It may have been the shortest month in the year but it certainly wasn’t short of stories. As always BOTN was there covering them all, from a the strange goings on in the January transfer window to the super eagles cup success at the African Cup of Nations. We looked took a closer look at US soccer with Darren Mackie and Nigel Reo Coker the latest names to join the leagues there and follow in David Beckham’s footsteps. Beckham himself finally chose his next career path and found himself signing for french champions elect, PSG. One player leaving the beautiful game is 25-year-old US international midfielder Robbie Rogers, who last month announced his retirement from football and at the same time revealed he was gay. Unfortunately for Rogers, football has not evolved in its acceptance of homosexuality in the 15 years since Justin Fashanu came out. Rogers plans to spend more time away from the game and is taking the opportunity to explore who he really is.
(Image from Eurosport.com)
Also making the news was Paul Gascoigne but once again for the wrong reasons. The England legend has fallen on darker days and checked himself into a rehab clinic in the US to help him with his alcohol addiction. Friends and peers have rallied round the former Tottenham, Rangers, Newcastle and Lazio star in the hope that he can get the help he needs to pull his life together again. James McFadden is also doing some rebuilding but more around his career after a series of injuries has forced the Scotland forward to have limited playing time over the past few seasons. A move back to home club Motherwell has happened as James looks to find the form that once made him the first name on the Scotland team sheet.
(Image from PA)
Once again we had a month full of wonder goals but we could only highlight a few of them including Ángel Reyna and Eial Strahman’s efforts although it was Reyna’s celebration more than anything that caught the headlines. If you haven’t seen it, click the link now. Gareth Bale had yet another wonder month last month and has again been linked heavily with a money spinning move to Spain. Its hard to believe that the player was once the bad luck guy at White Hart Lane and the one player the club couldn’t offload quick enough. Just as well for Bale and Spurs that he turned things around in the end. Harry Redknapp is looking to turn things around at QPR but his efforts may be in vain as we looked at the diabolical financial situation at the club and the extreme wages they are paying their players. Even if they stay in the league, they may not be able to afford to if there wage structure doesn’t change.
(Image from Getty)
Speaking on change, BOTN was set up as a daily blog but unfortunately due to time and resources we are going to have to pull back from our commitment and from this month onwards will not be publishing anything at the weekends. You can still get your soccer fix Monday to Friday through the blog but we will be taking a break from the weekends. As always we are happy to take on new contributors so if you are interested and have something to say ( within limits of course) please drop us a line and you too could be contributing to the blog. Enjoy the football this month as i’m sure we will.
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