Transfer Madness

     With the World Cup in full swing, everybody is in the football spirit, in Brazil and beyond. Quality players have either departed Brazil or their country didn't qualify for their chance on the biggest stage of all. Some of these players are changing clubs too, and Total Football will have all of the big moves covered this summer.

     The major talking point last summer was Luis Suarez. He tried to force a move away from Liverpool after he was banned for biting an opponent. Ar
senal had a bid of £40,000,001 rejected by the Anfield club but the Gunners believed it triggered a buy-out clause in the Uruguayan's contract. And this summer has a sense of deja-vu about it. Again, Suarez has bitten somebody. Again, clubs still want his signiture. After a prolific season before hand, rumours suggest the big clubs are willing to gamble on such a mindless player. Barcelona are willing to offer Liverpool Alexis Sanchez, plus cash, in order to get their man. Their rivals, Real Madrid are looking to do the same, possibly with Angel Di Maria. All is being kept quiet though, for the time being.
     Liverpool are also
keen to bring in players, in case a deal for Suarez goes through. They have already confirmed the signings of Emre Can and Rickie Lambert and they are now on the verge of completing a deal for the latter's ex-Southampton team mate, Adam Lallana. He completed a medical at the weekend ahead of a proposed £25 million move. The Reds are also looking at Alberto Moreno, the Sevilla left back.

     And it's not just Lallana and Lambert that have departed the Saints this summer, 18 year old left back Luke Shaw has agreed a deal to join Manchester United for £27 million plus any add-ons. The youngster, who made his World Cup debut against Costa Rica, becomes the fourth most expensive defender with the move. The signing of Shaw means that United have waved goodbye to another left back, in Alex Buttner. Dynamo Moscow have recruited the Dutchman for £4.4 million plus add-ons. Another player joining the Red Devils is Spaniard Ander Herrera. The £29 million midfielder, revealed that completing the move was "a dream come true."  

     The rumours surrounding Cesc Fabregas' future have now been settled, with the Spaniard completing a £30 million pound move to Premier League megabucks Chelsea. The move was completed early in the window and comes as a replacement to the departing Frank Lampard. The ex-Arsenal man, who enquired about rejoining his former team, has "unfinished business in the Premier League." The Blues have also parted company with Brazilian centre-back David Luiz for an estimated £40 million. The flamboyant player has joined Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint Germain.

      The Summer Transfer Window has already had its fair share of free transfers too. Bacary Sagna has left Arsenal to join Manchester City, whilst goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon has joined Sunderland from the Premier League champions.Two veterans of the English game have left their clubs for free. Joe Cole has joined Aston Villa from West Ham and Damian Duff may end his career at Melbourne City after being released by Fulham. Hanover 96 striker Mame Biram Diouf, brother of El-Hadj, has left the German side to join Stoke City whilst Kris Boyd has returned to old club, Rangers from Kilmarnock. Yossi Benayoun has ended his long stay in English football and returned home to Israel with Maccabi Haifa whilst Luke Chadwick has made his dream move to hometown club Cambridge United permanent. Perhaps the bargain of the summer so far is Bafetimbi Gomis joining Welsh giants Swansea City. The prolific 'beast' has joined the Swans in their second scoop of the summer - the first being another free transfer in the hands of goalkeeper Lukas Fabianski.

     However, amongst all the talk, their is only one real beast that has moved this summer. None other than the one and only Adeabayo Akinfenwa. The Englishman's second spell at Gillingham ended in release before being snapped up by AFC Wimbledon. He thinks "AFC Wimbledon and Akinfenwa fit well together."

    So that's all the latest big moves from around the world. Many more are expected after the World Cup has finished. Who will your club sign? Are they right for your club? Do you need to bolster your attack, or tighten at the back? Comments and reaction down below and on Twitter: @TotalFootyBlogs. Finally, please help me to decide whether to change this blog into a vlog on YouTube. Only you can decide...

    

Stupid and Stupendous: Luis Suarez

     Wonderful. Marvellous. Loveable. Class. Luis Suarez - the player. Woeful. Mad. Ludicrous. Cheat. Luis Suarez - the human being. Racist and cannibal are words that spring to mind when you take into account the bans he has received, not including cards. The Uruguay man had picked up a total ban of 25 matches from two biting incidents and for racially abusing Manchester United left back, Patrice Evra. And now comes the heaviest of all.

     The Uruguay forward collided with Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini during a FIFA World Cup match on Tuesday. What was to follow was horrific. 'El Pistolero' sunk his teeth into the shoulder of the opposing man - cue a third biting controversy and a 4 month worldwide ban from football.
What many find baffling is his motivation to do such an action. If aggravated, the most some players would react with is a kick or head butt - remember Zidane? But why the bite? We all know he would be arrested if this horrific action was performed on the street. In 1994, Rangers striker Duncan Ferguson was jailed for three months for an on-field head butt whilst playing Raith Rovers. Should the same not happen to Luis Suarez?

