This season the goals have been flying in everywhere, with the first goal scored by Luis Suarez and the last by Sergio Aguero, this list of players identifies the ratio of how many goals have been scored in comparison to the cost of the goal based on the transfer fee of each player. Some of these players have been bought for bargains and have really shown what they are made off. Robin Van Persie for example was signed in 2004 for £2.75m, since then he has scored 96 goals for the club since he joined, 30 being from last season.
Grant Holt played a massive part in Norwich’s come back season to the Premier League last season. The Canaries signed Holt for an undisclosed deal of £400,000 in 2009 who has been a great cause scoring 15 goals this season in the Premier League to give them a successful run since promotion.
It just shows that millions of pounds don’t need to be spent on outstanding players, when you find can find a little gem to give them an opportunity, it can be very worthwhile in the end.
Click on Holt below to unveil the goalscorers with the best value per goal ratio
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These stats were compiled as part of the launch an exclusive ‘Cash for Goals’ customer promotion* Currys and PC World who commissioned Opta, Europe’s largest provider of football data, to find out who the ‘best value’ footballers are in the Premier League based on their real ‘cash-per-goal’ value.
Find out more about ‘Cash for Goals’ here – www.cashforgoals.co.uk.
Former Real Madrid player Zinedine Zidane will succeed Jorge Valdano as director of football at the La Liga giants.Frenchman Zidane, a three-time world player of the year, retired in 2006 after spending the last five seasons of his career in the Spanish capital.
The 39-year-old won the La Liga title and the Champions League during his time at the Santiago Bernabeu and has been serving as a special advisor to Real president Florentino Perez since June 2009.
Zidane is set to take over at least some of the duties of Valdano, another former player who worked as director of football in two spells between 2000-2005 and 2009-2011.
The 55-year-old Argentine, formally a close ally of Perez, was removed by the president in May this year.
The move was seen by many as a victory for head coach Jose Mourinho after a power struggle between the two men following the arrival of the Portuguese from Inter Milan in May 2010.
“We are going to start working in the role as director of football to the first team,” Zidane said.
“Mourinho has been fundamental in this, but so has the president as well.”
When asked what the roles entails, Zidane said: “We shall see.”
“Everyone has been asking me the same question, but I will be there from next Monday, until the end of the season.”
“Real Madrid is the most important thing that happened to me, both as a footballer and as a person. And I will continue to work with the club because it is the best.”
Real finished second in La Liga last season, losing out in the title race to Barcelona, who also beat them in the semi-finals of the Champions League.
Wolverhampton Wanderers boss Mick McCarthy says that there was no fallout with wing-back Jelle Van Damme before he opted to return to Belgium to join Standard Liege.
The 27-year-old spent just a few months at Molineux, but McCarthy had no problems with the Belgium international during that time.
He told the club's official website:"There was no point in keeping him. When someone moves, why does it always have to be the case that someone has 'fallen out'.
"He is a good player and sometimes it just doesn't work out. This was one of those occasions.
"He came, he started in the team, he got injured in his first game and things haven't worked out for him personally.
"He had his family life and sometimes all those little things add up to the fact that it just doesn't work out and that's what happened.
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"I like Jelle and, when he played, he gave his all.
"But, if he wants to go back, then even if there is one per cent not totally committed to it, then why would I continue to play him when I've got lads who are totally committed?"Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
There is something pretty seriously wrong with me. I just can’t stop crying.
For nearly two years writing on Football FanCast I have resolutely refused to nail my football colours to the mast. After last night’s simply astounding viewing at the Nou Camp, however, I cannot hold it in any longer.
Yet, as a Chelsea supporter, (gulp, I’ve said it) Tuesday’s Champions League night of triumph was staggeringly, epic and beautiful. Excuse the self-indulgence for a moment but it was so magical in a way that I could never have ever believed possible.
Maybe purists of the game will bemoan a crime against artistry and expression and a robbery on the grandest scale but for Chelsea- the nearest of nearly men on the European stage- this was tumultuous, ecstatic and ludicrously implausible all at the same time.
When John Terry slipped in Moscow I felt nothing. How can you regret a penalty shootout defeat with any real conviction? When Jose Mourinho’s negligently negative tactics went a long way to ending Chelsea interest in Europe each year between 2005 and 2007 I was similarly numb. Andres Iniesta’s late strike in 2009 was the worst of hammer blows but you always felt the late twist was on the cards- penalty decisions or no penalty decisions.
If the 1998 Cup Winner’s Cup win over Vicenza was an unexpected new pleasure for a new era of Chelsea fans and the 2004 Champions League triumph over Arsenal was cathartic then this was simply on a different level.
