Premier League | Wenger

Football is a competitive enterprise.  Players have to beat their opponents; the team has to score more goals than their opponents;  and the manager has to outwit his opposite number.

Arséne Wenger has not done too bad a job at winning matches (not as good as some others, for sure), but matches are one off the pitch as well as on it.  The best players are a valuable and desirable commodity.

Which it is why it is a little odd that he is quoted in De Telegraaf as saying; "Sometimes people try and destroy your work."  He went on to say, "I lost Nasri, Clichy and Fabregas at an age when they could have made the difference for Arsenal."

As he must know, if his players are any good, they will be coveted by other successful teams, like, for example, Manchester City, Barcelona.  It is up to the Arsenal board and Wenger to do what it takes to keep their star performers.  Robin Van Persie, anyone?

Premier League | Cudicini Hedges His Bets Over Next Tottenham Manager

Carlo Cudicini, the Tottenham keeper, has decided that he had better make sure that the next Tottenham manager, whoever that may be, knows that he, the keeper, is 100% behind him.

He tells Sky Sports Italia that "Tottenham are a great team and he could learn a lot here."

But Cudicini knows that André Villas-Boas may not be the next manager, even though he is the favourite at 1.38 with Betfair.  So he also says, of Rafa Benitez, "Benitez did very well in England as coach of Liverpool and he knows English football very well."

In case that was not enough (Benitez is a 75/1 outsider), he mentioned to Radio Kiss Kiss, "[Fabio] Capello to Tottenham would make me very happy,"

So, just to be clear, if you want to be the next Tottenham manager, Carlo will welcome you with open arms.

Premier League | Grant Holt to hold talks with Norwich

Grant Holt will speak to new Norwich City manager, Chris Hughton, before deciding his future.

Holt has been linked with West Ham, but his agent has said that there will be no decision made until the manager has returned from holiday.

Premier League | Shirt Sponsorship

Shirt sponsorship has been with us for many years now, but how much does it bring in to clubs?

Sport Business reports that the largest clubs, unsurprisingly, rake in the most money.  The two Manchester clubs get €22m each, but what is the lowest amount you can get away with as a shirt sponsor in the Premier League?

The lowest amount paid (apart from Blackburn, who have generously donated the space on their shirts to the Princes' Trust) is €300, 000 paid by insurance giant Aviva to Norwich City.

Premier League | Transfer News | Premiership

Transfer News From The Premier League.

As today is devoid of Euro 2012 matches, it seems an opportune moment to catch up with what transfers have been happening with the Premier League clubs.

Arsenal

Manuel Almunia has been released, but has yet to find another club, although rumour has it he has been connected with Fiorentina.

Lukas Podolski, who scored in Germany's game against Denmark has been signed from Cologne.

There is a suggestion that the club will accept offers for Robin van Persie of around  £30m.

Aston Villa

Carlos Cuellar, Emile Heskey and Brad Guzan have been released, and Brett Holman will arrive from AZ Alkmaar on a free transfer.

Chelsea

Chelsea welcome Eden Hazard from Lille and Marko Marin from Werder Bremen.  Didier Drogba has left for China.

Everton

James McFadden and Marcus Hahnemann have been released.  There are no signings as of now, but David Moyes is rumoured to be on his way to Tottenham Hotspur.  These rumours are, as always, hotly denied.

Fulham

Andy Johnson has signed for local rivals, QPR.  The club are also linked with Andrei Arshavin.

Liverpool

Fabio Aurelia has left Merseyside to go to Gremio (Portugal, apparently).  They are controversially linked with Gylffi Sigurdsson.  It's controversial, because Brendan Rodgers began to sign Sigurdsson when he was manager of Swansea.

Manchester City

Real Madrid are reported to be trying to sign David Silva, and City are linked with Javi Martinez of Bilbao.

Manchester United

Michael Owen has been released.

Newcastle United

Newcastle have denied that Demba Ba is leaving, but Hatem Ben Arfa could be signed by Chelsea.

Norwich

Grant Holt could be on his way to Everton.

QPR

Andy Johnson has signed from Fulham.  QPR stalwart Danny Shittu has been released.

Robert Green is said to have signed and completed his medical whilst on England duty.  Paddy Kenny has gone to Leeds.

Reading

Reading are looking to strengthen their squad with Adrian Mariappa from Watford (or Udinese B as they may soon be called), Ashley Westwood form Crewe, and Dame N'Doye of Copenhagen.

Southampton

Robert Huth has signed a new contract.

Sunderland

Craig Gordon has been released.

Swansea

Nothing to see here, following the departure of manager Brendan Rodgers.

Tottenham Hotspur

Luca Modric has left, as has Harry Redknapp.  Tottenham are currently managerless and have been linked with André Villas Boas.

West Bromwich Albion

Nicky Shorey has been released.

West Ham

West Ham have been linked with Joselu of Real Madrid.

Wigan

Chris Kirkland has gone to Sheffield Wednesday on a free, and Roberto Martinez has been linked with the vacant manager's job at Tottenham.

Tottenham Hotspur | Who was Spurs best manager? Redknapp

Following Harry Redknapp's surprise (to me, anyway) sacking by Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday night, I thought I would have a look to see how successful he actually was as a manager.

Note that I used the term successful, as opposed to 'good.'  I am seeking not to determine the impact of Mr Redknapp  as a manager in the last 4 years, just his 'winnngness' if you like.

It is as well also to restrict analysis to the modern era.  This can be defined in many ways, but taking it to mean since the inauguration of the Premier League in season 1992-93 the table of the top 20 managers in the club's history below shows that Harry Redknapp has won 49.5% of his matches, more than any other Premiership era Tottenham manager.

	Manager	Years	Played	Won	Win %
1	Frank Brettell	1898–1899	63	37	58.73
2	Arthur Turner	1942–1946	49	27	55.10
3	John Cameron	1899–1907	570	296	51.93
4	David Pleat	1986–1987	119	60	50.42
5	Harry Redknapp	2008–2012	198	98	49.49
6	Bill Nicholson	1958–1974	832	408	49.03
7	Arthur Rowe	1949–1955	283	135	47.70
8	Fred Kirkham	1907–1908	61	29	47.54
9	Jimmy Anderson	1955–1958	161	75	46.58
10	Percy Smith	1929–1935	253	109	46.38
11	Doug Livermore  Ray Clemence	1992–1993	51	23	45.09
12	Martin Jol	2004–2007	150	67	44.67
13	Peter Shreeves	1984–1986 & 1991–1992	177	79	44.63
14	Jack Tresadern	1935–1938	146	65	44.52
15	Peter McWilliam	1913–1927 & 1938–1942	750	331	44.13
16	'The Directors'	1908–1913	231	99	42.86
17	Joe Hulme	1946–1949	150	64	42.67
18	Keith Burkinshaw	1976–1984	431	182	42.23
19	Terry Venables	1987–1991	165	67	40.61
20	Billy Minter	1927–1929	124	49	39.52

So why would you sack a successful manager?  The Chairman, David Levy, is said to be disappointed to have lost out on a Champions League spot.  Tottenham were 10 points clear of a guaranteed Champions League spot when the FA sacked Fabio Capello as England manager.  Immediately the media and England fans started a campaign to get Harry Redknapp installed as England manager.  According to Harry Redknapp, it was complete coincidence that this coincided with a drop in form for Tottenham.