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Last Word On Sports

Sports News Since 2011. Honestly.

Last Word On Sports Logo

Sports. Honestly. Since 2011

Year: 2012

NHL Draft Prospect Profiles: #71 – 80

Posted on by Ben Kerr

So here we are, draft day… and so far we’ve brought you our top 70 Draft Prospect Profiles plus three honourable mentions.  You can find them all here of course: NHL Draft Directory

We hope you’ve enjoyed all our work leading up to the draft, and we’ve certainly enjoyed bringing you the reports.

Keep your eyes on the site cause we’ll have a draft recap, our look at covetted prospect Justin Schultz, and analysis of the big free agent moves to come in the next week.  Then once free agency cools down I’ll be bringing you team by team assessments of NHL prospects.

Today though, we bring you 10 more NHL Draft prospect reports in this, the quickie edition.

71) Dylan Blujus – Right Defence, Brampton Battalion OHL
6’3″ 196lbs
66 GP, 7 G, 27 A, 34 PTS, 38 PIMs +4

A big mobile defenceman who has offensive potential.  Has a good breakout pass, and good vision and playmaking skills in the offensive zone.  Also has a nice, hard and low point shot.  Needs some work on the defensive parts of his game including his positioning and physicality.

72) Coda Gordon – Left Wing – Swift Current Broncos WHL
6’0.75″ 176 lbs
66 GP,  30 G, 23 A, 53 Pts, 12 PIMs, +2

Undrafted into the WHL, Gordon turned heads with his 30 goal season.  He’s a natural goal scorer who possesses an outstanding one-timer.  In the offensive zone seems to find the soft spots in the defence to set up for the shot.  Is one dimensional though, needs work on his skating, and his defense.

73) Erik Karlsson- Centre – Frolunda J20, Sweden
5’11.75″ 161 lbs
47 GP, 14 G, 19 A, 33 Pts, 70 PIMs, -4

Played for Sweden in the 2011 Ivan Hlinka, the 5 Nations, and the 2012 U18 World Championships. Undersized Centre with good skating and a good motor. A high energy guy who always keeps his feet moving. Strong on the puck and likes to hit, but needs more size to be effective. More a passer than shooter, as his shot could definitely use some work, on both power and release.

74) Cody Corbett – Defence – Edmonton Oil Kings, WHL
54 GP, 6 G, 20 A, 26 Pts, 24 PIMs, +36

A steady two way Defenceman for the WHL Champion Edmonton Oil Kings.  Top End speed is only slightly above average but his skating is good in all other aspects.  Defensively uses his body well and is physical, but doesn’t throw huge hits.  Rather uses good positioning and rubs his man out of the play.  Offensively he is poised with the puck and makes smart passes.

75) Jon Gillies – Goalie – Indiana Ice, USHL
6’4.75″ 216 lbs
31-11-9, 2.77 GAA; 0.915 Sv%

Another goalie with a big frame in this draft.  An athletic goalie, with a very good glove hand and quick legs.  Needs work on his puck tracking, and on his rebound control.  Size and physical ability are there, but he needs some time and some work with a good goalie coach who can take his raw skill and refine his unorthodox technique.

76) Chandler Stephenson – Centre/Left Wing – Regina Pats, WHL
5’11” 191 lbs
55 GP, 22 G, 20 A, 42 Pts, 24 PIMs, -1

An above average skater, with very good speed.  A pure offensive player with a good shot and a quick release that fools goalies.  Protects the puck well, and has good dangles to get around defenders.  He also has above average vision and playmaking skills.  However can be lost in his own end of the rink, really needs work on his positioning and reading plays defensively.  Is also overpowered in the defensive zone by stronger opponents.

