Insensitive And Senseless, Were Chelsea Wrong To Dispose Legendary Petr Cech For Thibaut Courtois?

By Ewah Chika. 

When Petr Cech was sold to Arsenal for £10 million in the summer of 2015, Chelsea fans were upset though not for the sale of the legend rather due to the fact Chelsea were strengthening bitter rivals Arsenal with Cech's sale. Fast forward to two months  and it was clear from the opening season game against Swansea that Courtois was miles behind the former Rennes goalkeeper at the Bridge. 

It is now even clearer that Chelsea were wrong to have traded their club legend for an insensitive and less passionate Belgian who has been sent off thrice since the sale of Cech in 2015. 

FIFA Rejects Bojan Krkic's Serbia International Switch Request.

By Ewah Chika.

Stoke City's Bojan Krkic has seen his application to quit Spain and continue his international football career with Serbia ultimately turned down by FIFA according to the Mirror.

The former Roma attacker  has a Serbia father but grew up in Catalonia before going on to break into Barcelona's first team in 2007 under Frank Rjikaard at 17 years 19 days breaking Lionel Messi's record at the time.  The attacker was highly rated at the time with fans predicting he was going to be  Lionel Messi's longterm attacking partner.

Louis Van Gaal In Talks With Werder Bremen.

By Ewah Chika.

Former Manchester United manager Louis Van Gaal is presently in talks with Werder Bremen to replace sacked coach Viktor Skrypnyk according to Hamburg Abendblatt.

Van Gaal had earlier said in 2014 after taking over in Manchester United that the club will be his last as he was going to retire at the expiration of his three years contract but it seems his sacking by the North West club has left a bitter taste and experience in his memory that he has decided to give coaching another shot.

Carlo Ancelotti Reveals The Enormous Pressure Coaches Face In Real Madrid .

By Ewah Chika.

Carlo Ancelotti has revealed it is easier to work with Franz Beckenbauer who is Bayern Munich's president when compared with Real Madrid's Florentino Perez.

The former Real Madrid coach also believes the press and media in Madrid make it difficult for any manager as they often criticise and scrutinise every of the coach's decisions especially when it doesn't go according to plans.

Manchester City Facing FIFA Ban For Minor Exploitation.

By Ewah Chika.

Velez Sarsfield has revealed they have lodged a formal complaint to FIFA after Manchester City attempted to sign an under-aged Argentine schoolboy by name Benjamin Garre from them.

Velez claim City had breached FIFA's regulation when trying to sign the youngster at 15 which is prohibited by FIFA as it represents minor transfers. This is coming at a time FIFA made it almost extremely difficult for European clubs to sign players outside the European Union and who are under 18 so as to tackle or discourage the exploitation of minors.

Revealed: PSG Tried To Sign Diego Costa On Transfer Deadline Day.

By Ewah Chika.

Just as Chelsea were desperate to sign a centre-back on transfer deadline day, it has been revealed that PSG were also desperate to sign Chelsea's Diego Costa who appeared eager to quit the London Club for former club Atletico Madrid in the same summer.

Chelsea coach , Antonio Conte was forced to move for PSG's David Luiz who only left Chelsea for PSG in the summer of 2014 for £50 million after Conte failed in his bid to sign first choice defenders Kalidou Koulibaly -Napoli and Leonardo Bonucci - Juventus.

"Jose Mourinho Was Desperate For The Liverpool Job In 2004"- Danny Murphy.

By Ewah Chika.

Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy has revealed that current Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho while in Porto was desperate to succeed Gerard Houllier as Liverpool manager before the appointment of Rafa Benitez from Valencia in 2004.

Mario Balotelli's Rich Form For Nice Continues To Silence Jamie Carragher And His Einstein Critics .

By Ewah Chika.

By Ewah Chika.

Four goals in two league games is a sort of rich form any striker will dream to be associated with and that is the reason controversial Italian forward Mario Balotelli is suddenly the new bride in football, after his Man of the Match display have ensured Nice presently top the French Ligue 1 with 14 points ahead of heavy spenders PSG who are second and on 11 points, after beating Principality club Monaco 4-0 at the Allianz Riviera on Wednesday night.

