European: Lets Talk Football [Archive] - Page 5

Fenwick

07-03-10, 03:38 PM

I wonder if his value has been pushed up beyond l'Arse and Spurs? I'd heard rumours of Arsenal being linked with Khedira too (the stories about Ozil disappeared as his price went up and Fabregas seemed to have second thoughts about spending a few years on a Barcelona bench) but none recently.

It'd be nice to see some English clubs other than Man City and their squad of 200 midfielders picking up some World Cup stars. Of course, a lot of them could turn out like Daniel Amokachi - best to see how they did in the season leading up to the tournament. ;)

Muller is just one of a number of Bayern academy starlets to generate a bit of interest over the last few monts (even pre-WC) - the rather raw pair Helgem Badstuber and Toni Kroos as well. Schweinsteiger has been linked to Chelsea and I read today that Real Madrid - a graveyard for footballers if you ask me - have offered £40-odd million for him (an offer which looks unbelievably sensible upon todays performance).

As for Khedira, word is he lives and breathes Stuttgart and does not want to go anywhere. Refreshing, even more so if that means the Goons miss out because he has been sensational, and much better than the lacklustre and injured Ballack would have been i'm sure. Wenger should know not to sign a player based on an international tournament anyway. After all I think he originally came up with that now popular mantra.

Let's be honest nowadays anyway, if great players come to the EPL, they will unfortunately be City or Chelsea bound, simply because no other club has the stupidity/audacity/profligacy to pay the transfer fee and their no-doubt exorbitant wages. I wonder if you can notice the extreme disilusionment proliferating through the last few lines :)

Tacitus

07-03-10, 03:51 PM

I think the way Real run their club is disgraceful but it seems likely that City will try and copy them - If they get CL football I can see the whole squad being under threat because they'll immediately become more attractive to the proper top line stars.

I remember a stat which said (I think) that of all the World and European players of the year that Real have had on their books from the original Galacticos era to the present day, not one of them actually earned the title while playing for the club.

Re: Ballack. I wonder how much the make-up of the German team would have changed had he been fit? Presumably he'd have played in Schweinsteiger's position and have pushed Bastian further forward in place of, maybe, Muller who had only a handful of caps before the tournament.

Of course, Low should have figured out pretty early on that he no longer has the legs at this level but he's been their talisman for so long...

honeykid

07-03-10, 03:53 PM

Germany were so good today. Going one up early helped massively, of couse, but the Argies just ran about helplessly and never got a shot on goal (did they? I don't remember one.) I really did think that the pace and movement of the front three would overwhelm the German defenders, but they never got close. Football makes mugs of us all at some time, doesn't it?

Interesting to see this 'average' German team doing so well. It's odd, but they've had an 'average' team for 10 years now and, in three World Cups they've reached one final and two semi-finals (so far.) That's not too shabby, is it?

Some Saturday gossip.

Fergie is going to sell Berbatov and Anderson to fund the signing of Karim Benzema.

The Daily Mirror says that Ashley Cole is desperate to leave Chelsea and that Real Madrid are putting together a package worth £30m.

They also say that Jose Mourinho also wants Steven Gerrard, and is willing to offer midfielders Rafael van der Vaart and Fernando Gago in part-exchange.

footylatest are reporting that Liverpool are looking into a transfer for Yashuhito Endo from Gamba Osaka. No mention of a fee though. They also say that they'd like to talk to Joe Cole.

In the Daily Mail, West Ham have upped their offer for Loic Remy, the Nice striker, to £11.1m. They're also maintaining their interest in Santos forward Neymar. Santos rejected a £12m bid.

The Daily Mirror has Man City spending £15m on Aleksandar Kolarov who, I believe, is a left back.

The Mail have a story about Everton closing in on a deal for Neftchi Baku's 18-year-old Azerbaijan midfielder Araz Abdullayev. There's a challenge to the blue half of Scouseland. Try coming up with a song for him. :D

They're also sayng that West Brom have made a move to sign Cardiff's out-of-contract midfielder Joe Ledley, which would cost around £750,000 in compensation. At the start of the off season there were rumours of Real Madrid interest. That's quite a fall, isn't it? Or just a sign of how much crap the papers shovel during the summer transfer window. :D

Kris Boyd's coming South of the border according to The Mirror. Middlesborough or Birmingham.

However, The Sun say Blackburn are in, as they put it, pole position, to sign the Rangers striker. They add that Big Sam is also keeping tabs on Frederic Piquionne and Stoke's James Beattie. Wasn't it Raul last week? ;)

The Daily Record say that Kris Boyd will decide his future in the next 48 hours, but definately won't be going to Kayserispor or any other Turkish clubs.

Jamie Carragher thinks Gerrard and Torres will be at Liverpool next season. He told talkSPORT; "The aim for the club will be to try and get back in the Champions League,"

Yesterday, footylatest had a story saying Arsenal are looking at AS Monaco's highly rated keeper Stephane Ruffier who has told his club that he wants to leave this summer. Juventus, Napoli and Bayern Munich are also reported to be interested in the 23-year-old. Wenger looking at a young French player? He's as good as there, isn't he?

Of course, they also had a story saying that Spurs are prepared to pay upto £25m for Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Actually, that sounds exactly like a Spurs deal. :p

*Edit* Just seen a couple of things that I don't think have been mentioned.