77) Gianluca Curcuruto – Left Defence – Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, OHL
6’1″ 187 lbs,
63 GP, 3 G, 13 A, 16 Pts, 36 PIMs, -14

A disappointing year for Curcuruto.  He was expected to be a first round pick at this time last year, but his offensive production just did not improve this season, in fact it regressed from his rookie year in the OHL.  He did however manage to improve a lot defensively.  Curcuruto loves to rush the puck, however he lacks top end speed.  The other areas of his skating are very good though, as he is agile, strong on his skates, makes good pivots, and uses his edges well.  A good passer both on the breakout and in the offensive zone, Curcuruto also has a decent shot.  Combine all this with his improving defence and some team will still take a chance on him, despite the disappointing production.

78) Emil Lundberg – Left Wing –  Södertälje, Allsvenskan
6’4″ 209 lbs
51 GP, 6 G,  12 A, 18 Pts, 12 PIMs +1

A big Swedish winger who works his tail off.  This power forward prospect is always fighting and battling along the boards or working to get tip-ins, rebounds, and screens in front of the net.  Also has a very good shot and a good release.  Needs to work on his skating as his stride is unorthodox and his speed is below average.  Could also stand to put more weight on his frame.

79) Ben Johnson – Left Wing – Windsor Spitfires, OHL
5’11.25″ 188 lbs
68 GP, 18 G, 20 A, 38 PTS, 44 PIMs, -5

A speedster who lives up to the name of the famous sprinter (without the scandals).  Johnson went from Michigan High School Hockey to a walk on with the Windsor Spitfires.  He was used in a mainly defensive role where he excelled as a penalty killer and shutdown forward.  May have untapped offensive potential.

80) James Melindy – Defence – Moncton Wildcats, QMJHL
6’2″ 187 lbs
61 GP, 9 G, 18 A, 27 PTS, 74 PIMs, -4

A big and mobile two way defenceman.  Very good skater with good top end speed, excellent pivots, good agility and balance.  A good crisp passer on the breakout, and in the offensive zone.  Has a decent shot and gets it on net.  Plays a good positional defensive game and is an aggresive player.  He needs to add muscle mass to his frame as he can sometimes be out-muscled by bigger forwards in the defensive zone.

Thanks again for following along and enjoy the draft today. Feel free to leave your comments below and follow me on twitter @LastWordBKerr.

…. and thats the Last Word.

 

College Football Playoff All But A Certainty For 2014

Posted on by Lindsay Higgins

On June 26, the BCS Presidential Oversight Committee (I’m not sure what that is, either) will meet in Washington and presumably approve the new plan as required. The devil is in the details, nearly all of which remain to be worked out, but most college football fans will tell you that this is a good start. Finally, the national champion will be determined on a field rather than by coaches, athletic directors, media members, and computer programs.

According to ESPN.com, the most likely system includes four teams selected by a committee. Two semifinal games would be rotated among the existing BCS bowl games, with the host sites being determined before each season. The championship game would be awarded to the highest bidding city.

Several questions remain, to be answered over the coming months. Among them:

– Who will make up the committee selecting the Final Four?

– Will any of the existing polls continue to be used in selecting the Final Four?

– Exactly what criteria will be used in selecting the four teams?

– Will outdoor facilities in cold-weather cities be eligible to host the national championship?

– How exactly will revenue be divided among the schools/conferences?

– How will this effect the latest round of conference realignments?

Stay tuned and we’ll bring you the answers and the information as we learn more, and the details are ironed out; but there is little doubt that this is at least one step in the right direction and great news for College Football fans.

Please feel free to leave comments below and follow me on twitter @LastWordLindsay

… and thats the Last Word.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chasing His First NASCAR Title

Posted on by Chris Bruce

Lee & Richard Petty, Ned & Dale Jarrett – these gentlemen comprise a very short list in the world of NASCAR; they are the only father and son tandems to win a championship.  With the way that a certain fella that drives the 88 Hendrick Chevrolet has been piloting his car this season, there might just be another father & son tandem to join that list – Dale Earnhardt & Dale Jr.

