Football Dispatch

Tuesday Football
29 May 2007
Michel Platini is calling for the end of the G-14. Instead, they newly-elected UEFA president has struck a new organization -- the Professional Football Strategy Council. Including officials from UEFA, league and club representatives, and players, the new organization will serve an an arbitrary body and provide a broad distribution of power and influence. Currently, the G-14 represents the biggest, most moneyed club teams in European football. Acquiring an additional four members in 2002 , the consortium includes brand names such as Real Madrid, AC Milan, and Manchester United. It is due to double in size over the next few years. Platini, however, is intent on disbanding the G-14 altogether. Labeling the group "elitist," the president vowed, yesterday, to initiate a more "fruiful, productive, and democratic dialogue with other members of the European football family." "UEFA's door is wide open," he remarked.

Paul Gascoigne was rushed to hospital for emergency surgery, yesterday. The English football icon had taken ill at his 40th-birthday party, Sunday, and went under the knife after suffering a burst stomach ulcer on Monday night. The condition might have been fatal had it not been dealt with immediately. Gazza is expected to be released from hospital near the end of the week.

Billy Davies has not ruled out that he will depart Pride Park ahead of next season. Despite Derby County's promotion to the Premiership after a 1-0 win over West Bromwich Albion at Wembley, yesterday, the Rams boss is locked in a board-room struggle with chief executive Mike Horton. "Nothing's guaranteed 100% in life," stated Davies in his post-match comments. "We'll sit down and have a discussion. There is alot of talking to be done." Hailing from the working-class Govan neighborhood of Glasgow -- also the birthplace of Sir Alex Ferguson -- Davies led the club to 3rd-place in the Championship and eventual promotion after a dismal 20th-place finish in the league last term. He has 2-years remaining on his contract at Pride Park. "At most clubs, you have 3 or 4-years to build a team," he stated, yesterday. "But at Derby County, with its various different factions, doing it in 10 or 11-months is a must."

David Beckham will be in Steve McClaren's 1st-team when England host Brazil at Wembley on Friday. He will be joined in the midfield by Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, and Joe Cole -- reuniting the midfield which crashed out of the World Cup in the quarter-final stage. Alan Smith is expected to feature against both Brazil and Estonia as well. The Manchester United forward has been on McClaren's radar since starring against AS Roma last month. His goal against Albania last week only enhanced his reputation with the manager. Nicky Shorey is poised to start at the left-back position. Ashley Cole has been ruled-out through injury and Wayne Bridge is struggling for fitness. And Rio Ferdinand, having limped through the final stages of the season with a strained groin, will miss both matches as well.

Rafael Benitez will look to France for an answer to Liverpool's lack of quality on the left-wing. Florent Malouda has announced that he will be leaving Olympique Lyonnais over the summer -- targeting the Premiership and La Liga as preferred destinations. The 26-year-old starred on the left flank for France in last summer's World Cup. He is available for upwards of 10M-pounds.

The Liverpool manager is also monitoring the situation of Simao Simbrosa. The Benfica forward has indicated that he may be ready for a fresh challenge and Liverpool are the first, big European club to express an interest. Benitez is also hoping to be somewhat creative with the transaction. He will try to convince Benfica into taking Djibril Cisse in exchange for the Portuguese international.

Ruud Gullit's is the latest name to be linked with the vacant managerial post at Manchester City. The 1987 European Footballer of the Year won the FA Cup with Chelsea as a player/coach in 1997 and led Newcastle to the Cup final as well in a brief stint on Tyneside. Most recently, he managed Feyenoord from 2004 to 2005. Gullit joins a shortlist that includes Gerard Houllier, Claudio Ranieiri, Sven-Goran Eriksson, and Juande Ramos.

Sam Allardyce is continuing his St. James' shake-up. The Newcastle manager is on the cusp of securing Bolton Wanders defender Tal Ben Haim. The Israel international has also been on Chelsea's radar; although the spectre of joining his former boss as Newcastle is likely to prove to great a draw for the 25-year-old.

Big Sam is also keen to strengthen the club's midfield. He remains Everton's biggest rival for the signature of Joey Barton and looks set to land Nigel Reo-Coker as well. Barton's arrival would spell the exit of Scott Parker; and with Alan Curbishley coveting the ex-Chelsea player, West Ham would be prepared to send Reo-Coker the other way.

Curtis Davies is likely to join Ben Haim in the new-look Toon defense. The West Bromwich Albion defender will spear-head a mass-exodus from the Hawthornes over the summer -- with Jason Koumas, Zoltan Gera, and Diomansy Kamara likely to follow him out the door. Davies has long been in the sights of several big, Premiership clubs. West Brom's failure to earn promotion, yesterday, has provided the impetus for the England defender to finally leave.

Portsmouth are tracking Nigerian forward John Utaka. The Rennes striker fired his Ligue-1 side into the UEFA Cup, Saturday, but appears unlikely to remain with the club for the long haul. At 25-years-old, he could provide several good years of service for a middling, European side. Utaka spent his formative years between several Middle Eastern leagues before joining Lens in 2002. He has scored 24-goals for Rennes since transfering to the club in 2005.