Firstly, Yossi Benayoun has moved to Chelsea. I don't know how much the fee was, but I remember £5m-£6m being mentioned in the rumours. Secondly, Yaya has moved to Man City, which I think Brod or Fenwick may've mentioned, but I don't remember reading that the fee was £28M?!?!? OK, that's only the "suggested" fee, but still. Even in dreamland you wouldn't see Yaya Toure being worth £28m. No wonder he's gone to City. That's £60m so far this summer for City. James Milner would add another £30m to that tally. That's £90m and not a world class player amongst them. How does that happen? I know that they're not in the CL, so the real world class players probably won't go, but how do you spend £90m on 4 players without a world class player being among them? Also, with Milner (if he goes) and Yaya, they're not even trading up, IMO.

Lastly, COME ON HOLLAND!!!!

http://dailybiz.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/06-netherlands.gif
http://www.fugly.com/media/IMAGES/Random/holland-babe.jpg
http://www.girlswithjerseys.net/images/site/netherlands/1721003dutch-girl-03.jpg

Fenwick

07-03-10, 04:24 PM

I am not usually one to look twice at paper gossip but there is some interesting stuff here:

Fergie is going to sell Berbatov and Anderson to fund the signing of Karim Benzema.

Come home Berba, come home :licklips:

footylatest are reporting that Liverpool are looking into a transfer for Yashuhito Endo from Gamba Osaka. No mention of a fee though. They also say that they'd like to talk to Joe Cole.

This is exactly what you'd call a WC signing. Footylatest doesn't exactly sound cast-iron though does it?

In the Daily Mail, West Ham have upped their offer for Loic Remy, the Nice striker, to £11.1m. They're also maintaining their interest in Santos forward Neymar. Santos rejected a £12m bid.

I thought East Canning Town Bingo & Social Club were skint? I reckon Gold and Sullivan have adopted the Alan Sugar method: aim for players you know are above your station and out of your price range, let the fans know and feign ambition completely.

Of course, they also had a story saying that Spurs are prepared to pay upto £25m for Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Actually, that sounds exactly like a Spurs deal. :p

Zlatan doesn't have the best rep in England, mainly because everytime he has played in ol' blighty or in any game covered on the box over here, he has been for lack of a better phrase, piss poor. Make no mistake though he is an uber-talented goalscorer with 1 in 2 at every club he has been at. Admittedly his ego far exceeds his work rate (I think I read that in one CL match for Barca this season, his goalkeeper Victor Valdez ran more metres than he did) but if it were possible for us to somehow fund this deal (somewhat a moot point because we can't and/or won't) I would drive to Catalonia to pick him up. And pay for the petrol.

honeykid

07-03-10, 04:52 PM

Originally Posted by honeykid
footylatest are reporting that Liverpool are looking into a transfer for Yashuhito Endo from Gamba Osaka. No mention of a fee though. They also say that they'd like to talk to Joe Cole.

This is exactly what you'd call a WC signing. Footylatest doesn't exactly sound cast-iron though does it?
I know. I've also seen Liverpool linked with another Japanese player, Honda. Sounds like economical sense and the kind of market that Woy (and, for now, Liverpool) will be paddling in.

I hope they don't sign either player, as I was driving myself mad during the World Cup when those names were mentioned. Everytime they said "Endo" I thought about him marrying a Dutch woman called ver End and everytime they mentioned "Honda", I then had a series of passes to the rest of the brand name team, "Honda, to Sony, to Kawasaki, up to Mitsubishi..." etc. I've been doing it throughout the World Cup with just about every team and I do it with league football, too. It's a sickness, I tells ya.

Zlatan doesn't have the best rep in England, mainly because everytime he has played in ol' blighty or in any game covered on the box over here, he has been for lack of a better phrase, piss poor. Make no mistake though he is an uber-talented goalscorer with 1 in 2 at every club he has been at. Admittedly his ego far exceeds his work rate (I think I read that in one CL match for Barca this season, his goalkeeper Victor Valdez ran more metres than he did) but if it were possible for us to somehow fund this deal (somewhat a moot point because we can't and/or won't) I would drive to Catalonia to pick him up. And pay for the petrol.

I know exactly what you mean, but, as you said, I've yet to see him do much. He looked ok for the first couple of months at Barca. Well, he looked like he always does, but at least he scored some important goals, but that only lasted for those couple of months.

Brodinski

07-03-10, 06:50 PM

Can you guys believe Barça traded Eto'O + € 45 mil for Zlatan? That was a colossal mistake. Eto'O had just played a great season, but left because Guardiola has "no use" for him any more or something along those lines. Every team on the planet can use Eto'O...

In other news:

According to the Daily Mail, Fulham are set to sign England keeper David James on a free transfer. The keeper now moves to the Europa League finalists with Fulham's number one Mark Schwarzer tipped to move to Arsenal next week for £3.5 million.

So Schwarzer is going to be the new no.1 at the Emirates. I'm not sure how I feel about that.

Oh and here's to hoping Spain produces the same kind of performance against ze Germans. They'll get mauled. Especially Casillas who's not been looking well this tournament. Try putting glue on your gloves, Iker, maybe then you can actually hold on to the ball...

honeykid

07-03-10, 11:26 PM

If you're an Arsenal fan though, Brod, surely you can see that Schwarzer is a more reliable keeper than Almunia, can't you? I'm surprised it's taken this long for Wenger to get a keeper in. I thought he needed a better keeper than Lehman, but he was much better than Almunia. Though, tbf to him, he's been behind an Arsenal defence that is much shakier than in Lehman's day.

That said, are we sure that Schwarzer is the new #1? Maybe he's been bought as good cover or maybe he and Almunia will battle it out for the #1 shirt? When these rumours first started I thought it was paper talk because I couldn't see a player of his age, with a first team place, moving to Arsenal to sit on the bench. Maybe I was wrong or maybe Arsene's promised him a chance at the #1 jersey. We'll find out soon enough.