     Not only does he harm his own reputation, but the one of the teams, leagues and tournaments he plays in. Because of this infamous event, Suarez has taken the gloss off a brilliant World Cup for teams such as Algeria and Costa Rica. In twenty years time, will the 2014 World Cup be remembered as the one Miroslav Klose drew level with Ronaldo in the tournaments goal scoring charts? No, it will be remembered as one of the most controversial ones we have ever seen. Liverpool have suffered massively due to his actions. The fact he tried to cover up the incident is also embarrassing. Firstly, the dive as though Chiellini had elbowed him in the mouth, followed by the post match comments. "These things happen on the pitch" he said to the press afterwards...  In the aftermath of the racism row, manager Kenny Dalglish stuck by the man, as did the supporters. The same goes after he bit Branislav Ivanovic in April 2013. Former Reds striker Robbie Fowler said that Suarez "has continually dragged the name of the club through the mud," and I couldn't agree more.

     He has also damaged his club's chances of receiving a high price for him if he were to leave Liverpool. After he tore apart England, at only 75% fitness, many said Suarez wouldn't be at the Anfield side much longer - many saying he was worth more than £100 million. The Spanish giants awaited his signature. Now his price has probably halved and nobody will want him at all. If Liverpool were to sell him for the above price, then they would be able to bring in other quality players to replace him. But now that nobody will want him, and his suspension will see him out of most of Liverpool's Champions League group games, Liverpool will lack the funds to replace him with good, Champions League quality. Their dream of getting back into Europe's elite, may just have become a nightmare.


     Luis Suarez has also been on the end of endless jokes about the bite. Big food companies such as Snickers and Nando's tweeted pictures telling him to try their products rather than humans. Scouse comedian John Bishop stated: "Why is everyone having a go at Suarez? We all love an Italian!" The Daily Mail tweeted a picture of altered World Cup stickers whilst crowds gathered to take a picture of themselves being bitten on Copacabana beach.

     Overall, I feel the punishment is not long enough. Biting somebody once is mindless but three times is ludicrous. Any ban longer than a year would have been acceptable, a possible jail sentence too. And the whole cover up, the dive followed by comments from himself and David Lugano put the sport we love to shame. A second World Cup overshadowed by a Suarez moment of madness. Remember - Luis Suarez is treated badly by the English media...

So, what are your thoughts on the situation? Please comment below, on Twitter @TotalFootyBlogs and participate in the poll at the side of this page. Also let me know whether you would rather see Total Football in its current format or as a vlog on YouTube!

 

Transfer Madness

     It's that awkward time in the Summer Transfer Window where players are unsure whether to move before or after a major tournament. With the World Cup just days away, some players have completed deals before jetting off to Brazil. Many players are up for grabs and Total Football will have it all covered right through the summer.

     England's Rickie Lambert has already completed his £4m move to Liverpool from fellow Premier League side Southampton. Speculation of the deal had been kept quiet until he completed the deal the day after his nation's 3-0 victory in a friendly versus Peru. In an open letter on Southampton's website he said: "the people who support this club have been nothing short of amazing" whilst thanked players and staff, past and present. It is still unknown whether Lambert's former teammates, Dejan Lovren and Adam Lallana will join him at the Reds. They are also on the verge of confirming Turkish midfielder Emre Can as their second summer signing for £10m.

     Transfer activity is buzzing all around La Liga as several players have confirmed switches. Title holders Atletico Madrid, are waving goodbye to striker David Villa after just one year. After announcing he was leaving following a "considerable offer from elsewhere" it was later confirmed he would join new MLS side New York City FC, who are partly owned by Manchester City. Although they do not begin playing until 2015, the American side have said he will ply his trade at Australian side Melbourne City (formerly Melbourne Heart).
     Villa's former strike partner, Diego Costa is also on the move. After scoring 36 goals in all competitions last season, his formidable form has sparked interest from Chelsea. Costa has already completed a medical at the English side ahead of a proposed £32m deal.
     Another Spaniard who could be available this summer is Barcelona midfielder, Cesc Fabregas, with his preferred destination the Premier League. His £30m price tag has got Manchester United and Liverpool fans buzzing, but his former club Arsenal have already ruled themselves out. He could however, be on his way to Stamford Bridge with Costa after Chelsea legend Frank Lampard announced he would leave the club after 13 years.
    
     The transfer window isn't just about the big moves either - many players are being snapped up for free. After being released by American outfit Vancouver Whitecaps, Scotland striker Kenny Miller has returned to Rangers for his third spell at the Glasgow side. The Scotsman will be hoping to add to his tally of 57 Rangers goals during his one-year contract. Swiss defender Philippe Senderos, is also returning to the Premier League this time with Aston Villa. He was released after Fulham's relegation to the Championship and manager Paul Lambert believes he will be a 'great addition to the group'. And finally, former Barcelona man Seydou Keita has signed one year deal at Serie A runners up, Roma. The Malian hepled Valencia to reach the semi-finals of the Europa League last season.

     So, have your team made the correct moves so far? Should you be spending on proven stars or youngsters? And, most importantly, who should you sign? Get involved in the comments section below and on Twitter: @TotalFootyBlogs