Throughout all of those nights of heartache a sterile numbness was all I could muster. Even when a homeless man goaded me minutes after Iniesta’s 2009 sickener I was not tempted to” do a Terry” and needlessly knee him in the back. It will, I concluded, just never happen.
And perhaps, even in this glorious afterglow and talk of “destiny” it still won’t. But even if May 19th ends in more heartache at the final hurdle this achievement stands alone.
Consider this first. The last time Chelsea fielded two non-centre backs in that pivotal position was during a November 2010 injury crisis. They were hammered 3-0 at home against a struggling Sunderland side. There was a full allotment of 11 men in Chelsea blue that afternoon too.
This phenomenal Barcelona side on the cusp of more history as the first side to retain the Champions League failed to score in 53 minutes against a makeshift Chelsea side that at times looked as if Jose Bosingwa’s monobrow was as likely to finally grow legs of its own and score a second goal than any of the other outfield players.
My Dad, not one for hyperbole and as anti-Chelsea as they come, called it the finest and most unlikely “perfect” performance he had witnessed in 50 years watching football.
And don’t let anyone tell you anything different; this was perfect. Ashley Cole pulled out of his spiralling nose-dive in form at the best possible moment. Jon Obi Mikel showed powers of concentration, discipline and application that he has not displayed since Chelsea last visited the Nou Camp three years ago. Ramires, Petr Cech, Branislav Ivanovic and a mentally exhausted Didier Drogba were each sublime in their bloody-minded resistance.
After 37 minutes, however, this bravery was surely going to be ruled incidental on another night of Chelsea European failure. Once John Terry had gone a long way in tearing down his own “JT. Captain. Leader. Legend” banner at Stamford Bridge and Barcelona took a 2-0 lead on the night, an old fashioned hammering was in the offing. No other outcome was possible.
Yet, one man landed a telling blow to the writers and sub-editors who can’t publish a Chelsea article without the term: “Old guard” making it into almost every sentence. Frank Lampard was possibly my man of the match and his contribution in the minutes before half time was tie-defining.
In a week where pundits and fans have been picking over contenders for the best XI in Premier League history, it is the criminally underrated Lampard that deserves an extraordinary level of credit. 150 Premier League goals, 88 assists and I am still to hear a single source suggest he merits a place at the top table. The highest goalscoring midfielder by more than 40 strikes and the second highest assist contributor does not, apparently, deserve a mention.
They say; “Look at the way Paul Scholes and Steven Gerrard can pass the ball. Statistics be damned, Frank Lampard could never do that.”
In consecutive weeks he has been afforded a single opportunity to play the lowest of low percentage incisive passes. He nailed both. Didier Drobga and Ramires cashed in spectacularly. Show me Scholes and Gerrard do that.
Yet, for all the inspired resistance, the iconic end came from an opportunistic, mistimed hack from Ashley Cole and the much maligned Fernando Torres was given a chance at redemption.
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The Spaniard rounded Victor Valdes and Gary Neville had his Gerrard- Olympiakos moment in the Sky commentary box.
And in a faux Irish pub in the centre of Brighton, some 950 miles away, my emotional floodgates finally opened.
Corinthians’ 2-0 home victory over Fluminense saw them cut Sao Paulo’s lead atop the Brazilian Serie A to two points on Sunday.A first-half double from striker Willian paved the way for Corinthians to record the win in front of their home fans at the Estadio Municipal Paulo Machado de Carvalho.
Willian grabbed his first after six minutes and when Fluminense defender Leandro Euzebio gave away a penalty on the half-hour mark, he slotted the resultant spot-kick.
In other matches, third-placed Palmeiras were robbed of a victory in the dying stages in their 2-2 draw at Internacional.
Goals in the second half to Kleber and Luan looked to have given the visitors all three points but Leandro Damiao equalised in injury-time.
Neto Berola’s 76th minute goal earned Atletico Mineiro a point in a 1-1 draw at Bahia while Botafogo climbed to fifth as they beat Coritiba 3-1 thanks to goals from Maicosuel, Elkeson and Alex.
Atletico Goianiense came from behind to defeat Ceara 4-1 with Anselmo netting a double but it was far more even in the other match of the day as Deivid’s 80th-minute equaliser secured a 1-1 for Flamengo at Atletico Paranaense.
Tottenham firmly announced themselves on the European stage this week, with a comfortable 3-1 defeat of holders Inter Milan. After their impressive by ultimately futile, second half display at the San Siro two weeks ago, this performance had Tottenham legends of the past comparing the victory to some of the club’s most memorable nights.
During a busy week for Spurs, there was also enough time for a controversial late goal conceded last week, and a very interesting game of cat and mouse between Harry Redknapp and the Premier League.
Wednesday’s result has sent the blogging networks into overdrive. There are entries on Gareth Bale’s rise from statistical burden to world beater, Peter Crouch’s none too impressive strike rate since his move from Portsmouth and potential transfer targets for Spurs during January’s window.