Swansea Target Ryan Giggs As Francesco Guidolin's Replacement As Pressure Continues To Mount On The Italian.

By Ewah Chika.

Three losses in five games isn't an exceptional result for a coach and that is exactly where Francesco Guidolin of Swansea has found himself considering the club's poor run of form.

Swansea have only been able to beat newly promoted Burnley on the opening day. This has led to many media outlets reporting  that club chairman Huw Jenkins is targeting Ryan Giggs formerly of Manchester United as Guidolin's replacement

Southampton To Swoop For Unsettled PSG Creative Playmaker In January .

By Ewah Chika.

Southampton are already targeting Paris Saint Germain unsettled attacker Hatem Ben Arfa according to Foot-Sur7.

Ben Arfa was signed on a free transfer this summer  after shinning in Nice last season scoring 17 goals in 34 league games for Les Aiglons who finished 4th under were the present Southampton manager Claude Puel.

Stephane Sessegnon On Verge Of Montepellier Move.

By Ewah Chika.

Former West Brom attacking midfielder Stephane Sessegnon is close to a free transfer to French club Montepellier according to Mercato 365. Sessegnon is billed to return to France after soending eight years in England with the likes of Sunderland and West Bromich Albion scoring 25 goals and providing 25 assists in 166 league games in total from both clubs .

Manchester City Ready To Move Yaya Toure To A Premier League Rival In January.

By Ewah Chika.

Manchester City are so desperate to move on  star midfielder Yaya Toure in January that they won't mind selling him to a Premier League rival according to the Dailymail. Toure who earns an excess of £220,000 per week has been deemed surplus to requirements by manager Pep Guardiola unless he apologises to the Club, fellow players and the manager after Toure's agent Dimitri Seluk attacked the

Is UEFA's Guaranteed 16 Slots In The Champions League For Top Four Leagues Fair Or Anti-Football?

By Ewah Chika. 

UEFA Champions League and Europa League Football seems to be growing every year judging from both sporting and financial aspect with an expected increase in revenue from £2 billion this season to £2.5 billion next season. This might have necessitated the now infamous reforms by UEFA after guaranteeing Champions League Group stage places to the top four leagues which are expected to be Spain, England, Germany and Italy starting from 2018. 

Although this looks like fair and decisive decision, considering these leagues account for more than 80% of the revenue UEFA makes from the Champions League due to their large TV markets with Spain and England the main contributors. UEFA did not just stop there as those clubs with historic success in European Competitions will also be rewarded financially due to it's new point formula which gives them an undue advantage over smaller clubs from lesser leagues. 

Though this new reform can be said to be fair as clubs from small leagues have continued to falter in the Champions League year in year out with the exception of Sharkar Donesk,

Is The £17 Million Signing Of Lucas Perez By Arsenal Expensive Or A Bargain?

By Ewah Chika. 

After trying severally albeit unsuccessfully to sign Leicester City's Jamie Vardy (29) in the summer, Arsene Wenger elected to sign Deportivo La Coruna's Lucas Perez who bagged 17 goals in La Liga last season for the Galician club that struggled to escape relegation. Arsenal on their part, struggled all through last season to keep pace with Leicester City in what looked like their best chance of winning the Premier League which has eluded them for the past 12 years. 

Is The Signing Of Mattieu Flamini A Hit Or Miss For Crystal Palace?

By Ewah Chika.

Crystal Palace is presently in the second half of the table after a not so convincing start to the season which has seen them lose twice and win just once (against Middlesbrough) in four games this season. The South London club had moved quickly to sign Christian Benteke from Liverpool for over £27 million in a bid to solve their goal scoring problem

What Will Islam Slimani, Leicester City's Record Signing (£29m) Offer The Midlands Club?

By Ewah Chika. 

Jamie Vardy might have scored 24 league goals  for Leicester City last season as the Midlands club won the Premier League yet done nothing to discourage Italian manager Claudio Ranieri from breaking the club's transfer record following the deadline signing of Algerian Islam Slimani for £29 million from Portuguese Primeira Liga Club Sporting Lisbon this summer. 

The reason for that might not be far fetched as the Algerian was so important to Ranieri's plans that Leicester had to return with an improved £29 million a few days after their initial £25 million was rejected by the Portuguese club.

