La Liga with Valencia in 2004 before moving to Anfield ahead of the 2004-2005 season.