Charlemont Star 1-2 Dynamo Kingswinford match report

http://www.charlemontstarfc.co.uk/club/153630/News/view/634023

Charlemont Star's match report from this weekend!

It's Round and It's White article #3

Bright and exciting talents from the 2012 African Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon - My top three from the first round of games.

http://www.itsroundanditswhite.co.uk/2012/01/25/the-african-cup-of-nations-unearthing-hidden-gems/

It's Round and It's White article #2

Latest transfer rumours today linking Shakhtar's Brazilian trickster with Chelsea.

http://www.itsroundanditswhite.co.uk/2012/01/23/willian-the-key-to-chelseas-struggles/

It's Round and It's White article #1

News on the sheer frightening firepower at the hand of the Senegalese national side - by myself.

http://www.itsroundanditswhite.co.uk/2012/01/19/theres-something-in-the-senegalese-water/

Woahhh - we're half-way there!! January transfer window 2012.

So it's the 15th January, we're exactly half-way through the tabloid writer's favourite month of the football season.  Ludicrous prizes have been thrown around, golden oldies have returned to grace the Premier League & the talk of the Middle-Eastern billionaire's cheques exploding continues!

Andy Carroll and Fernando Torres are prime examples of why perhaps January transfer window summaries aren't pencilled out 'till February 1st - January 31st is always a rather 'interesting' day in the world of panic-buys and the odd 'over-the-deadline-arrival'.  Here though is a run-down of what has happened so far - and what could still likely be to come!


As most first halves of the January window goes - there have yet to be too many splashes of cash up and down the country.  Aston Villa, Everton, Swansea City, West Bromwich Albion & Wolves the only sides to have parted with some money thus far.  With the exception of the two formers, it seems very much like the League new-boys who are intent on strengthening their squads, Villa and particularly Everton fans will be relieved to even see a name under the 'Transfer in' category after being a little hard done to in the Summer.

It probably wasn't the 'big-money' deal they were gearing up for after the £20m cash-ins on Ashley Young and Stewart Downing in the summer - but Alex Mcleish's have finally been able to call over Republic of Ireland u21 left-back Enda Stevens after allowing his previous club Shamrock Rovers keep hold of his services for the first half of the term.  He's a young lad with only the Irish league as experience and with Stephen Warnock in front of him he will fit in as a squad player - but is highly rated and could well be a big part of Villa's future, at £250,000 there wasn't much to lose - one might imagine there being a bit left in the Glaswegian's transfer kitty.





Everton bought in Manchester United midfielder Darron Gibson, in what ended their astonishing 29 month draught of 'cash signings'.  David Moyes use (or lack of it!) in the market has always been well publicised, thought with the 'Jack Rodwell to Man Utd' rumour cropping up again and losing Mikel Arteta to Arsenal in the summer, Moyes' hand might have been rather forced this time around.  However, known for a decent array of passing and a fearsome shot, Gibson will add something to Everton's midfield - perhaps that bit of creativity to work with Leon Osman and Belgian Marouane Fellaini.  At £2m though, to Evertonian's discomfort it is hard to imagine Moyes being able to search around much more this window.

Swansea City fans have had much to be excited about of late - and come January their anticipation will keep growing and growing.  With club-record transfer Danny Graham enjoying a relatively successful opening to his Premier League career and also having the experience of Leroy Lita and Luke Moore waiting in the wings, Brendan Rodgers was still intent on seeling the deal on prolific Northern-Irish Cliftonville forward Rory Donnelly - under the grasp of Merseyside rivals Everton and Liverpool.  After having a £100,000 fee matched, Donnelly eventually joined for an undisclosed price but the purchase of the young lad, who was enjoying his football for Cliftonville with 17 goals already this term, will have them licking their lips with anxiety.  French defender Darnel Situ is their other 'paid-purchase' of the month so far, Situ, also 19 arrives from Lens with only one league appearence in France to his name - but with enough of a reputation for Rodgers to cash £250,000 out on him.

One of the wonder strikes Donnelly treated the Cliftonville fans to earlier this season.

Roy Hodgson's West Brom have too been on United Kingdom raid, heading North of the border in their persuit of Dundee United midfield all-rounder Scott Allan.  After finally beating off the likes of Rangers, Celtic and Newcastle for his £300,000 signature, Hodgson and co will be hoping he turns out as well as Graham Dorrans, a Scottish snippet of a few years back that set the club back £100,000 from Livingston and has propelled them to where they are today.