As always we also have the best of the web.
Featured articles of the week
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The Premier League’s new comic strip # 2
Walcott and Bale finally fulfilling the hype
Why Peter Crouch needs to take a back seat
Four transfer targets for Tottenham to ponder
Another FIVE things we learnt from Tottenham’s demolition
How Inter star failed his transfer audition at White Hart Lane
Give technology an inch in football, then eventually it will take a mile
One DEAL that Daniel Levy has to get right
There’s simply no better inspiration for Gareth Bale to follow
Spurs, Liverpool, United…whose need for Real Madrid swoop is greater?
WAG Weekly: Bale scores a beauty…well sort off!
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Click here to see the Best TOTTENHAM BLOGS around the Web this week
Best of the Web
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Do you know your history? – Dear Mr Levy
Inter for supper: Trotters for lunch – Spurs Musings with JimmyG2
Bale, Taxis and Two Fiddy’s Up – Who Framed Ruel Fox?
Sign This Petition And Help Get Him Sacked – Harry Hotspur
Another fine mess Mr Clattenburg- Spurs Musings with JimmyG2
It has been a bumpy ride for Ipswich fans over the last few years and never has that journey felt more hazardous than this season. Fans have had to witness inconsistent performances ranging from a humiliating 7-1 defeat against Peterborough, to an inspiring 5-1 victory over promotion favourites West Ham. Seeing Ipswich high up in the form tables over the last few months could make it easy to forget that the side has not changed much on paper from the team that lost 7 in a row earlier in the season. Results only tell you so much though, the real question is, has the team finally found stability and consistency? After the recent game against Middlesbrough I was left wondering, how far is Ipswich from being a top six side?
The ambition to become a top 6 side is without question as the estimated cost of the eleven Ipswich players who started against Middlesbrough comes to figure of around £8,500,000. To put that figure into perspective, Middlesbrough’s starting eleven set them back a similar amount of roughly £9,000,000. It was encouraging to see that on the day there was not a lot of difference between the Ipswich and Middlesbrough sides. The one noticeable difference was the superior defensive prowess of Middlesbrough but aside from this, the two teams appeared almost equal in ability. To the more optimistic fans, that would be a sign that the team is only a couple of solid defensive players away from finally reaching those vital top 6 spots.
However, you have to take a step back from the encouraging recent performances and see the bigger picture. Towards the end of every season I hear the same line from fans who cite “With a couple of good signings we will be there next season”. In reality there are not many teams in the Championship who spend more each year than Ipswich and without a doubt, no team consistently spends as much as the Tractor Boys without getting anywhere near the play-offs year after year. The main difference between Ipswich and teams in the ever so distant top 6 positions has little to do with the amount of money being spent.
When looking across the sides that have either gained promotion previously or are currently challenging for promotion, we can see that some have spent big such as QPR and West Ham. However looking beyond the numbers and names on paper, there is a more revealing trend becoming prevalent. Everybody looks at the names on paper and the money spent, but the real key to promotion is something you can’t buy. Teams such as Swansea, Blackpool and as much as it pains me to say it Norwich, did not achieve promotion by throwing endless amounts of money into their teams buying over rated Premier League players. They worked hard to find players with relatively low reputations who just needed to be given a chance to show their worth. It appears that the best way to build a team for a promotion push is to find and develop players either from the lower leagues or the youth academy which is something Ipswich have not done enough of. It is no coincidence that Cresswell and Drury have been two of Town’s best players this season whilst bigger names such as Bullard and Bowyer have been average at best. Before this season the only real bright sparks have been Walters (who was plucked from league 2) and Connor Wickham from the youth academy. Even though Middlesbrough have spent a lot on their team, five of the eleven players who started against Town had come through their youth system.
So how close are Ipswich from having a team built in the vein of these promotion contenders? Although building a team is never as simple as just bringing in the right names on paper, maybe those forever optimistic fans will be right in saying that next year will be our year. After all, the side has some strong players in each area now with Cresswell, Drury and Emmanuel-Thomas all looking like players with a hunger to make a name for themselves and thrive to push the club forward. Unfortunately the harsh reality is that the team is still holding a lot of dead weight and a couple of changes probably won’t be enough to take the team to the next level. I am just crossing my fingers in hope that for once, the faces brought in over the summer are players with a point to prove from the lower leagues rather than Premier League failures that are just in it for the money.
If Jewell has the right approach over the summer we could be turning up to Portman Road next season and seeing a side full of ambition, contending for a promotion spot. The challenge is still as monumental as ever though. I for one am sceptical as to whether the Jewell will be able to replace all the dead weight in the team and build a team much like Swansea, Blackpool and Norwich did in a single season.
