5 Ramifications of Gareth Bale’s world record transfer fee.

Calm down, welsh winger Gareth Bale has not yet been confirmed as a Real Madrid player, but when he does sign for the Spanish giants, the fee rumoured will be nothing short of absurd, with most sources quoting a price of over 100 million Euros. When Bale’s move is announced, do not be surprised if the following result… 

1. Ronaldo is going to be really mad
   
   Cristiano Ronaldo is a man with a large ego, there, I said it. He will certainly not appreciate losing his record for world’s largest transfer fee, nor will he enjoy having to share the spotlight with Tottenham’s, soon to be former, Welshman. Is Madrid big enough for the two of them? Yes, yes it is, but only if Ronaldo learns to share. He has had a hard enough time digesting that he has been surpassed by Lionel Messi as the world’s best player, let alone challenged for Real Madrid’s best player; I hear the number 7 at Manchester United has been vacated by Antonio Valencia…
   
   
   
   
   In all seriousness, Ronaldo is a world class talent and the arrival of Bale should only lift the mood in the Bernabeu home dressing room, I certainly do not see an Old Trafford return on the cards for the second most successful Ronaldo ever to play the game. New manager Carlo Ancelotti will no doubt be licking his lips at the prospect of fielding a side which includes the world’s two most expensive players, Ronaldo and Bale, as well as the abundance of other stars already at his disposal. Real Madrid will be a scary side, when he gets it right.

   

   World's largest transfer fees. Bale surpasses new teammate Ronaldo by 13m.
   

   
   
2. Many people will lose all faith in humanity
   
   100 million euros is a ludicrous sum of money, no matter how you look at it. This transfer fee represents a lot of what is wrong with the world. More money is spent on the acquisition of one footballer than most countries’ defence budgets for a whole year! Perhaps, if people cared as much about helping those in need as they did about football then many of the world’s problems would be eradicated. But, let’s face it, that just simply isn’t ever going to happen.
   
   

   

   Bale's transfer fee is rather large....

   
   

   
   
3. Real Madrid will attempt to break the world record again.... obviously not soon
   
   Real Madrid are a club of high aspirations, they like to do whatever it is others are incapable of doing. No other club has the funds to fork out over 100 million in cold hard cash for a player, thus Real Madrid must! Clearly, Real aren’t going to be in any sort of rush to spend this sort of money again, but when they open up their purse again for a player of Bale’s ability and potential, don’t be surprised to see an even larger figure tossed about by the world’s richest club. Albeit, Bale is a special player, one who is coming off a ridiculous season with Tottenham Hotspur in which he claimed the title of the Premier League’s best player and practically carried his side to a fifth placed finish. Players like Bale don’t become available every day, but when one does, Real will be the likely destination considering their financial advantage over every other club. The next hundred million dollar man could already be plying his trade somewhere, nobody knows…
   
   
4. La Liga will become even less competitive
   
   As it stands, Real Madrid and Barcelona are strides ahead of any other side in La Liga, that gap will widen even further with Bale’s arrival in what is considered the world’s best league. It simply does not make for an entertaining league when two teams are head and shoulders above every other, beating teams by rugby scores week in week out. There may not be anything UEFA can do right now to correct this, with the new financial fair play rules seemingly having no impact on the transfer market what so ever, it may be the next step in club football to cap the prices of players and restrict the spending power of sides in order to obtain a more level playing field and make leagues more competitive. 
   
   
5. Spurs chairman Daniel Levy will smile for days on end
   
   Tottenham’s shrewd chairman Daniel Levy will be checking his club’s account balance hourly until the money arrives, and when it does, he will do merry jig and go back to business as usual while people ask him if he was smiling as the wind changed. Tottenham have gone on an almighty spending spree this summer, with Bale’s impending transfer fee their financial backing. They have brought in some top class talent, including Brazilian Paulinho from Corinthians (€19m), French midfielder Etienne Capoue from Toulouse (€11m), Spanish hitman Roberto Soldado from Valencia (€30m) and Dutchman Nacer Chadli from FC Twente (€8m). In addition to this, they have been linked to more big money signings such as recent Chelsea recruit Willian, formerly of Anzhi Makhachkala, and aptly named Zenit winger Hulk. One thing can certainly be deduced from this massive spending, Bale is certain to leave, otherwise Tottenham will find themselves in a spot of financial bother, albeit with a ridiculously talented squad. Spurs manager Andre Villas Boas has spent the money well and he will no doubt be joining his chairman in what could perhaps end up as a season-long smile fest.
   

