Wanderlust wrote:Bamboo Grove wrote:Here's something from BBC's football gossip site for wonderlust to ponder over:
Sven-Goran Eriksson could be in line for a dramatic return to English football - with West Ham.
As we all remember from the WC SGE is one of his biggest favourites or did I miss something there.............?
This gossip originates from The Sun, and having read the article, it is one of the most ridiculous 'stories' ever! It is based on this (quote from the article) -
The former Three Lions manager is great pals with super-agent Pini Zahavi, who helped take striker Carlos Tevez and midfield star Javier Mascherano to London’s East End. Someone else needs a geography lesson her aswell. Since when did West Ham move to the East End
And that is how they have come up with it - great journalism eh? I call it 'made up, spammy bollox' and renews my faith in the Sun as only being fit to line the cat's litter tray.
As to the gossip surrounding Tevez and Mascherano, I will deal with each part in turn;
Owned by MSI -
WRONG They are owned by West Ham.
Not according to the MSI web site and the LSE they are not.
Must play in every game they are fit -
WRONG This will be proved on Sunday when one or both start on the bench.
Only staying for one year - who can tell? They have signed 4 year deals
(Every deal Nicolas Anelka has had has been a four year deal). Footballers nowadays frequently move after one season if there is money to be made.
My guess is one year almost exacltly but check out my summary after these points replies.
Part of a takeover bid -
WRONG
Going to Chelsea in either January or end of season -
WRONG I reckon you are right there. Chelsea already have a team and have dealt with the last problem at great cost.
Further to my earlier post about possible outcomes, it now appears that the money behind the potential takeover bid is not Russian, Georgian or any part of the former USSR, but from the Middle East, possibly Iran. My previous post did say that Badri Patarkatsishvili was reportedly behind it but apparently he owns Dinamo Tblisi so under UEFA rules cannot own part or all of another European club. Even then it has not gone past 'exploratory talks'.
"but from the Middle East, possibly Iran". Geography is not your strong point is it. There is no secret that MSI is owned by and Iranian. Iran although close is not in the middle east. It is a Stan nation
Now watch the Hammers go!
We will watch them go alright, but in what direction and for how long is the question you should be asking
Now to add a few facts to the Sun inspired speculation (Don't forget is Sun is owned by the warmonger Murdoch and is not in the business of telling the truth but in this case in the business of selling gutter trash to the masses to finance his covert international operations. It only after it has been read by the masses that it is used in the cat litter tray.
After reading Big Boy's post I decided to do some research myself (and no not in the Sun either). I have checked out the MSI website and the folowing facts have come to light, some of which I knew already.
Kia Joorabchian is the head and main shareholder of MSI. He is Iranian. In a question aksed to him by a Sun (believe it or not) reporter after the Argentinian aqquisation was "are you interested in purchasing a football club" his answer was yes I am looking but am in no hurry and will wait until the new year before drawing a short list. The Sun reporter reported this answer as "Kia Joorabchian" is interseted in aquiring West Ham. Of course don't foget Kia Joorabchian is a shrewd businessman and will not be inspired by supporters songs and strip colours but by ROI only. Even West Hams gloriouus history has only a little part to play. It has done bugger all for Preston North End has it?
Anyway back to MSI, in their own Stock Exchange statement last Friday, West Ham confirmed that any potential takeover is not "contractually linked" to the arrival of Tevez and Mascherano at Upton Park. Smart move, if you get caught lying to the LSE your career is over.
And from the BBC "So it must be true"
And Georgian businessman Badri Patarkatsishvili also said he was considering investing in the club with Joorabchian. Now lets have a look at Khun Patarkatsishvili. He is Georgina (by sheer coincidence the same part of the world as Roman Abramovitch). This got my nose twitching and I came across anothe character, Boris Berezovsky. Boris has links with both Badri Patarkatsishvili and Kia Joorabchian. BOris has just been granted political assylum (for a Georgian would you believe) to remain in the UK. No here comes the interesting bit. To do business in the UK you really must have a Brit front man with a track record in the business you are trying tom get into. In this case the lucrative Murdoch run Premiership. MSI have many Brits on their books but only one significant at the moment. He is a man called Paul Stapleton that BB mentioned in his post. I had him checked out this morning (In Europe and over here) and sure enough this is his profile.
Paul is by trade an accountant and later made his money arranging finance for deals with countries mainly in Asia who had surplus cash that wished to be invested in Europe and the US. With money from MSI he acquired Plymouth Argyle Football Club from Dan McCauley's Rotoloc Holdings plc in late 2001. Since then the clubs mission has been to build it into a Premiership long stayer. The situation is perfect. The catchment area is the biggest of any club in the UK. The best thing that could have happpend is for Southampton to be relegated. When that happened it was systems go. PAFC now intend to get promotion this year and become the other south coast club but be the superior one. At the moment with Portsmouth on a roll and much of the popluation west of Portsmouth being anti Portsmouth PAFC have the natural position to get supporters from the whole region as far north as Bristol and as far west as Southampton. A very promising future indeed.
PAFC also have the added benefit of the best climate in Britain which would attaract many SA and southern European players who can not live with the harsh northern climate.
So the most plausible throry currently is that the Argies will do ther one year introductory course at West Ham and then move south to the newly promoted PAFC. Chelsea were never an option, as I said before they already have their team and are already owned by the same little gang of mates anyway. In business you look after your mates and they look after you.
I will looking forwrd to West Ham away to Plymouth next season. They have stopped to inter city service now that that should keep the thugs out.