Now I’ve never been one to pounce onto the “Jr. wagon”.  In fact when he came to Hendrick I was against it, thinking it was a bad idea.  Last season when Mr. Hendrick gave Jr. his contract extension I was up on my personal soap box complaining to everyone who would listen, that he only had one win, and had done nothing for the team.  I’m not afraid to admit it.

But my, oh my, how quickly changes can happen in motor sports in just a few months – and yes, the crow tastes fantastic.  The “88-team” is having what might be its best season yet, as they are currently only four points behind Matt Kenseth and 17 ahead of Greg Biffle.  His stats are unreal, not just personally speaking, but they for any driver in NASCAR – 15 starts, 12 top 10’s, 6 top 5’s and, as I’m sure the entire world knows, Jr captured his first win in four years last weekend at Michigan.

I acknowledge that we are just now closing in on the half-way point in the season, and many are questioning whether he can keep up the success.  Texas, Daytona, Dover, Michigan & Talladega are on the list of tracks that will be run before season’s end, and are all tracks which Jr has won on in the past.  With the way he has been guiding that #88 Chevrolet this season, I’m not willing to bet against him repeating at any one of them again.

The “Jr Nation” is on cloud-nine with this season’s performance.  Trust me, NASCAR is tickled pink that its poster boy, the “famous son”, the one who millions cheer for no matter what he does, is looking like he could be on pace for his first NASCAR title. I know that for some unexplainable reason I’m hoping to eat a little bit more of that delicious crow and have my fingers crossed that Dale Earnhardt Jr wins his first championship in 2012.

…and that is the Last Word.

Exonerated on Rape Charges, Brian Banks Pursues his NFL Dream

Posted on by Andy Cunningham

She take my money when I’m in need,
Yeah she’s a trifling friend indeed,
Oh she’s a gold digger way over town,
That digs on me.
– Kanye West, “Gold digger”

I don’t know if she was digging for future gold or just flat-out playing on a man’s hard work and athleticism – his athleticism which had earned him a full ride to USC to play football for the Trojans.  Whatever her motivation, Wanetta Gibson falsely accused Brian Banks of sexual assault ten long years ago.

Banks, now 26, was freed from his life behind bars in February of 2011 and has since pushed himself further than many men could ever do. After spending six years in prison, instead of giving in to the negativity that can so easily take come to possess you in a in barracks of cells, Banks remained positive and filled with self-belief.

The passion and desire of Banks something many people could learn a great deal from. How do you lose your scholarship to one of the nations best football programs, then watch six years of your life waste away, yet remain so focused one your original goal of playing pro football and standing by the one thing you love – the game?

Since making his desire known that he wants to go pro, the former Long Beach Poly superstar has had try-outs with the San Diego Chargers, Kansas City Chiefs and Seattle Seahawks so far, but with no luck as of yet. This appears to be due to conditioning as Banks hasn’t had the opportunity to play games and remain in full contact shape while locked away, all due to dishonesty.

A couple of positives have come out of the tryouts Banks has taken part in so far. Just announced yesterday was the fact that Banks ran a 4.77 forty-yard dash.  Try running that yourself after not being locked away to rot for something you never did.  Also, Pete Carroll, who had recruited Banks  and gave him a two-day tryout,  loved his character, but cited conditioning as as the reason for letting him go.  Banks still has another shot, as he will be getting a try-out with the San Francisco 49ers.

I think the 49ers are the perfect place for Banks. Here’s why: San Francisco has one of the league’s strongest defenses, and a locker room full of great leaders, including a beast in Patrick Willis leading the linebacking squad, which is where Banks dreams to play.  Banks’ drive and determination are something you can not teach, and a lot of players could benefit from his experience and will to play, his love for the game, and how he almost enjoys getting chewed out by coaches because as he said, he was not able to be near a coach for years.

With teams now being allowed to bring 90 players into training camp, why not take a chance on Banks? He had the potential going into college, and was almost a sure-shot to go pro anyhow – the ability is definitely there. Now the learning curve may have to be expanded, and some conditioning to get use to full contact again may be needed. Here’s the thing, Banks is eligible to be a practice squad player, so why not give this guy the chance to develop on the practice squad and let his character at least rub-off on the guys, so they can see how lucky they all truly are to wake up and play such a great game at the highest level.