   

   That's a lot of beans...
   

   That’s the Rosey wrap on Gareth Bale’s transfer fee,
   
   
   Thanks for reading,
   
   
   By Jake Rosengarten

Same, same but different: Why Liverpool taking three points against Stoke signifies a big change at the Reds.

Let me set the scene, Liverpool dominate possession, have over 20 attempts on goal against a lesser opposition and still somehow manage to not take 3 premiership points, sound familiar? It was almost the case once more at Anfield as the Reds almost managed to stifle what should have been a routine victory against Stoke City. It has been the thing that has separated Manchester United from any other side in the premier league in recent seasons, they simply know how to win. Even when perhaps they shouldn't take the points or they find themselves almost going down to lesser oppositions they always seem to miraculously take full points back to Old Trafford.

Jokes like this have become the pet peeve of every Liverpool fan.

It has been the scourge of every Liverpool supporter’s existence in recent years; their side dominates but simply cannot finish off the opposition. Yes, the Anfield side nearly did this against the Potters yesterday, with a Daniel Agger handball in the 89^th minute all but gifting Jonathan Walters an equalizer from the spot. However, Liverpool’s Belgian summer signing stood tall between the sticks and kept out what was, let’s face it, a rather lacklustre effort from the spot from Walters. The most important thing to take away from this is the fact that Liverpool secured full points. In years gone by, they would perhaps have lowered their heads, expected to hear the opposing fans celebrate and chalk it up as a point, but not this time, as the passionate Reds players rushed to celebrate with the jubilant Mignolet.

The question must now be asked, have Liverpool finally learnt how to win? The answer is complicated, whilst I don’t claim that one gritty win represents an omnipotent change in the mindset of the players, this will surely give them confidence in future fixtures and could perhaps be a turning point for Brendan Rodgers and his side. This season every point is crucial as the Reds look to regain a champions league spot or better after last season’s sub-par performance yielded them 7^th place and a second consecutive finish behind fierce cross town rivals Everton. Top 4 is the target and if they are to achieve this they must establish a winning formula in which they secure every possible point and do not drop points in games which they should be winning.

Liverpool players embrace Mignolet after his penalty save

A good start is essential in a campaign like this one, the top places will be as competitive as ever before and it is important that Liverpool capitalise on the lack of form shown by fellow top 4 aspirants Arsenal, who went down 3-1 to Aston Villa yesterday.

Overall, the season is played over 38 rounds, and one win cannot possibly act as some sort of divine sign that Liverpool are destined to achieve their goals and continue winning, however this win is a step in the right direction and the players will be eager to chalk up a couple of wins in the early rounds. Psychology is a big thing in sport, if teams do not think they can win, then they will not win, simple as that. Sure, Liverpool’s performance was not as good as it could have been yesterday, but they showed a winning mentality which is a big change from what they have displayed in the past.

That’s the Rosey Wrap on the importance of Liverpool’s win at Stoke,

Thanks for reading,

By Jake Rosengarten

It’s time to put away FIFA 13; the real deal returns: 5 Predictions for the Upcoming Premier League Season

1. Chelsea to lead after 6 rounds
   
   
   As the self-proclaimed ‘special one’ returns to the helm at the Blues after a 6 year hiatus he will be eager to send the message forth throughout the league… “I’m back.” José Mourinho never was one for modesty, and I believe that his star studded Chelsea side will ultimately be very hard to stop. They begin the season with matches against Hull City, Aston Villa, Manchester United, Everton, Fulham and Tottenham. This is no easy draw, facing three of last season’s top six within the opening six rounds. However, a side which possesses the likes of Juan Mata and Eden Hazard, both members of last year’s PFA team of the season, alongside new signing Andre Schurrle and the always dangerous Romelu Lukaku, can never be underestimated.
   