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With the FA Cup final coming up between Manchester City and Stoke I thought it would be a good time to look at some other games over the years that have featured a highly fancied team against one that wasn’t given a chance before the game. Here is a top ten list of some memorable games that big underdogs have taken part in.
10 2009-10 Chelsea 1 Portsmouth 0
I feel this is worth a place on the top ten because of the immense problems Portsmouth went through that season that included heavy debts and ended with relegation. However, despite those problems the club still managed to reach the FA Cup final at a packed Wembley. Chelsea won the match thanks to a 59th winner from Didier Drogba.
[youtube CWOGmcCbZJM]
9 2007-08 Cardiff 0 Portsmouth 1
This game makes the list for two main reasons. Firstly, it was a fantastic achievement for a Championship club to reach the FA Cup final and playing in Europe for either club would be a fantastic achievement. Portsmouth won this encounter thanks to a winner goal from Kanu in the 37th minute. The result ensured Portsmouth had qualified for Europe for the first time in their history.
[youtube jPro_ktWYVs]
8 2003-04 Manchester United 3 Millwall 0
Manchester United won this game comfortably with a goal from Ronaldo and a superb brace from Dutch forward Ruud Van Nistelrooy. But it should be noted that Millwall did fantastically well just the reach the final considering it was the first time the club had reached a final in the League or FA Cup.
[youtube 5kWkpKjG_AY]
Continued on Page TWO
7 2002-03 Arsenal 1 Southampton 0
Arsenal went into this game as big favourites after finishing second in the Premier League and having won the double the previous season. Even though Southampton were a solid side also but in this situation they were underdogs. As expected Arsenal won the game 1-0 with Pires getting the winner goal.
[youtube oRGiMoRforg]
6 1991-92 Liverpool 2 Sunderland 0
This was another great final between a massive club from the top flight and massive underdog from outside the top division. But the game went the expected way and Liverpool won through goals from Michael Thomas and Ian Rush.
[youtube KFDxP2gDCxA]
5 1987-88 Wimbledon 1 Liverpool 0
Liverpool were always billed as the likely winners of this game having just won the title for the top flight that season but it was plucky Wimbledon who upset the bookies with an unlikely win. Lawrie Sanchez struck the unlikely winner in the first half and Wimbledon recorded a famous victory.
[youtube iBNJLK9_fhg]
4 1986-7 Coventry 3 Tottenham 2
This was a classic of a game that again needed extra time to find a winner. The two sides were close throughout the game – but it was eventually Coventry that won thanks to a Gary Mabbutt own goal.
[youtube TBT4-jjiMyg]
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3 1989-90 Manchester United 3 Crystal Palace 3
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What a classic game of football this was and even after extra time there was still no winner. In fact there was even time for two goals to be scored in the extra time period. Manchester United won the reply 1-0.
[youtube zqxSVE6pAts]
2 1982-3 Manchester United 2 Brighton 2
Manchester United were big favourites going into this game and Brighton had been relegated from the top flight that season and never reached the final before. However, they gave United quite a game and the match finished in a 2-2 draw thanks to 87th minute equaliser from Gary Stevens.
[youtube AD2SQyzMTho]
1 1982-3 Manchester United 4 Brighton 0
After such a strong performance in the original game they would have had high hopes for the replay but it proved to be a very one-side affair with United winning 4-0. United did well to record such a convincing win in what must have been such a tricky game.
If there is a better footballer in the World than Cristiano Ronaldo at this moment in time then I haven’t seen one, as his goalscoring exploits and performances for Real Madrid has seen him eclipse the likes of Lionel Messi for the crown. There is one thing being a good player in England; but doing it in technically the best league in the world is a much different feat altogether.
While his exploits on the pitch continue to leave supporters salivating in awe, his exploits off the pitch draws an equal amount of adulation as he continues to date some of the most beautiful women in the world. The latest women on the arm is the model Irina Shayk, who let’s be honest puts most of the Premier League wags in the shade.
Click on image below to see a gallery of Ronaldo’s latest lady
In the wake of Lee Clark’s dismissal at Huddersfield, despite his outstanding record of just three defeats in 55 games, I have decided to compile my top ten strangest decisions in football.
The ‘beautiful’ game we all know and love sometimes lets its hair down, downing bottle after bottle of champagne until it loses its inhabitations and evolves into a ‘funny old’ game.
The examples below are a combination of the obscure, the bewildering and the damn right absurd decisions that have lodged themselves in my memory. It goes without saying that human error forms a large part of footballs entertainment factor, but that doesn’t stop us fans cursing the high heavens when our superstar striker falls arse over elbow when clean through on goal.
Click on Leroy Rosenior to unveil the top 10
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Got an example that you think should have made the Top 10? Send me a message on Twitter @theunusedsub
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