When Will Harry Kane's Goal Drought End?

By Ewah Chika. 

Harry Kane has been the hottest striker in the English top flight in the past two seasons after scoring 21 and 25 league goals in the 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 Premier League seasons. The former Leicester City player repaid Manuel Pochettino's faith in him by scoring 18 goals in his first 20 league goals In the 2014/2015 season after Spurs struggled to score goals,

Is Alexis Sanchez Under-Rated Or On Par With Ronaldo And Messi?

By Ewah Chika. 

 Alexis Sanchez might not have won the English Premier League or exploded in England as expected following his highly publicised £32 million move from Barcelona in 2014, yet even all these have done little to spoil the Chilean's decent record in England. The attacker is already a crowd favourite after scoring 30 goals in 68 league games for Arsenal which is an improvement on his 39 goals in 88 games for Barcelona. 

"I have reached a level where I can compete with great players. I don't feel inferior to anybody. I liken my qualities to Messi and Ronaldo. I have the same abilities as them," were the words of the attacker last week, a statement which has ignited arguments.   

While it may look more like Sanchez is trying to blow his trumpet, a look at his attributes, form and stats while in England will help to answer the question if truly he is close to the pair or just under-rated. 

Firstly, Sanchez is as fast and skilful as the pair although it may be said that he is stronger and more physical than both judging from his game.  The Chilean is also a better tackler and more suited to a team that plays a high energy pressing game due to his determination and defensive attributes. 

Is Eden Hazard Back To His Impervious Form After Sublime Euro's, Pre-Season And August Displays?

By Ewah Chika.

Last season as Chelsea continued to struggle in the Premier League, Eden Hazard struggled with a persistent hip injury becoming shadow of himself and a clog on the wheels of the team even after the change of manager.

This season it appears the Belgian is on his way to reclaiming the PFA Player of the Year he won in 2014/2015 after impressing as Chelsea won the double (Premier League and League Cup).

Young, Consistent And Reliable , Do Arsenal Really Need Joel Campbell This Season?

By Ewah Chika. 

When Joel Campbell was signed from Deportivo Saprissa in 2011, Arsenal fans did not take the signing serious until the youngster burst unto the scene at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, driving his team to the quarter-finals with his sublime performance after qualifying with Uruguay from a group which also comprised of England and Italy. It was highly believed at the time that the youngster will return to Arsenal after the tournament but such didn't happen as Campbell was sent on a fourth loan to Greek champions Olympiakos.

Can West Ham's Michail Antonio Repeat His Last Season's Exploits This Campaign?

By Ewah Chika. 

Michail Antonio was an unknown figure in the Premier League when he joined Slaven Bilic's side for £7 million from Nottingham Forest after just one season at the City Ground. Fast forward to last week and the player received a call-up to the Three Lions after scoring two goals in his last three games in the league this season. 

Greed Or Persistence: Why Did Yaya Toure Stay Back In Manchester City Despite Not Being Wanted?

By Ewah Chika. 

Yaya Toure's best days in the Premier League might be behind him judging from reports emanating from Manchester. Toure has been the shinning light in Manchester City and also the club's most important player in  Premier League era considering his blistering form for the club since joining for £23 million from Barcelona in 2010. The Ivorian has scored a prolific 57 goals in 195 games in the league, winning the Premier League twice, League Cup twice and the FA Cup. The Ivorian  is also the scorer of the only goal in the FA Cup final against Stoke City in 2011 which was City's first major trophy in 35 years. It did not end there as Toure provided the assist for Pablo Zabaleta (Opening goal) in the 3-2 win (end of the season )  over Queens Park Rangers) which helped the club to win the league in 2012 (their first in 44 years). The former Monaco midfielder  was also named Manchester City's Player of the Year in 2014, also making the PFA Premier League Team of the Year twice (2011/2012 and 2013-2014). 