Personally, I think giving someone like this the opportunity is something that would only positively affect a team. Positive things come from positive people, and this guy’s work ethic may just be something that sparks a few players and let’s them realize why they give it their all every day for the opportunity they are so lucky to have.

If the 49ers fail to keep Banks on the roster, in whatever capacity, the other team that I believe should go after him and invite to camp is the Miami Dolphins.

Let’s face it, Miami doesn’t have the greatest team right now, and could use a guy with Banks’ spirit.  Not just that, Miami’s fan base is dwindling, and with the team scheduled to be on HBO’s Hard Knocks, a guy like Banks could bring in a lot of viewers, and his story would have the entire country rooting for him to make the team. This publicity would get Banks’ some air time and hopefully get noticed, kind of like Danny Woodhead of the Patriots got noticed while on Hard Knocks with the Jets. Also the story line would get a lot of viewers tuning in to a Miami Dolphins team that needs to put fans back in the seats.  This would be a break from the garbage publicity Miami has been spewing on its fans.  Why not give them a hero of sorts, a man with such strength and courage that he never gave up on his a dream; someone people from all over could root for?

…and that is the Last Word.

Feel free to post comments below.

 

Saying Goodbye to Didier Drogba

Posted on by Michael Kovacs, ADMIN

Right, well, I debated back and forth whether I wanted to drone on about Roy Hodgson’s recent comments about being glad for having avoided Spain.  No kidding!  My first thought was whether that was a slight against Italy?  I don’t believe it was, but I also think it was the wrong thing to say as it might provide extra motivation that the Italians don’t need.  They present a very formidable challenge, and I hope Hodgson understands what the Azzuri bring to the table.  Let’s hope.

Anyway, back to my original intent – the departure of Didier Drogba.  To be honest, I was never a fan of his.  Not just because he played at Stamford Bridge, though that certainly didn’t help matters, but because I felt he was egomaniacal (which most footballers are, in a sense).  It wasn’t until I read the article written by one of my colleagues at LastWordOnSports, Kevin, who spent time learning about the many acts he has selflessly done throughout his club and international career.  If you haven’t read it, I highly recommend you read, “What You Might Not Know about Didier Drogba“.

The Ivorian has signed with Shanghai Shenhua for 2  1/2 years, reuniting him with former teammate, Nicolas Anelka.  The two will be an excellent tandem in what I understand is a relatively lacklustre league in China.  If this were five years ago I might assume he was making the move strictly for the money, but with my new-found knowledge of his philanthropic career, I am not so sure.  He explains his rationale behind the move as follows:

“I have considered all the offers I have received in the past few weeks, but feel that Shanghai Shenhua FC is the right move for me at this time.  I am looking forward to a new challenge, to experiencing a new culture, and excited about the new developments in the Chinese Super League.  When Chelsea went to China last year, we had a great time and I met some amazing fans.  I hope to help promote Chinese football around the world and further improve the links between China and Africa.”

He actually has me believing his claims for the reasons  for his departure.  Could he have stayed in England and played for another Premier League team?  Absolutely.  Any team, well, many teams, would be happy to have him in their squad. The problem, I feel, is that Drogba desires, with good reason, to have starter’s minutes, and I think he might feel unconvinced he would have them in the Premier League.  At 34 years old he still has some good years ahead, but it is undeniable that we will bear witness to a decline in form in the coming years.

All the best to Didier in the next chapter in his career.  He certainly had his fans, and many critics as well.  He brought character to the league, and a flair to the pitch.

…until tomorrow, lads.

NHL Draft Prospect Profile #70: Mitchell Moroz

Posted on by Ben Kerr

Drafted 32nd Overall by the Edmonton Oilers.