Sunderland have almost wrapped up a £1.5m deal for right-back Marcos Angeleri from Estudiantes. They've also agreed a season long loan deal for Ahmed Al-Muhammadi. Simon Mignolet (goalkeeper) and Cristian Riveros (midfielder) have also signed for Sunderland.

It's interesting to note that Fabregas has started making noises about staying at Arsenal, now he's spent 3 weeks on the bench for Spain. I still wouldn't rule out a move, but it does appear that things may be cooling off, but I think Arsenal fans will be sweating it out until the transfer deadline has passed... If he's not gone before then, of course.

Mario Balotelli's agent claims that City are showing interest in his player, while the player himself is making noises about Arsenal. Anything there or is it contract time at Inter? Maybe if those rumours about Real looking at van Persie have anything to them, this would be a good replacement?

A little more detail on the Ashley Cole to Real deal. According to The Mirror, Ashley Cole has had enough of England and wants to move overseas. And it just so happens that 'Spanish giants Real Madrid have put together a package to sign the £30million-rated Chelsea left back Cole this summer and are extremely confident of getting their man.'

'Real Madrid have sounded out his representatives, made it clear they are willing to beat his current £120,000-a-week wages while his strong relationship with his former Blues boss Mourinho is another major factor.'

'Cole... is disillusioned with his life in England and wants a fresh start.'

According to the Mirror, Cole has even received 'death threats' after his alleged message to a friend that he 'hates' England.

Tacitus

07-04-10, 07:12 AM

I don't think that Balotelli is the most popular guy in the Inter dressing room right now. Just a hunch. :p

Re: Big Schwarzer. He was the most underrated keeper in the league once Hellboy went from Blackburn to Villa and, looking at his Fulham exploits, upped his game a few notches since he arrived at craven Cottage. How many Prem keepers are better than him right now? Not many.

Wenger's thinking is apparently that he has faith that Flappyhandski will come good in the next couple of seasons but surely he needs a good long loan spell somewhere for that to happen. The move would work if Almunia is willing to spend a year as #2 which would probably depend on how much they're paying him - If he's on relative buttons then I can see him wanting to leave for 1st team football but if he's a big earner (I know that's a bit of a stretch but football is frequently mad :D) I doubt many clubs would be willing to match his wages considering the guy is nowhere near a reliable #1 keeper.

I should be surprised that it's taken Wenger so long to realise there's a problem. Turning Alex Song into a very good player is testament to the good side to Arsene's bloodymindedness but surely it's a step too far in making Almunia a reliable goalkeeper?

Loaves and fishes spring to mind. ;)

PS - I'm glad Spain squeaked through. We've had enough shocks, thank you.

If Spain didn't have Villa would they have got out of the Group stages? Instead of Looking like a Wenger wet dream two years ago they're now looking like what Wenger sees on his training ground every day. Ok, Alonso isn't exactly Diaby or Denilson but can he play in the same side as Busquets and function in that system?

The 2008 Spain only had one non-attacking midfielder...

They also didn't have Torres playing like a drain, to be fair.

Brodinski

07-04-10, 09:36 AM

About Schwarzer: I'm guessing Schwarzer was brought in as the new # 1. At least, that's what I hope. Almunia is ok as a replacement for Schwarzer, but as Tatty and HK already said, he is nowhere near good enough to be # 1 in a team like Arsenal.

But are we sure that Schwarzer is brought in as the new # 1 or did Wenger bring him in to duke it out with Almunia for # 1? I think it's pretty likely that he was brought in as the new # 1 though.

Now, we just need Cesc to stay (looking more and more likely, my hope of seeing him staying is on the rise again) and a solid central defender next to Thomas Vermaelen.

A comment about Manchester City: Why are they buying players that offer no significant surplus value? Ok, that Boateng guy is a tank and from what I've seen from him at the world cup, he is solid. The £10 mil may be a correct amount.

But Silva and Yaya Touré? Silva was sold for a supposed £25 mil, Yaya was bought for an astronomical £28 mil. That is insane money for those guys, that does not reflect their abilities.

I read that Shay Given is content with his team's recent signings, because it shows that the team means business. No Shay, it means they've officially become the Premier League's Real Madrid. There is no vision at all. Well, there is one: a short-term vision based on buying a bunch of individuals for mostly excessive amounts of money in the hope of winning a prize next year.

honeykid

07-04-10, 06:51 PM

I should be surprised that it's taken Wenger so long to realise there's a problem. Turning Alex Song into a very good player is testament to the good side to Arsene's bloodymindedness but surely it's a step too far in making Almunia a reliable goalkeeper?

True, but he had to move Song to a different position to make him a better player. Unfortunately, you can't do that with a keeper. According the wiki, he's 33. With few exceptions, this is as good a keeper as he's going to be.

PS - I'm glad Spain squeaked through. We've had enough shocks, thank you.
Again, we're agreed. With fancied teams going out in the group stage and first knock-out stage, it's all very exciting, but you only have to go back to the 2002 World Cup to see what it does to the latter stages.

If Spain didn't have Villa would they have got out of the Group stages? Instead of Looking like a Wenger wet dream two years ago they're now looking like what Wenger sees on his training ground every day. Ok, Alonso isn't exactly Diaby or Denilson but can he play in the same side as Busquets and function in that system?
I think this Spain team is having the same problem that last seasons Barcelona team had. Which shouldn't be any surprise, of course, as the same players are the heartbeat of both teams.

