Post-fab Freddie Leaves Upton Park

I can't fault Freddie Ljungberg for being overvalued. The Swedish international was once one of the best wingers in the EPL, if not in the game. Unfortunately he will only be remembered outside of London as the little bald guy that posed in his underwear, or perhaps for his questionable taste in past hairstyles and animal-themed tattoos.

Or so I thought. You see, kids, you can practice your left-footed crosses and work on powerful bursts over the first ten yards, but if you need an example to follow on how to end your career, Freddie's your man. This phenomenon is known as "Make more than you're worth by doing nothing", or simply, "Andriy Shevchenko".

He looked decent for Sweden in the Euros, but past his prime. It didn't help that there was little dynamism in the side, but it looked like he'd be able to ply his trade for at least another year in the East End. Apparently not so, as West Ham have terminated the former Gooner's contract, paying him out a total of $12M to go away.

I guess Curbishley and Co. had hoped they'd get more than 25 appearances and 2 goals for $6M in transfer fees and $170K/wk in wages. In total, the club have spent almost $26M on the guy, which results in nearly a million per appearance and $13M per goal.

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The Grab: 01.16

With all the problems Andriy Shevchenko has encountered this year, this has to be the worst thing to surround the Ukrainian striker, who continues to disappoint on the pitch. If there's anything that's universally supported in the sporting world, besides various groupies and platinum wives, it's er, trust and camaraderie. [Mirror]

As much as I think David Beckham moving to MLS to make the kind of money he's going to make is ridiculous in so many subjective ways, something has to be said about Real Madrid finally getting a taste of their own medicine (Getfuckedophynol 330 mg). Not one to allow some overrated footballer/male model get away with the injustice of leaving the Bernabeau, Ramon Calderon obviously feels he needs to expand on his true feelings for the former galactico. [BBC Sport]

In perhaps retaliation toward the man who brought the former England captain to the Bernabeau, Calderon also decides to point a Castilian finger at the Florentino Perez, for apparently ruining his chances of getting the Brazilian midfielder Kaka to come to Madrid. [Goal.com]

Given West Ham's apparent unpopularity in the transfer window, they seem to be able to find players to transfer out, namely Javier Mascherano. Like Carlos Tevez, very little has been heard (or seen) from the Argie duo, but can he make an impact in the midfield at Anfield? [Setanta]

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Poor Pards

I'm not sure if AC and I had Alan Pardew as a close finalist in the sack race (until he started losing with the Argentine duo, which would be pretty early in the season), but he definitely has to be the biggest name to go down so far. We're talking about West Ham, a club so historically far from the gaffer merry-go-round that they've only had ten (10!) managers in their club history.

If there is one way to communicate the seriousness of the new management, this is a way to do it, apparently. There is the large amount of money that could be lost if the Hammers maintain their uncomfortable place at the bottom of the table, given the new Premeirship rights deal that's set to begin. All in all, Magnusson obviously thinks a change is in order, and as much as Pardew has done with West Ham, the Icelandic chairman doesn't have the confidence in him to keep the club afloat.

Talk about a bad deal for Pardew. It's arguable whether or not he wanted Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano at Upton Park in the first place, and the dubious ownership and fitness of both players seemed to cause a lot of drama within the Hammers' camp.

Returning to the top flight, as well as getting to last year's FA Cup Final, were seen as overachievements for the club, and Hammers fans could be described as rosy leading up the transfer window. Plop down some Argentine internationals, add a little dysfunction in the squad, and voila, 4 wins and 2 draws out of 17 played domestically. Add that to Palermo knocking West Ham out of the first round of the UEFA Cup, without a goal from the East London side, and you've got all your reasons for letting the gaffer go.

Players to blame for execution of 'dead man walking' [Independent]

Pards is shafted [The Sun]

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