   

   I predict that Chelsea will burst out of the blocks, in a Usain Bolt-esque metaphorical first 100m of the Premier League season, despite these tough matches and sit atop the ladder after the first 6 rounds. Albeit, I do believe that Chelsea will, as per usual, run out of steam, and find themselves in their usual scrap for third or fourth by next April/May. If Mourinho is to scale the heights as Chelsea and work his magic once more he must keep hold of Barcelona target David Luiz and find a way to effectively rotate his strike force, which includes former football joke of the year Fernando Torres and the injury plagued Demba Ba. Roman Abramovich is not one to play the waiting game, trophies or its back to Spain with you José.
   
2. No Luck for Promotees
   
   
   The lucky Championship sides who earned themselves a berth in the premier league for this season are Cardiff, Hull City and Crystal Palace, whether they will consider themselves lucky when they are sitting on a lowly sub-35 point score come the end of next season is a different story. This is more directed at the quite under strength squads possessed by Hull and Palace  rather than a Cardiff side which boasts former Liverpool and Manchester City player Craig Bellamy and impressive new Chilean signing Gary Medel. I believe that Cardiff will hold their own and avoid relegation this season, whilst the other two promotees will not be quite as lucky. Put simply, I am rather skeptical of whether either of these two sides possesses the raw talent to win more than the odd game in a very competitive premier league competition.
   
   
   Thinking back to the struggles of Aston Villa last season, as well as the relegation of Community Shield 2013/14 participants Wigan Athletic, I can confidently say that the promotees will struggle as their sides are simply not up to the standards of even these struggling sides of yesteryear. Put simply, their managers must beef up their squads with some premier league quality additions or they will be back in the Championship quicker than ex-Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha signed his Manchester United contract.
   
   
3. Swansea to Challenge the Top 7
   
   
   A bold prediction I know, but I believe that Swansea really do have the squad that it takes to challenge the previously relatively stable top 7 sides of the competition. Led by Michael Laudrup, the Swans, who feature the talents of Spanish bargain Michu and new boy former Vitesse Arnhem striker Wilfried Bony, will be a tough proposition for any team who come up against them. Liberty Stadium saw a trophy last year and will see European football this season, and there is absolutely no reason why they can’t secure it again for next season perhaps even through qualification from league places.
   
   
   

   If last season is anything to go by, the swans will be a force to reckon with, and no one will fancy a trip to their backyard, not even their opening round opponents and last year’s champions Sir Alex Ferguson-less Manchester United. Mark my words; do not underestimate Swansea this season.
   
   
   
   
4. Controversies Aplenty
   
   
   What is a premier league season without controversy? That’s like Theo Walcott without pace, Raheem Sterling without a stupid haircut, and well… Luis Suarez without controversy… it just doesn’t make sense! So I’m here to tell you don’t take your eyes off that screen because there will be controversies whether anyone likes it or not. In the past few seasons we have been privileged to some awful yet entertaining instances such as the Suarez-Evra racial row, the Suarez-Ivanovic biting incident and others that, I can’t believe it either, didn’t involve Luis Suarez!
   
   
   The controversies will be back in 2013/14, along with Suarez (in round 5), so don’t miss a minute of England’s premier footballing competition! I promise it will be more entertaining than anything non-football related you could possibly be watching, which might consist of, god forbid, something non-sport related whatsoever.
   
   
5. City to win the League
   
   
   I am making the call right now. Manchester City will bring the premier league trophy back to the Etihad Stadium at the end of season 2013/14, but it will by no means be pretty. Having brought in new manager Manuel Pellegrini and made more big money signings including Fernandinho, Jesus Navas, Stevan Jovetić and Alvaro Negredo, the citizens will have a squad unrivalled in depth and talent. Their only problem may well be keeping all the stars happy due to the fact that there simply isn’t enough places in the first team to fit them all in. Just simply looking at their strikers, along with new boys Jovetić and Negredo, they already have Sergio Agüero and last season’s top scorer Bosnian Edin Džeko on their books.
   
   
   With a squad like this, I just don’t see them being beaten, the league is theirs to lose as far as I’m concerned. In my eyes, their main challengers will be Chelsea and perhaps Manchester United if David Moyes can get his act together in time. Manchester City to be champions of 2013/14.
   
   

   

   
   
   
   
   That concludes Rosey’s predictions for the 2013/14 Premier League season,
   
   
   Thanks for reading,
   
   
   Jake Rosengarten