A comment about Manchester City: Why are they buying players that offer no significant surplus value? Ok, that Boateng guy is a tank and from what I've seen from him at the world cup, he is solid. The £10 mil may be a correct amount.

But Silva and Yaya Touré? Silva was sold for a supposed £25 mil, Yaya was bought for an astronomical £28 mil. That is insane money for those guys, that does not reflect their abilities.
I'm not sure about Silva, but £25m was the price tag, so that one wasn't a surprise. Still not sure how he'll do in the Premier League. I'm expecting him to be brilliant early on. He's got pace and tricks that'll baffle Premier teams, but he's going to get kicked all over the place and he finds La Liga hard enough. I think he's better than what they have, but still not a superstar, world class player. Not yet, anyway.

However, as I said, £28m for Yaya is ridiculous. That makes him one of the top 5 most expensive British transfers ever, doesn't it? Maybe 6th?

I read that Shay Given is content with his team's recent signings, because it shows that the team means business. No Shay, it means they've officially become the Premier League's Real Madrid. There is no vision at all. Well, there is one: a short-term vision based on buying a bunch of individuals for mostly excessive amounts of money in the hope of winning a prize next year.

I read or heard something the other day which was something I hadn't thought of. It's possible that City could put a first 11 out on opening day that doesn't contain a player that's been at the club for more than 18 months. That's a whole new game, isn't it? I don't think that Chelsea could've done that when Abramovich started splashing the cash.

honeykid

07-04-10, 08:03 PM

I don't know about the rest of the world, but Sunday's here mean one thing in the football world....

... Bumper Football Transfer Gossip Day. :D

The Mail On Sunday has a piece about Roy Hodgson's wish to bring Ashley Young to Anfield, to boost the number of British players at the club. If it's true that he's got £15m to spend, I think wishing is all he'll be doing.

Whereas The Sunday Mirror has him looking at Gervinho who, they tell us, is an Ivorian right winger who plays for Lille. They also say he's interested in Newcastle's central defender, Steven Taylor.

Staying with the Mirror, it reports that United will have to pay £30m to get him from Sevilla. I don't see that happening. He won't cost that much and I don't think he'll go to United either. If Fergie had wanted him, he'd have stumped up £15m-£20m a year or two ago. I think he's off to AC Milan and Sevilla are just trying to up the price now. Of course, I said a similar thing about Owen Hargreaves, who United could've bought for about £5m, before shelling out £18m. I guess, sometimes, Fergie either changes his mind or sees things later than he should. :shrug: Anyway...

In the News Of The World they have United buying Gary Cahill from Bolton for £15m. Anything in this? He seems to be the defender of choice among the papers. The price stays the same, it's just the team that changes. I really can't see £15m there. Anyone who wants to lay the blame for Englands defeat on the amount of foreigners in 'our game', need only look at that price tag to see why it's happened.

The Mail On Sunday say Chelsea are 'back in the race' to sign Atletico Madrid wunderkind, Sergio Aguero. "Back in"? Were they ever 'out'? Anyway, £20m is the price now. If I remember correctly, that's about half what the rumour mill was saying at the start of the close season.

The NOTW are also reporting that Chelsea are interested in Benfica's Ramires.

Spurs will make a bid for Luis Suarez if they fail to persuade Diego Forlan to leave Athletico Madrid. That's in the Sunday Mirror.

While the NOTW has Harry wanting to bring Micah Richards to White Hart Lane. That'd be a good move for Micah and, possibly, England, but only if he can find that early form and promise he showed a few years back.

If it wasn't for Spurs and Man City, I don't know what the papers would do. :D Anyway, the Mail On Sunday have Craig Bellamy in Harry's sights.

The Sunday Mirror have a story that I like very much. They say that Stephen Ireland may well be leaving the Wastelands, with United waiting with open arms. I think that'd be a great signing. One I've hoped for since City were taken over. They also say Mancini may turn his attentions from Milner to Arteta.

The NOTW agrees, but says Mancini may offer Stephen Ireland, Nedum Onuoha and Michael Johnson in exchange for Arteta.

The Sunday Express are flogging this Neymar to West Ham story for all it's worth. Today they have the Hammers upping their bid to £12m. Isn't that the £12m offer that the Mail said had been rejected the other day? Also, am I wrong in thinking that Chelsea have already signed a deal bringing him to London in a year's time? Or is that a different Brazilian wonderkid?

Whatever the case, the NOTW say that Steve Sidwell will reject Fulham and join West Ham this summer. I'm assuming that, if he's going, that the deal to sign Curbishly as manager is all but done then?

Birmingham are 'considering' a bid for South African striker, Katlego Mphela.

I'll bring this up just because I can't be sure if it's the reporting or something to be worried about. Fabio Capello has told the FA that he'll get rid of the big name players if they don't show an immediate improvement. Erm... Shouldn't that be his job? If he didn't do it, why not? And if he doesn't believe he should do it, why will he? Anyway, just thought I'd mention it.

Continuing my disbelief at the cost of signing Yaya Toure, the NOTW say that he's become the first player to break the £200,000 a week barrier. They say he's on £220,000 a week, which will net him £55.6m over the course of the 5 year contract. :eek: Anyone think he'll leave City before his contract's up, whether he's playing or not? Yaya Toure, the C21st Winston Bogarde. :D

Lastly, The Sunday Mirror have an 'unnamed' England player telling us that they were worn out by Fabio Capello's training session before the Germany game... But has the good grace to tell us that they weren't good enough. So, as usual, we do have a foreigner to blame for our departure from the World Cup. It's just that, this time, he was on our side. :rolleyes:

Juno MacGuff

07-04-10, 09:15 PM

Germany versus the Netherlands in the final. Germany wins.

