The Last Word - Sports Blog (Sean Simara)

With QPR looking like they’re going to lose star man Adel Taarabt and not re-invest in the team we have to start looking at their chances of staying in the Premier League. Losing Taarabt is bad, but not replacing him, or boosting the squad is going to be the writing on the wall. Rangers have brought in Jay Bothroyd & Kieron Dyer, both on free transfers. They are linked to Danny Gabbidon & Brian Murphy both will be frees. They gave new contracts to Cerny & Helguson and look like the deal for DJ Campbell will fall through. So it’s a grand total of £0 spent this transfer window. QPR could be the first team ever to get promoted to the Premier League and not spend any cash in the summer. There’s clearly something wrong at Loftus Road. Do the board really back the manager? Warnock's job was in doubt as soon as they got promoted with various managers linked to his job. He hasn’t been given money to spend and it doesn’t look like he will. Players have also turned down a move t...

A lot of deals going through now and the rumour mill is over-flowing. Sunderland have been in the market the most so far. Their latest signings are Wes Brown & John O’Shea from Man United & David Vaughan from Blackpool. There good players who can play at this level. Sunderland fell short last season when they got struck by a number of injuries. So Bruce seems to boosting the squad by numbers. But is it a case of quantity not quality? From the promoted side Norwich City have done the most business so far. They have brought in 6 new faces so far, nobody spectacular but Bradley Johnson & James Vaughan are good signings. Stuart Downing seems to be the next big player looking for a way out of Villa. Arsenal have reportedly tabled an offer in the region £15-18million for the England winger. I’m not a fan of Downing. I think he had a good season in a very poor Villa team but is over-rated. He was meant to be England’s answer to the left wing when at Boro but that hasn’t happened...

A little update for you, Cesc Fabregas is still an Arsenal player for now. Barcelona are rumoured though to be making a £35million bid within the next couple of days. If and probably when he goes all eyes will be on Nasri. I think he will be offered a new bumper contract & maybe the captains’ armband. However Manchester United are looking for a Scholes replacement. Wesley Sneijder is one prospect; United will offer him a bumper contract and would be an ideal player for them. Looking closer to home Luka Modric is someone on the radar. Chelsea had a bid rejected, the player wants to leave and United tend to get a player from Spurs when they offer big money. But Nasri is also an option for United. He could be tempted as he sees Arsenal offloading stars rather than bringing them in. I say Cesc will go Nasri to stay. Rumour has it though; Bolton’s Gary Cahill has put his house up for sale and could be making his way down to the capital. Connor Wickham has completed his move from Ip...

This week’s main transfer movements and rumours surrounded Tottenham’s Luka Modric move to Chelsea. The player has come out and said he wants to leave but Tottenham, but Spurs Chairman Daniel Levy has said there’s no way Modric will leave the club. Spurs want to be aiming for the top four year in year out, so they have to keep players like Modric. However they are known for selling their better players when the big money comes in. (Carrick & Berbatov to Manchester United for example.) The fact the player has come out and said he wants to leave for a ‘bigger club’ and Champions League football tells me his days at Spurs are numbered. He will probably leave for around the £30million pound mark in the end. Spurs could then use this money and invest in a much needed forward, maybe Samuel Eto’o & rumours of a move for Liverpool flop Joe Cole.

This week’s big transfer rumours and deals have been around the North West clubs. Liverpool have sealed a £20million move for Jordan Henderson from Sunderland. To me this is a bit too pricey for a play with one England cap, and had an average end to the season. Liverpool are showing intentions to mount a serious title challenge next year. They also moved for Phil Jones at Blackburn Rovers, but he looks like he will be heading to Manchester United. He already has had and passed a medical at Old Trafford now it’s just about finalising the fee. United also look to have clinched Ashley Young from Aston Villa. A good signing as he will be a replacement for Giggs. Nani & Valencia haven’t quite filled Ronaldo’s boots maybe the Englishman can continue his excellent form and progression at Man United. Spurs picked up Brad Friedel on a free from Aston Villa, who if they don’t find a manager quickly may just find all their best players out the club. (Downing to Arsenal or Liverpool, Walke...

Now the season is over I will look back at my predictions see how well I did . The order of the top 4 I got bang on. Manchester United, Chelsea, City then Arsenal in case you didn’t know. I got one of the relegated team right in Blackpool. I also had Wigan but they survived on the last day. FA Cup I had Man United that went to Man City. Carling Cup I had Arsenal who lost in the final to Birmingham City. Then for the Champions League I tipped Barcelona right at the start of the season and got that correct! I predicted QPR’s promotion right at the start of the season too. Now through-out the summer I will keep an eye on England under 21’s tournament in Denmark where we have a decent chance of reaching the final but winning it will be hard. Spain looks like they will walk it. I also will try and keep up to date with the latest major transfer deals and rumours as best I can.

The story of West Ham’s season is like a storyline out of hit Sky One football drama ‘Dream Team’. The drama on the pitch came to a dramatic end on Sunday with a defeat at Wigan which confirmed their relegation. The hammers have been pretty rubbish all season and I feel they truly deserve to go down. They had one good player but the rest really need to take a long look at themselves, as they let the club and the fans down. The likes of Keane, Bridge, Upson and Boa Morte have not pulled their weight. In true West Ham fashion they gave their loyal fans hope by leading 2-0 at Wigan at half time looking like the great escape was on. Then the nerves kicked in and they went down 3-2. To top that the West Ham board, David Gold, David Sullivan & The Apprentice star, Karren Brady then swiftly sacked manager Avram Grant using a spare room at the JJB Stadium. The action didn’t stop there, at the end of season dinner, not so much a party; West Ham found themselves making the news again for ...