A hard working winger, capable of being used in any situation, Mitch Moroz was a key component of the WHL Champion Edmonton Oil Kings this season.  Used mainly in a grinding energy role, Moroz contributed to the Oil Kings success with solid play at both ends of the rink, and through his intangibles of hard work, toughness, grit and leadership.  Moroz joins teammates Griffin Reinhart and Henrik Samuelsson as Oil Kings we have ranked so far.  We’ve also given Moroz bonus points for the absolutely fabulous mustache.

Left Wing
Born May 3 1994 — Calgary, Alberta
Height 6’1.75″ — Weight 208 lbs — Shoots Left

2011-12 Edmonton Oil Kings WHL 66 16 9 25 131 5 20 4 4 8 24

Moroz plays an extremely gritty and hardworking game.  He is always involved in battling for the puck along the boards and in throwing his weight around in doing so.  He engages in constant physical battles at both ends of the rink.  In the offensive end of the rink, if he isn’t near the puck, he can be found in front of the net looking for screens, rebounds, and deflections. His wrist shot is heavy, however he needs some work on the release.  He’s also not the most talented stickhandler or playmaker, but rather plays a straightforward north-south game with a physical dimension.

Defensively Moroz is very active.  He understands his positioning and his assignments, and comes back hard in the defensive zone.  If his man has the puck, he is active in putting a lot of pressure on the opponent and trying to force mistakes.  He’s an effective body checker, and pins his man to the boards effectively and efficiently.  A pure team first guy, Moroz is not afraid to do whatever it takes including laying out for shot blocks in his end of the rink.  Moroz is also a capable fighter and is always willing to stand up for a teammate.

Moroz has above average skating ability for a guy his size.  He has good top end speed, but could stand to work on his acceleration.  He has good balance, and is strong on his skates, making him difficult to knock off the puck when playing the cycle game.  Moroz also possesses good agility and strong edgework, and his skating is something that will certainly help him reach the next level.

While its inaccurate to describe any player we have ranked this low (a third rounder at this point) as a “safe” pick, we do feel that the probability Moroz makes the NHL is higher than this ranking normally would inadequate.  Unfortunately though the upside for Moroz is quite limited as we just don’t see top line potential.  Instead we see his max potential as a valuable grinder on the third and fourth lines of a hockey club, someone similar to Travis Moen of the Montreal Canadiens.

As always feel free to leave your comments below, and follow me on twitter @LastWordBKerr.

… and thats the Last Word.

Talk of the Town: Baseball's "Cinderella" Man

Posted on by Greg Persson

He’s been the surprise of the baseball season so far, and a pleasant one for the New York Mets.  Before this year, only hardcore baseball followers had really heard of the journeyman pitcher R. A. Dickey.  But this season a change has occurred and now in mid-June, its easy to say he’s been the best pitcher in baseball this season.

Dickey’s season started out very good as following a win against Pittsburgh on May 22nd, he was 6-1 with a 1.17 WHIP and 3.45 ERA.  But it was the performances that would follow that would turn Dickey’s year from very good, to sensational, making him the talk of the town in New York and around all of baseball.

On May 29th, Dickey threw 7.1 scoreless innings, including 10 strikeouts. Despite the fact that this performance came against the offensively-challenged San Diego Padres, it was the first sign of the change.  Four more wins, 42 strikeouts and 34.1 additional innings without an earned run later, and it seems like baseball has a new ace in the form of R. A. Dickey.  The last run Dickey allowed was when Jose Tabata scored on a sacrifice fly by Andrew McCutchen way back in the 6th inning of that May 22nd game.  For a healthy starting pitcher, making all his regular appearances, to go a full month without giving up never mind just an Earned Run, but a Run at all is remarkable.

37-year old R.A Dickey of the New York Mets faced difficulties that many pitchers encounter when breaking into to the major leagues. Originally drafted in 1996 by the Texas Rangers, Dickey had good stuff, not overpowering though as his fastball topped out in the high 80s, and he only possessed a small repertoire of common pitches.