Tacitus

07-05-10, 06:10 AM

True, but he had to move Song to a different position to make him a better player. Unfortunately, you can't do that with a keeper. According the wiki, he's 33. With few exceptions, this is as good a keeper as he's going to be.

The one exception, I suppose, is David James but that's a sad indictment on the state of English goalkeeping in general. The other indictment is that people were even touting Almunia for a call up last year when he became 'British' through residency - A guy who's never represented Spain at any level.

We'd have him, though. As backup to Maik Taylor. :p

It was argued that Spain have a great crop of keepers anyway but, as an aside, hasn't Casillas looked shaky recently?

In the News Of The World they have United buying Gary Cahill from Bolton for £15m. Anything in this? He seems to be the defender of choice among the papers. The price stays the same, it's just the team that changes. I really can't see £15m there. Anyone who wants to lay the blame for Englands defeat on the amount of foreigners in 'our game', need only look at that price tag to see why it's happened.That's one of the big problems for English football in a nutshell. An uncapped player in his mid 20s who's nothing more than promising at this stage in his career and he's worth (paper talk I know but I'd be surprised if any transfer fee was much less) £15mil? There was similar madness with Lescott and Barry last year and Carrick a few seasons ago.

I know market forces dictate the money involved but when you're adding £8-10mil to a player's price just because he's English it's little wonder most clubs are put off taking a punt on a player and shopping in Europe or Africa instead.

Dunno if there's a similar premium for native players in Spain or Italy. Probably, but I doubt it's anywhere near as daft as in England.

honeykid

07-05-10, 08:56 PM

Casillas has looked shaky but, unless there's an underlying cause, I'd still love to see him at United. There have been noises that he may leave Madrid at some point in the not too distant future. I would, however, worry that once he left Madrid, his heart wouldn't be in it.

I've not heard of players in Spain or Italy (or any country for that matter) having a premium on them and certainly nothing like the British clubs do. Over the years I've seen plenty of transfer in Spain for about £2m-£5m which, unless it's United/Chelsea/Real, etc then the price stays the same.

downthesun

07-05-10, 09:27 PM

Can't see Cassillas ever leaving Real, he's arguably the best keeper in the world and has been up there for many years now, Real would be stupid to let go of someone like him who has given his life to the club.

I think realistically keepers who could replace VDS would be the likes of Akinfeev, Lloris, Frey, Neur or even Kamini.

I really want to see Fergie make a big signing this summer, whilst Smalling and Hernandez have bags of potential, they aren't going to be the difference between 2nd place and winning the title.I believe United need an excellent central midfielder and out and out goalscorer to take the burden off Rooney. Suarez with his goalscoring and 'keeping :) record would be great to see as I also think Dutch league players seem to adapt well to the Premiership as seen by the likes of Nistelrooy.

honeykid

07-05-10, 10:58 PM

I'd liked to see Suarez come to United as he's an attacking midfielder/striker who can play in a wide attacking role and that's what I think United need to play #2 to Rooney. He can play alongside him, if necessary, out wide (ala Ronadlo) and is good enough to play on his own instead of Rooney.

I didn't see Casillas leaving either, but there have been murmurs (probably just press talk) that Mourinho is talking about getting a new keeper. Both United and City have made their interest known in him and he's said that he's aware of it. No, he doesn't want to leave, but he's prepared to if Real want to cash in.

Of those you listed (and I agree that they're far more likely) I really like Lloris and Frey. I hear and read good things about Akinfeev, but I've only seen three games he's played (two against United last season and another CSKA game) and he's looked good, but it is only three games.

Anyway, onto the transfer talk.

Lots of chatter about Torres leaving Liverpool. Nothing new there, but this time there's quotes. Not from the player, you understand, but from his agent.

"It is very likely that Fernando Torres will stay in the Premier League, but I cannot say that it will be with Liverpool. We are working on his future but right now you cannot guarantee that he will stay with the English club."

However, Martin has categorically dismissed talk of Torres moving back to Spain to join Barcelona:

"It is ruled out. Barcelona have signed David Villa and now they want to invest the money they have in other players."

Ooh. Chelsea are said to be first in line. That's not a huge surprise is it? My guess is they're the only team in line.

The Mail says this about Torres and the situation.

'Having already sold Yossi Benayoun to Chelsea, Hodgson would prefer to raise funds for his squad rebuilding by selling the likes of Javier Mascherano and Albert Riera.

'But Hodgson knows such is the state of Liverpool's finances - their debt is £472.5m - a big offer from either Chelsea or City for Torres will be almost impossible to turn down.'

Would he go to City? I know it's not United, but it's still Manchester and that not exactly the Scousers favourite city, is it?

The Sun chips in with this.

'Torres' Kop career has been in doubt ever since Liverpool missed out on a Champions League place.

'SunSport understands he is unhappy at the way the club is run and puzzled it took until last Thursday to appoint Rafa Benitez's successor.

'The uncertainty surrounding the Kop's American owners and the lack of cash to strengthen the squad this summer are the main reasons for Torres thinking of quitting.'

After his, rather good IMO, performance at the World Cup, the Daily Mail say that Arsenal have approached Sporting Braga about keeper Eduardo. They say he has a £3.4million buy-out clause in his contract. Apparently he was off to Genoa, but I'm guessing that he'd choose Arsenal over Genoa, unless he wants to play in Italy for reasons other than football.