Yet like always the case in football, all these records have little or no effect on the player's current plight at the club. Toure's problems started with the announcement of the appointment of Pep Guardiola by Manchester City in the winter, which Toure did not take kindly and this is because of the pairs fallout in Barcelona, which ended with the sale of midfielder to City in 2010. Toure had been a regular starter in Camp Nou in Guardiola's first season, winning the treble with the team before things fell apart  resulting in his reduced game time the next season before his eventual sale. There are various reports in the media about reasons for the pairs fallout but though none have come out openly to make it public, it seems non-footballing reasons might be the problem . 

"Whenever I asked him something, he always gave strange answers. He pretty ignored me until City's offer came in. 

"That's why I eventually opted to leave. I didn't speak to Guardiola for a year. He had no faith in me," Toure revealed at the time in 2013. 

Sunderland's Poor Summer Transfer Edges Them Closer To Relegation.

By Ewah Chika.

While other clubs were busy recruiting numerous players in the transfer window , David Moyes and Sunderland left it late until the last day of the transfer window before attempting to sign a goalkeeper who will replace injured Vito Manonne. Though Sunderland's bid to sign Lorient's midfielder Didier Ndong for £13 million was successful the same cannot be said of the bid to sign goalkeeper Mika  and Norwich's Steven Naismith. 

Asset Or Liability: Should Wayne Rooney Continue Starting For England ?

By Ewah Chika.

53 goals in 116 appearances is Wayne Rooney's record for England making him the country's record goalscorer and the most capped outfield player yet even such records aren't even enough to hide the striker's loss of form for the national team of recent. 

Wayne Rooney has been the most talented and consistent English striker for years after bursting unto the scene during the European tournament in 2008,

Gohkan Inler Departs Leicester City A Flop After Arriving As A Coup Signing.

By Ewah Chika.

Leicester City fans might be forgiven for feeling as high as a G6 plane following the club's signing of then 31-year-old Gorkan Inler from Napoli for £5 million in 2015, which at the time was considered a bargain judging from the Swiss Captain's rich form over the years for the likes of FC Zurich, Udinese and Napoli. 

Spanish Technique With An English Heart, Bournemouth Move Is Jack Wilshere's Sure Way To Regain Lost Form.

By Ewah Chika.

One of the breaking news of this summer's transfer deadline was the loan signing of Arsenal and Three Lions midfielder  Jack Wilshere by Bournemouth for £3 million. It can be said that Bournemouth have made a statement with Wilshere's signing considering the Englishman had more than 22 offers from different clubs on deadline day with the likes of Roma, AC Milan and Crystal Palace linked with him before he opted to move to the South Coast to link up with childhood friend Benik Afobe who was also formerly at Arsenal. 

By his signing, Wilshere becomes the biggest signing in Bournemouth's history, even though Eddie Howie's side will part with £80,000 weekly for his wages. Once touted as the future of Arsenal, Wilshere's career has gone from grace to grass after his career threatening ankle injury in 2011 which made him miss the whole 2011/2012 season as a result of the injury. 

"Jack Wilshere doesn't play the English way. I see Wilshere as the future of English football. If he had a career that had been injury-free we would already be talking about him as one of the top central midfield players in Europe,"

Ultra Defensive, Dull And Boring, Is West Brom The Right Club For Nacer Chadli?

By Ewah Chika.

"He's a top, top player and I'm delighted we've got him. I said last week that these signings had to be about players who would improve our squad and Nacer does precisely that ," were the words of Walsh man and West Bromwich Albion manager Tony Pulis upon signing Belgian and former Tottenham attacking midfielder Nacer Chadli for £13 million . 

Chadli might have regressed in Spurs after exploding in the Premier League in 2013, having arrived as an unknown talent from Twente for £7 million.

Are Samir Nasri's Best Days Behind Him?

By Ewah Chika.

"Nasri is a creative midfielder who can play as a winger or inside. He knows how to keep possession and, as well as the rest of our midfielders , can switch positions," were the words of Jorge Sampaoli after signing Frenchman Samir Nasri on a season loan from Manchester City. 

Can Marcos Alonso Fill The Void Left By Ashley Cole At The Bridge?

By Ewah Chika.