A missing ligament in his elbow also contributed to his rocky road into the majors, as many felt that due to this impairment, his career would be short-lived and lacklustre. Nonetheless, Dickey debuted in 2001 with the Rangers and bounced up and down between the minors and the big show for the next few years. In 2005, Dickey decided to shake things up knowing that the road he was on would lead to mediocrity at best. He made the choice to alter his forkball and turn it into one of the greatest phenomena in sports – a knuckleball.

Pitchers like Phil Niekro, Charlie Hough and Tim Wakefield had made long and impressive careers out of using the enigmatic pitch, however by the mid to late 2000s, most batters figured out a strategy on how to hit it, making the pitch less effective. Dickey figured that this was likely his last shot at making an impact on the game.

In 2006, the Rangers added Dickey to their starting rotation, putting faith in his knuckleball. On April 6, Dickey tied a major league record in his first start. Unfortunately it was the most home runs surrendered in a game with 6. Another trip to the minors followed, and though Dickey was able to have success there, subsequent stints with Milwaukee, Seattle and Minnesota demonstrated that his trend of migrating from AAA to the majors would likely continue until he decided to call it a career.

In addition to his professional struggles, Dickey was also riddled with personal issues that made his baseball troubles seem minor.  Dickey as a child, tragically like so many other children, was sexually abused. At the age of 8 after his parents had divorced, Dickey was molested by his 13-year old babysitter, an atrocity that would continue over the next three months. Dickey was also victimized by a teenage boy that same year. In a recent interview, Dickey described feelings of fear and worthlessness stemming from the abuse which he repressed and tried to ignore by focusing on sports.

He carried this pain with him into his thirties and into his patchy professional career until marital issues caused him to admit, for the first time, his battle with the past and seek psychological treatment. After releasing the weight he had carried for so long and with the help of a near-death experience attempting to swim across the Missouri River, Dickey was revitalized and ready to take on baseball once again full force.

In May of 2010, at the age of 35, Dickey received another “final chance” with the Mets. After another impressive run in AAA, the Mets purchased Dickey’s contract from their AAA affiliate Buffalo Bisons and handed him the ball for a start against the Washington Nationals. Dickey would throw a quality start and continue to improve throughout the year, not only remaining in the big leagues but finishing with 11 wins and an MLB top-ten ERA of 2.84.

In 2011, Dickey’s numbers were not as impressive as the previous year, but still good enough to earn him a two-year contract worth $7.5 million.

So far, the 2012 season has been incredible for Dickey.  13 of his 14 starts this year have been quality ones, he is tied for the major league lead in ERA at an even 2.00 and strikeouts with 103, and he leads the majors in wins with 11 and WHIP at 0.89. He’s thrown two complete game shutouts (both one-hitters) and is currently riding a streak of 43 consecutive innings without surrendering an earned run. Though it is still early, Dickey is on pace for a Cy Young season and his streak is the talk of baseball.

R.A. Dickey has conquered a great deal of adversity and his current success is a testament to his hard work and strong spirit. Though the memories of his childhood will remain with him forever, he was able to confront them and not let them take over his life. I sincerely hope that he continues his great run and his knuckleball continues to baffle major league hitters, I couldn’t be happier to have him on my team.

…and that is the Last Word.

Feel Free to post comments below

LaDainian Tomlinson's Legacy

Posted on by Anto Dowsett

One of the greatest players of all-time has officially retired from the NFL.  LaDainian Tomlinson, or “LT”, made a tough, yet very smart, personal decision on June 18th, to sign a one-day contract with the San Diego Chargers so he could retire with the team and fans who loved watching him play for so many years.

You don’t need me to tell you that LT will be widely remember as a fantastic running back.  But there are millions of fans around the world who will also remember how valuable he was in fantasy football.  I understand it may seem odd to discuss his fantasy value alongside his legacy on the field, especially considering he could be a first ballot Hall of Famer, but I feel that fantasy football is so meaningful to so many people who it is fitting.  I don’t mean to trivialize his importance on the field, but L.T. was a player who, if on your fantasy team, made others tremble as he was simply ‘that good’.