The Mail also has Man City spending oodles of cash in the next few days, as well as tracking every big name striker in Europe that may move/the journalist can think of. They say that Aleksandar Kolarov and James Milner will sign in a few days for a combined fee of £42m Up front, they're checking/considering out the following:

Torres, Edin Dzeko, Mauro Balotelli (who they've asked about apparently), Edinson Cavani, Mirko Vucinic, Karim Benzema.

I read, though I don't believe it's true, that they're being put off a bid for Dzeko because Wolfsburg are asking for £50m. Erm... Seeing as anyone with a passing interest in the player (or just read this thread) knew that he had a £34.5m buy-out clause in his last contract (which ended last month) and that Wolfsburg were worried someone would trigger it before they could get him to sign this new contract (which doesn't have a buy-out contract, to my knowledge) I can't see just why that'd be the case.

Diego Forlan has said that he's staying at Athletico Madrid. So, The Sun, says that Spurs are now looking at Luis Suarez.

According to The Telegraph, West Ham are frustrated that Matthew Upson hasn't told them what he wants to do. But The Sun says that West Ham are ready to cash in with Sunderland said to have tabled a £7m bid.

Tacitus

07-06-10, 06:24 AM

I'm surprised that more clubs haven't expressed an interest in Eduardo. He's young for a keeper and is the only member of his squad who I'd argue had anything like a good World Cup.

It must have been hard for Ronaldo (cry me a friggin' river, I know ;)) trying to function in such a negatively set-up side. He didn't completely bomb like Rooney, though, because I've seen him many times have games where he's been completely excluded. Rooney came back and demanded the ball, and this just highlighted how out of form he was.

christine

07-06-10, 06:09 PM

that's me through to the finals in our family sweepstake. Can't say I was rooting too much for Holland tho. Some dirty play there. Can't wait for tomorrows game.
Been an interesting world cup :)

honeykid

07-07-10, 01:39 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2S_TV1d9FWE
It was some goal, wasn't it? Diego's was a belter, too, but I can't find that one, so here's his United goals. I loved this bloke.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWtBiDuLbXk
"He comes from Uraguay, he made the Scousers cry" ;)

Anyway, transfer news from yesterday. Sorry it didn't appear earlier, but I'm not well atm.

New Barca President, Sandro Rosell, insists he won't pay anywhere near the £60m asking price floated for Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas. So say The Mail.

The Press Association have Lazio president, Claudio Lotitto, ready to negotiate Aleksandar Kolarov's departure provided the right offer comes along. The Serbia left back is under contract for a further season with the Serie A outfit and is a reported target of Manchester City and Real Madrid.

They also have a story from Zlatan Ibrahimovic's agent, who has quashed speculation the Swedish striker will leave Barcelona and return to Italy's Serie A. Of couse, a pedantic man (like me, for instance) could say that he hasn't ruled him out leaving Barcelona. Just leaving it for Italy.

Lots from the P.A. today and another story from them has Inter turning down an offer for Mario Balotelli from Man City, according to his agent.

The Daily Telegraph has Roman Abramovich flying to S.Africa to try and sign Torres for £50m.

The Mirror say that Man City have offered £35m for Torres.

I only mention it because he's the new manager at Liverpool, but Roy Hodgson wants to sign Joe Cole. He won't be going north, so it really doesn't matter.

The Daily Star has Pep Guardiola making a "secret visit" to Spain's World Cup training base to talk to Fabregas.

Interesting story in the Mail, which has Rafa wanting to sign Gareth Bale (of Spurs) or Liverpool's Glen Johnson as a replacement for the Real Madrid-bound Maicon.

The Daily Mirror has a very funny story, in which they claim that United are making a £25m move for Wesley Sneijder. Hmmm... Not unless they've got a sweepstake in the office on just how harshly they'll be told to "**** Off" they haven't. £25m's about what Real paid, isn't it? I said I thought he'd cost £40m after the CL final but, after the World Cup he's had, I think you can add £10m on that. I'd like them to say "Yes" though. :D

The Sun has Chelsea 'leading the race' for Sami Khedira. Stuttgart are looking for £12m. The Sun also says Bayern have 'warned off' Premier League teams from making bids for their World Cup stars. The paper says that Chelsea want Bastian Schweinsteiger and Thomas Mueller, while Manchester United want Phillipp Lahm. Schweinsteiger's possible, IMO, but I think the other two would want to stay.

West Ham have made a £5m bid for Pablo Barrera and, again, that's from The Sun.

The Mirror has the following three stories.

Newcastle United want to take the young United midfielder Tom Cleverley on loan for the season.

Allardyce wants to sign Rapid Vienna's £4m-rated Croatian striker Nikica Jelavic, but may have to wait for a potential takeover of Rovers to happen before bidding.

Man City have offered Robinho to Valencia on a season-long loan as they try to save on, at least, part of his £150,000-a-week wages.

The Mail has Jermaine Pennant being offered to West Ham and Wigan by Real Zaragoza. However, Wolves have rejected the chance to sign the player. Rejected by Wolves? How the, slightly, mighty have fallen.

The Nevller tells it like it is in The Sun, where he says England are stuck with the players who flopped at the World Cup in South Africa for another two years because there simply aren't any youngsters good enough to replace them. Don't you love Gary Neville? OK, if you don't support United I know you don't :p but there are few players who are prepared to speak their mind and stick by it when/if it offends people.

