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Monday Roundup: Smith, Richardson and Torres

Monday morning blues is upon us. So let’s pick up from what transpired on Sunday.

Sunday news was awash with reports of United agreeing on a deal for Smith, ermm… this time with Middlesbrough. In fact, some headlines go as far as to say that they have won the ‘race’ to sign him. The same ones who claimed the other day that Newcastle had won the race to sign him and to a lesser extent that Portsmouth were likely to buy him.

Anyway, the Middlesbrough move makes more sense to me. First of all the 6 million fee is fair enough for him. We bought him for 7M and after those injuries and mostly unspectacular goal return, that kind of fee seems reasonable. The other thing is that Boro have Yakubu and have also reportedly signed Tuncay to fill the void left by Viduka. The addition of Smith will give good competition for places in their strike line up. Something, I am sure, Smith would relish and be up for. It is surely a better place to be than say, Newcastle. His work rate and commitment will see him popular among fans wherever he goes. So here’s wishing him well if he does move.

The other rumours making the rounds is Richardson dropping hints that he could quit. The report also speculates that Roy Keane might be interested in bringing him over to Sunderland. Although – correct me if am wrong – I thought he was one of those players criticised during that damning (and unaired) interview that Keano gave to MUTV. To be fair though, he may be deemed good enough to wear the Sunderland shirt, I believe. So good for him.

Depending on which paper or website you read, the headlines read something to the effect of ‘Reds to sign Torres’. Although, while some of them refer to the Devils, the others refer to the Scum. Anyway, we’ll see how that story arc shapes up in due course, but most of the rumours point towards a higher chance of Torres landing at Anfield than Old Trafford. I wonder if that possible, now that Benitez seems to have ruled out sending Cisse out on loan. (Does he want to sell him permanently, or is he willing to take any striker that comes his way?) Poignant thoughts, these.

And finally, there’s been outrage and furore, as far as what The Times would have us believe, on the non-inclusion of Ryan Giggs in Gabriele Marcotti’s (a journalist) 50 best footballers list. What makes it worse is having Carragher when there is no place for Vidic and Ferdinand. Bizarre, but who is he to judge anyway!

Oh yes, a Wikipedia search on Gabriele Marcotti returns this. Supposed to be respectable and known to have an almost encyclopedic knowledge about football.

Hmmm… all that knowledge and no Giggs, while having plenty other bizarre inclusions and equally bizarre exclusions? It’s poor mate. Really poor. [link]