Wolverhampton Wanderers complete the cash signing bunch with the purchase of Icelandic versatile man Eggert Jónsson of Hearts.  Again, the side have been reluctant to pay big money and have managed to sign up the International defender/full-back/midfielder for £200,000 - real value for money if he lives up to expectations in the West Midlands.  With Roger Johnson being out with a fair few niggles since his Birmingham move Wolves have been short of a bit of cover bar Stearman, veteran Craddock and Berra so this all-action defender may well turn into a key starter or squad player at The Molineux.

Of course in January with prices at an extortionate level clubs in general are far more satisfied making loaned acqusitions. lower-end Premier League clubs enjoy utilising the benched youth of the leading sides but also - quite prominently in this window - it seems a return of the legends is more on the agenda for many.

The incredible moment Henry fired passed
Andy Lonegren last week.

There aren't many other directions to look in other than Thierry Henry's marvelous return to Arsenal, the all time lead scoring Gunner, ex-captain marvel was back not only to inspect his new bronze statue outside of The Emirates, but also to set the place alight with his fairytale second debut.  After coming on in a dour 0-0 FA Cup 3rd round encounter against Leeds, the New York Red Bulls loanee came on and stole the time with a tremendous finish - if the rest of his loan spell brings nothing - Arsenal fans will argue it was more than worth it for that very moment.  As players and manager Wenger has already stated, his presence in the dressing room and training ground will also be key, one of the clubs all-time legends, a hero to the likes of Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, he will definately enjoy a couple of important months back in North-London.





The return of ex-players residing in the States became something of a trend as first LA Galaxy and U.S.A leading forwaed Landon Donovan returned to Goodison park for another couple of month spell - such a fine footballer will provide so much more attacking options for David Moyes and to be able to pair him with the likes of Roysten Drenthe and a fit and firing Victor Anichebe will cause tremours throughout the league.  Robbie Keane too, has completed a loan deal to the Midlands to Aston Villa, the team-mate of Donovan and David Beckham and ex-Spurs, Wolves and Liverpool man will provide Villa's front-line with that bit of something else - that craft and guile - that the 'powerhouse' approach of Gabby Agbonlahor and Darren Bent perhaps lacks.

Past, present and future at Old Trafford

Paul Scholes, not exactly a January transfer, was the cause of many dramatic headlines and shocks in the first weekend of the new-year.  As, just prior to Manchester United FA Cup 3rd round tie with neighbour City it was announced Scholes would be coming out of retirement to aid Sir Alex Ferguson's 'injury-havoked' squad - with the pairing of Rafael & Giggs in central midfield in United's recent defeats to Blackburn and Newcastle it wasn't a moment too soon!  Scholes dramatic entrance to the Manc derby was almost ruined with a few nervy touches - one that led to City's second - none the less was soon forgotten as 6 days later he started at Old Trafford and broke the deadlock just before half-time with a 'Henry-like' fairytale finish.  Fellow central midfield goalscorer Michael Carrick has since been out to describe Paul Scholes' effect on the players - stating he gave everyone a huge "boost" as soon as he walked in.  One player shown the United exit door for 6 months is Italian forward Federico Macheda - who was signed up by Neil Warnock for QPR a matter of days before he was given the chop.  Since making his successful United debut towards the end of 07/08, 'Kiko' Macheda has not really fulfilled his promise and after a goal-less loan spell in Sampdoria now finds himself in London with Joey Barton & the enigmatic Adel Taraabt as team-mates - bit of persona change for the young lad!

Swansea City will also be more than satisfied with a bit of business that has saw them bring in Icelandic former Reading cult figure Gylfi Sigurdsson th The Liberty Stadium - his delightful displays two years ago prompted enquiries from several Premier League sides, eventually settling for 1899 Hoffenheim.  Despite only starting 13 games he was voted fans' Player of the Season - his accolades thus far have suggested big things for the 22 year old diminutive midfielder, Rodgers will again be delighted to have his services for the remainder of the term.

Gylfi: A real signal of intent from Swansea

Frimpong has settled into the Wolves XI
straight away

The final signing of note (this piece was put together prior to Gary Cahill's £7m move to Stamford Bridge), is Emmanuel Frimpong who will spend the remaining 6 months of the year at The Molineux as a delighted Mick McCarthy managed to secure the servicies of The Emirates youth player.  Having already received some fine praise from new team-mate Stephen Ward: "Because he is from Arsenal, he is excellent on the ball and likes to zip it around", it appears the excellently named Frimpong will fit perfectly into a shield in front of Wolves's back four - whilst being able to elegently pick a pass or pull out a trick at ease.  Another example of the Premier League youth being lent down to the other end of the table to aid a fierce, scrappy relegation battle.

Oh Africa!