Whereas The Mirror has a mercenary story. Yaya Toure says that one day he would like to return to Barcelona, the club he just left to join City on a reported £200,000-a-week contract. :rotfl:

The "Neymar to West Ham" saga continues in The Mail today. They have his father praising the move for his son, saying "He would adapt there for a while and would later reach a big team in a short space of time," said Neymar Silva.

People of England, get ready to :facepalm: The Mail reports the following: Social networking website Facebook is in talks with the Football Association about becoming the new sponsor of the England team.

OK, the early gossip from today looks like this.

Arsenal have overtaken Spurs in their attempt to sign Serdar Tasci from Stuttgart. No fee is mentioned.

Also in The Sun, Keisuke Honda has put Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool on alert after admitting he is considering his future at CSKA Moscow.

The Mail have City being 'linked' with Lukas Podolski for £16.5m. So there's another forward to add to the list.

The Mirror have Roy Hodgson blowing his, reported, £15m transfer kitty on FC Twente's winger Bryan Ruiz. £13m is the reported price. Still, once Gerrard, Torres, Johnson, Mascherano, Reira, et al leave, he'll have lots of money to spend. Hell, he may even outspend City.

The Mail has United making 'discreet' enquires about Karim Benzema. Well, they're not that discreet, are they?

They also say that Sunderland are 'exploring the possibilities' of taking Ghanain Dominic Adiyiah from AC Milan on a season long loan.

The Mirror says that Capello's frustration with the England squad started at half time during the warm-up match with Platinum All-Stars before the World Cup, when he broke a glass tray.

In the file marked "Old Players Talk Bollocks" we find a new entry from West Ham legend, Tony Cottee. The Sun says he's condemned the Football Association for its decision to stick with Capello as coach. Cottee feels FA bosses should get rid of the Italian and bring in former England boss Terry Venables to head a think tank to sort out the national set-up.

The Mirror also tells us that Everton's Dan Gosling has walked out on Everton for nothing after the club failed to put a new contract offer to him in writing. Everton made a verbal offer to Gosling but the Premier League sided with the player due to the club's administrative error.

Another Mirror story, and Fergie annoys me by saying that Diego Forlan could've been a United hero and that the club sold him too cheaply. Then why did you sell him? I don't remember him wanting to go. Did I miss something? I remember him being a fan favourite. I remember him scoring and being unable to put his shirt back on. I remember him scoring against the Scousers. But I don't remember him wanting to leave. Maybe I'm misinformed.

Lastly, The Mirror reports that NASA has chipped in with the global damning of the Jabulani. Aerodynamic experts from Nasa's Ames Investigation Centre stated the Jabulani becomes unpredictable at speeds above 44 mph and also blamed the ball's light weight of just 440g for its poor flight and lack of *consistency - known as the 'knuckle effect'.

Tacitus

07-07-10, 06:33 AM

that's me through to the finals in our family sweepstake. Can't say I was rooting too much for Holland tho. Some dirty play there. Can't wait for tomorrows game.
Been an interesting world cup :)

I only had half an eye on the game, to be honest. Enough to realise that Diego Forlan is a dead ringer for Sally Gunnell, anyway. :D

Dunno if this has been a great World Cup or not. The abiding memory so far has been this (http://www.vuvuzela.fm/).

Cries&Whispers

07-07-10, 08:02 AM

Man, I saw this thread and was like, "yay, football!" then I realized it was soccer, then I remembered Americans are pretty much the only people who don't call it football, then I got depressed at how America-centric I am. :(

Golgot

07-07-10, 08:33 AM

Some dirty play there.

Van Bommel is such a thug. And he makes it even worse by regularly staring out / castigating the people whose bones he's just tried to break.

Aside from that the dutch have snuck in there under the radar. Some nice touches from Van P from what I saw, but he's still not shining up top. Hardly heart-stopping stuff all told.

Pretty annoyed I'm gonna miss most of the game tonight. But it seems Paul the Octopus (http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/8258258.Weymouth_s__psychic__World_Cup_octopus_is_squids_in/) has opted for a Spain win.

christine

07-07-10, 05:47 PM

Hope you feel better soon Honeykid. Your footie roundups have been the first thing I read coming on here :)

I only had half an eye on the game, to be honest. Enough to realise that Diego Forlan is a dead ringer for Sally Gunnell, anyway.

wow yeah! I thought he reminded me of someone :D

Man, I saw this thread and was like, "yay, football!" then I realized it was soccer, then I remembered Americans are pretty much the only people who don't call it football, then I got depressed at how America-centric I am. :(

no, you didn't realise it was soccer, you realised you're calling football the wrong name! :rolleyes:

Pretty annoyed I'm gonna miss most of the game tonight. But it seems Paul the Octopus (http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/8258258.Weymouth_s__psychic__World_Cup_octopus_is_squids_in/) has opted for a Spain win.

and Paul the octopus was right. Scary!

Tacitus

07-08-10, 05:30 AM

Paul the Octopus is a chancer. There, I've said it! :D

He's the German James Cordon, with more talent.

Cracking match last night, one of my favourites so far - tense, exciting and only one goal. Proper football.

Spain, as was probably expected, played a lot better against a team who genuinely thought they had a chance of winning and thus didn't set out to only frustrate the Euro Champs. I'm getting bloody annoyed at all the "After all their tippy-tappy fanny football, the go and score from a corner" nonsense.

Lazy commentary, lazy punditry and probably one of the reasons English football is so bereft of skill - Passing the ball is all very well but real men hoof it to the big lad up front. Then Shearer had the brass danglers to say that coaches in England were probably a bit lacking?