Antonio Conte's Chelsea might be flying high this season having beaten the likes of West Ham, Watford and Burnley, yet one thing clearly lacking in the team is the dearth of an attacking left-back since the exit of Ashley Cole in 2014. This is the reason Chelsea fans were elated with the news that Conte had signed Spanish and Fiorentina left-back Marcos Alonso Mendoza in the transfer window. The defender is deadly on set-piece, composed in attack with a top notch tackling and crossing ability coupled with his aerial presence. Marcos Alonso comes from a footballing family as the grandfather (Marcos Alonso Imaz) played eight years for Real Madrid, not excluding his father who played for both Atletico Madrid and Barcelona. The defender also came through the ranks at Real Madrid before departing for Bolton in 2010, scoring four league goals before signing for Fiorentina after the relegation of Bolton in 2013.

After Flopping In Liverpool And Milan: How Will Mario Balotelli Fare In Nice?

By Ewah Chika.

One of the most anticipated transfer news in the English Premier League this season was signing of former Liverpool and Azzurri forward Mario Balotelli on deadline day by Nice. The reason for this is not far fetched as the controversial striker did not fit in with Jurgen Klopp's system at the club.

Rejected In Manchester: Is Torino The Best Place For Joe Hart?

By Ewah Chika.

"Suddenly my career has undergone a change, and I took it as a sign of destiny and I had to do something.

"Italian goalkeeping is recognised throughout the world, so I am convinced I can still learn a lot here," were the words of Three Lions and former Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart upon signing on a season long with Sinisa Mihajlovic's Torino.

Considered not good enough with his feet and ball distribution, Hart found himself as third choice behind the likes of Chilean Raul Bravo who was signed from Barcelona and Argentine Willy Cabalero. Although Torino at present cannot be compared with Manchester City, Hart must be applauded for seeking a move that will progress his career instead of choosing to sulk at City and blame everyone else for his plight.

Last season, Torino ended up in Seria A's top half and are on course to improve judging from the appointment of Serbian and former Fiorentina and -AC Milan coach Sinisa Mihajlovic and also the signing of players like Hart, former  Roma and Fiorentina's attacking midfielder Adem Ljajic and Mirko Valdifiori from Napoli, although the Turin based side lost their two solid centre backs in Polish Glik (Monaco) and Serbian Nikola Maksimovic (Napoli).

Can Sofiane Boufal Take Southampton To Europe?

By Ewah Chika.

Claude Puel probably did not know his Southampton team lacked creativity when he was appointed in June until the Saints' first three games of the season against Watford, Manchester United and Sunderland gaining just two points.

Puel had made a terrible mistake in not signing a replacement for electric and creative attacking midfielder Saido Mane who was sold to Liverpool for £32 million. Though Southampton signed winger Nathan Redmond from Norwich, the English on present form no disrespect still has a lot of catching up to do to adequately replace the Senegalese.

Has Stoke City Struck Gold With Wilfred Bony Loan Signing?

By Ewah Chika.

"Bringing Wilfried Bony in was a no-barrier for us to be perfectly honest, because he knows the Premier League"

"He has power, speed and very good physical attributes which will undoubtedly help us (Stoke), and his technical and finishing skills are outstanding too," were the words of Stoke City manager Mark Hughes after the season loan signing of Ivorian and former Manchester City striker Wilfried Bony on Thursday.

That Bony's season long loan cost as little as £2 million makes it even more interesting considering his goal scoring records. Stoke City are one of the most difficult teams to play due to their defensive discipline yet the same cannot be said of their attack where the likes of Maman Biram Diouf , Peter Crouch, Jonathan Walters and the now departed Joselu have failed to deliver.

Quick, Strong And Industrious: Is The £30 Million Spurs Signing Of Moussa Sissoko A Squad Or Starting Eleven Improvement?

By Ewah Chika.

Tottenham fans will be in wild jubilation after the North Londoners thumped Merseyside Blue's Everton to the £30 million signing of French man Moussa Sissoko from Newcastle United on the transfer deadline day.

Coroner's Corner: Sharon Tate (HollyWood Top Class Act).

By Ewah Chika.


Sharon Tate was a renowned Hollywood top class act and model in the 1960's after playing several roles in television series and movies. Tate was also a cover girl for several high profile magazines at the time . Tate starred in several high profile movies like Cult Classic (Jennifer North), Valley of the Dolls and Orson Wellas earning a Golden Globe Award nomination in the process.