Hi again folks! It's been a little while (far too long!) since I've last had the opportunity to post on here, for such reasons as the Festive period & A-Level exams.  Taking a cheeky break though and at the same time allowing the January transfer window to gather steam, I'll be now taking a look at the Premier League clubs loosing players to the once every two-years event that is The African Cup of Nations.

Egypt were crowned the Champions of Africa
back in 2010.

It isn't just the Big Boys that will be cursing their luck at the tournament's timing - glancing further down the league there are some clubs fighting tooth-and-nail that will lose some influential performers.  January is a big time of the season any year, the hectic Christmas schedule has finally slowed down and Managers are snooping around for snippets of a January bargain.  Judging by who will be leaving England for the luxury of Gabon & Equatorial Guniea - there could well be more than a fair few Bosses haggling for replacements.

Yaya Toure in action for The Elephants.

We'll start though, at the very top - Premier League leaders going into 2012, Manchester City do not have everything going for them in late January and Early February as the Toure brothers will be jetting off so aid their home nation, The Ivory Coast for what would be their first win since way back in 1992.  After the controversy of his mis-use of his wife's 'slimming drug', older brother Kolo does not always find himself involved in Roberto Mancini's plans at the Etihad - with captain Vincent Kompany and Joleon Lescott well above him in the pecking order, even young Stefan Savic has found himself infront of the experienced ex-Gunner at times.  It is imagined universally that by far and away the blue side of Manchester's biggest miss will be that of Yaya.  Influential, combative, energetic, powerful with the guile to score goals are just a handful of attributes where the former Catalan man shines out in a Premier League game, his bombing on from midfield into enemy territory has become trademark.  At times when the leaders look laboured and out of ideas, Toure can always be relied on to give that spark with a lung-bursting run to create that guilt-edged chance.  Mancini is happy to emply him next to Gareth Barry in City's 'holding role' and with their many millions of talent in reserve they aren't lacking for bodies though the quality gap will be noticeable.  Nigel de Jong will most likely drop in, there is also free summer recruit Owen Hargreaves - if there's a player out there suited, Mancini will be looking - Yaya Toure is a huge loss, a title losing loss though? We will see.


Manchester United Manager Sir Alex Ferguson will be licking his lips at the prospect of City losing Toure, only reserve striker Mame Biram Diouf will be hitting Africa to bolster Senegal's strikeforce. only making two league cup appearences this term - out on the wing - Ferguson will hardly be grieving, even with Rooney, Welbeck, Hernandez and Berbatov all firing blanks at the minute, there is far too much talent up top for Sir Alex to be considering looking around for a replacement.

'Sheer despair' - Arsene Wenger would
have been delighted at Cameroon's
failure to qualify.

One boss that will be banging his head over timing of the tournament will be Arsene Wenger in what has been an incredibly run in recent months for his side - mostly thanks to his Dutch skipper - he is now certain to lose any sort of back-up to Robin van Persie.  Whilst Gervinho and Marouane Chamakh having set the goalscoring charts alight this term, Wenger has always had them in the back of his mind should anything go wrong with his star man he would at least have positional sensed replacements.  With only perhaps Theo Walcott and Andriy Arshavin being first teamers who Wenger might look to push on forward, it really only leaves Park Chu-Young as the only natural forward to come in - the South Korean hasn't exactly been a prominent figure since the start of his Emirates career! Of course, the 'neutral-exciting' Thierry Henry loan move is well on the cards, but there were rumours of talks hitting a snag, causing real heartache for Wenger.  Mr 'Va Va Voom' in now 34 and after a year in the States, his game will have slowed down, asking him to play every game for an injured van Persie just wouldn't happen.  With or without the signing of Henry, the loss of Gervinho and Chamakh will force Wenger into looking to order more of that cotton wool for the Dutchman's knees and ankles.  Think of Wenger's relief when he heard of Cameroon's failure to qualify and his keeping of Alex Song!

With Nicolas Anelka heading permanently to Asia and not Africa in January, the loses of Saloman Kalou and more prominently Didier Drogba are likely to shape the fortunes of Andre Villas-Boas's stop-start first term in charge. The onus will very much be with mis-firing £50m man Fernando Torres to keep The Blues anywhere near that Champions League spot their rookie Manager is desperate for.  With Torres currently on 4 league goals in 29 games, arguebly Chelsea fans will more be looking to Daniel Sturridge to continue to propel them in what has been an incredible first full term for the former Bolton loanee. Although his goals and wing-play have been an essential part of Chelsea's season, placing all of their fortunes on a young man when losing two experienced, proven forwards is a risky game.  Villas-Boas will need Torres to return to some sort of 'Liverpool-form' to fill the void, whilst also hoping the youthful Romelu Lukaku can match what Didier Drogba achieved so well on his introduction to the Premier League.  Either way the African Cup makes Chelsea appear light up top, another cheque from Abramovich could well be their saviour.