His statistics are far superior than any other running back who played during his era. Tomlinson’s 12, 490 rushing yards were almost 3,000 more than any other running back in the NFL between 2001 and 2009. Furthermore, his 138 touchdowns in that span are exactly 40 more than the next guy, Shaun Alexander.  These stats are what garnered him such great admiration from around the league, especially in New York and San Diego, but also in the NFL fantasy world.

Unfortunately, LaDainian was not capable of leading his team to the big one, so he retires without a Super Bowl ring. The farthest that Tomlinson and his team could reach would ultimately be the AFC Championship, both with the Chargers in ’07 and the Jets in ’10. He will be remembered as one of greatest NFL players without a ring, along with the likes of Dan Marino and Barry Sanders.  I wonder if that is considered a “bad” legacy to have?

Individually though, L.T. was a beast. It seemed as if he broke a new record every week. Some of the more impressive individual records he holds include:

  • most single season TD’s with 31
  • most single season rushing TD’s with 28
  • most games with 2+ rushing touchdowns with 38
  • most consecutive games with a rushing touchdown with 18
  • 2006 NFL MVP award

I believe there is little doubt he will join the Hall of Fame, but will he be inducted as a first-ballot Hall of Famer?  Where does he rank on the list of greatest NFL fantasy players of all time?  Feel free to post comments below.

…and that is the last word.

The Hulk to Stamford Bridge, or Just ANOTHER Rumour?

Posted on by Michael Kovacs, ADMIN

First, kudos to Roy Hodgson for a job well done – so far.  Roy, the hill is still steep, even for lions.

Now to business at hand.  I hate writing about transfers because people are assuming I’m breaking some story, as if somewhere I have claimed inside information in virtually every club in England.  While I would happily accept any post, until that happens I must rely on the eyes and ears who do my bidding, digging and eavesdropping.  It’s a thankless job, theirs, but is appreciated.

The rumour of the Incredible Hulk, or just “Hulk”, making the move from Porto to Chelsea has been circulating for a little while now.  Hearing these rumours I always feel sceptical because there is so much that goes into the intent of a rumour.  Let’s take a look at just a few scenarios.

Chelsea are the current European champions and would please any player and I’m no exception.  I’d be happy if the transfer happened.  I leave everything in the hands of Porto.

~ Hulk, on the move to Chelsea

My first inkling when a player himself makes a connection to a big club, is to question his motives.  Chelsea in this case, have made no offer, have not approached Porto, and have not even acknowledged the rumour’s legitimacy in recent days.  So what, then, is the reason for the Brazilian making this connection?

First, he might be posturing for an improved deal at Porto.  He is still under contract, but by making a link to a “big club” (Yes, Porto are a big-ish club, but not nearly as big as Chelsea), he is attempting to increase his own worth.  I’m sure if I wanted I could find some examples of that tactic actually working.  It all depends on how Chelsea responds.  If they acknowledge some level of interest, it won’t matter whether the transfer happens or not, he will have improved his lot.

I highly doubt he will stay at Porto long-term anyway, especially with the club asking £38million.  Of course they will likely settle on a highly reduced fee, but by Hulk creating this media frenzy, if you can call it that, at the very least it gives Porto a starting place.

Another possibility is that he wants out of Porto to be more on the “world stage”.  I think you will agree this is what most top footballers want, so I am hardly going out on a limb.  With relatively little competition in Portugal aside from Benfica, a move to Chelsea would put him in direct competition with football heavyweights like the two Manchester teams, Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool, etc.  Simply, the class of football is miles (literally and figuratively) apart.

There must be some university-level courses dedicated solely on understanding transfer window tactics, much like courses on WWI campaigns.  Truly, the transfer market is indeed an enigma.  But it at least gives us something to talk about.

…until tomorrow, lads.