With 50 goals in 75 caps - Didier Droga
is every Ivory Coast man's hero.

The legendary 4-4 equaliser that made
Cheick Tiote's name and will go
down in history.

To say that Newcastle United will be the hardest-hit League side in January and February whilst they only say 'Goodbye' to two stars is a real testiment to how far Alan Pardew's men have come this year.  The table's readings are all well and good now for the Toon Army, but the irreplaceable losses of Cheick Tiote and Demba Ba will require them hoping for a miracle to continue their good fortunes. Not even, because of any kind of lack in strength in depth, just solely because of what Tiote and Ba have turned their games to this year - two of the League's star performers. Tiote first really struck the English game's heart with that late equaliser in the 4-4 with Arsenal, since then he has risen to become the Midfield dominater of the Premier League.  His performences in every department: tackling, harrying, bursting forward and generally controlling midfield have been nothing short of awe-inspring. A few eyebrows were raised at the start of the year when the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal were sniffing around, the former FC Twente man has a bit of a Yaya Toure presence and really carries his Newcastle side well.  Youngster Haris Vuckic has put some marvelous performences in and around the first XI in recent weeks, he could well be an option Pardew is looking to exploit, whilst the experience and know-how of veteren Alan Smith to come and play the anchor man along Yohan Cabaye is another possibility.

Demba Ba's fantastic goal against
United show there isn't many
better finishers in the game

Demba Ba has been an absolute revelation for Newcastle United, in the 2011 calender year, he bagged 22 goals (only topped by van Persie) and has shown since his move to St James' Park he has everything in his locker to go onto great Newcastle centre-forward things - think Milburn and Shearer - and Ba's performences this term have not looked out of place with such a line-up.  15 League goals in 15 League games has been his introduction to the football year '11-'12 and any team on the globe would doubtless snap him up now if given the opportunity.  His last Newcastle performence before joining his Senegal team-mates in Africa was a fitting destroyal of Champions Manchester United, Rio Ferdinand will still be having the nightmares - and he's not alone - there hasn't been a single Premier League defender as of yet to really keep this man at bay, his finishing ability - to be able to find the net with the slightest sniff on a chance - has become something of a masterclass, as again proved against United.  By far and away Newcastle's biggest loss, Pardew has been very public in support of Leon Best as a replacement, there is also Peter Lovenkrands and Shola Ameobi - all we get you the odd goal here-and-there - but a replacement for this impressive Senagalese? Pull the other one!


Taking a big leap down from top seven to the battle to save their Premier League status now - it is those of the DW Stadium - Wigan Athletic who are going to feel hardest done by in January and February.  Mohamed Diame, yet another Senegal international who has more than impressed this year will be leaving to joing Ba in what appears a mighty Senegalese line-up.  Diame has been more than influential for Wigan - he has than African, big, strong, sort of 'Toure and Tiote-esque' stride about him and many a side have came away from Wigan after been given the run around by this big man.  With his eye for a trick just as promising as his eye for a pass or shot he appears the complete midfielder - and Wigan have had to fend off top European clubs - the likes of Seville, who have held major interest in him.  Wigan's compound side appears glittered with central midfielders ready to step up to the plate, Hendry Thomas, Albert Crusat, Shaun Maloney, James McArthur and James McCarthy are all available in Diame's position - yet it is perhaps a testimony to this man's importance to his side - as none will provide the same impetus as he does to Wigan's side.  Roberto Martinez also is not a Manager with mega-bucks to splash out on a short term replacement, but is a fine man-manager and a real loyal boss, he will have no qualms with keeping faith in those he has bought into do a job.

'Come and get me Eto'o' - Diame showing
in his early international career he can
mix it up with Africa's very best.

The Premier League isn't as packed full of African Cup of Nations participents as most would presume on first thought - yet the squads this will effect, the Manchester Citys, the Arsenals, the Chelseas, the Newcastles and the Wigans it does so greatly.  Such an issue only portrays just how impressive a job Premier League scouts to to coup lesser-known starlets from every corner of the globe, Managers keep faith in their stars and they go onto becoming world beaters, and players who everyone would like to bless their team with in the blink of an eye. 
In this decisively tough January and February though, I'm not so sure Roberto Mancini, Arsene Wenger, Alan Pardew, Andre Villas-Boas and Roberto Martinez will spend their time thanking their scouting network - but more than likely be hoping the African side's Physiotherapists are up to the same scratch!