We pay these clowns, remember that. ;)

honeykid

07-08-10, 07:43 AM

OK, I've got a bit of catching up to do. I had to listen to the Spain/Germany game, as I felt too ill to watch it. Sounded like a decent game. :D I'm looking forward to the final. Still hoping Holland win, though it's looking like Spain, isn't it? They're not Euro 2008 good, but they look good (and confident) enough to do the job. Anyway, on with the gossip.

Arsenal have signed defender Laurent Koscielny, from Lorient, for an undisclosed fee, rumoured to be £10m.

The Sun have Arsenal willing to spend £20m on Mesut Ozil.

imscouting say Real are ready to join United and Chelsea in the race for the signature of Sami Khedira.

Rafa is looking at Micah Richards, so say The Times.

The Mail say both Barcelona and Juve are looking at taking Patrice Evra from United.

The Sun say that Villa will go after Scott Parker, once Milner moves to City for £25m.

Whereas The Star say that O'Neil wants £15m plus Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha for Milner.

The Scottish Mail says that Celtic want S****horpe's Gary Hooper and will pay £2m. *Edit: Just checked this and seen what the filter's done. :rotfl: I'm leaving it in. :D*

imscouting reports that Bayern Munich are after Gregory van der Wiel, who is rumoured to be an Arsenal target.

Fergie has given Patrice Evra a month off, a week more than the other United players at the World Cup, that's in the Daily Star.

Mesut Ozil has ridiculed England players for saying they were bored between games in South Africa. Ozil said: "If you find the greatest tournament on earth boring, then you probably shouldn't be there."

Felipe Melo could be on his way out of Juventus, after the General Director said that he'd be willing to listen to offers for him. The Gazzetta Dello Sport says that Melo could join Arsenal this summer in an exchange deal which would see Gunners left-back Gael Clichy move the other way.

The Press Association has Luis Fabiano's agent playing down talk of a move for his client to either United or AC Milan.

The PA also have a story which says that the Lazio President, Claudio Lotito, has put a fee of £18.7m on Aleksandar Kolarov. The left back is said to be a target for both Man City and Real.

A couple of papers carry the story that United are, indeed, interested in Wesley Sneijder. The Mirror says that Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti has confirmed that United have made contact regarding him. While The Mail has United willing to offer (a rather specific) £29m for the midfielder and also has them looking to spend £30m on Mario Balotelli.

The Sun has City looking to offload Shaun Wright-Phillips, with Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham said to be looking to pay the knockdown price of £6m.

Interesting rumour in The Mirror which says that Barcelona might have to abandon the deals for Cesc Fabregas, Fernando Torres and Javier Mascherano because of the financial problems at the club. It's been reported that Barcelona have had to borrow £120m to pay players wages this year and new club President has gone on record to reject rumours that the club is bankrupt.

With that news in mind, The Sun has a story in which Mascherano's agent is back on the Inter tip, talking about his clients relationship with the new Inter manager. The figure suggested is around £25m. They also say that left back Insua is wanted by Fiorentina and that, for £5m, they can have him. They say that Liverpool need the £5m to make a bid for Wigan's Maynor Figueroa.

The Times tells us that Gael Clichy may be on his way to Juventus, if they sell Fabio Grosso to Atletico Madrid. Of course, with the breaking news about Melo, this may be reduntant already.

The Guardian has a story which is either spot on or very strange. They tell us that Manchester City will make an improved offer of £24m for James Milner but will turn their attention elsewhere if the latest bid is turned down. Now, as everyone and their dog said City's last bid was for £28m, they've either improved their bid by lowering it £4m or everyone was wrong before. That, or The Guardian just forgot what the 'agreed figure' was on Fleet Street and, now, look a bit silly.

Eidur Gudjohnsen is staying on loan at Spurs for the season. So says The Sun.

The Indepentent seems to have interviewed West Ham co-owner, David Sullivan, in an opium den or something, as he claims in their paper today that West Ham were due to sign Miroslav Klose on a free transfer this summer but the German's excellent performances at the World Cup have made a deal "unlikely" to go through now. Now, as I said similar things about the people who were telling me that Tevez and Mascherano were going to West Ham a few years ago, I have to admit that this is possible... He really could've been in an opium den. :D

The Mail has Sunderland and West Ham after Asamoah Gyan. £7m is the fee reported.

They also have Dan Gosling moving to Newcastle. They say Newcastle are confident of getting their man.

Sticking with Newcastle transfers and The Sun says that their looking at Jonathan de Guzman, the Dutch winger, who's been released by Feyenoord.

Also in The Sun, Wolves will bid £4m for young England defender, Michael Mancienne, from Chelsea.

David James is going to hold talks with Portsmouth about staying with the club. The club say he'll have to take a cut in his £40,000 a week wages to stay.

Fulham have said that they'll announce their new manager by the end of next week. Sven Goran Eriksson is the favourite to take over, while former West Ham defender Slaven Bilic is the newest name being banded about.

Tacitus

07-08-10, 08:06 AM

My beloved Glens are broke. :(

We've not paid players for 5 weeks now: The club put this down to lack of people through the turnstiles in the close season but we've been in debt to the taxman for ages.

What's doubly unfair is that the scum from Windsor Park are getting a new stadium to go with the huge (for NI football) lump of cash they get every year for allowing the national team play there.

Still, rumour has it that Barcelona are also broke so at least we're in good company. ;)

Lookilikes! Michael Mancienne is Snoop from The Wire. Only less butch...

honeykid

07-08-10, 11:18 PM

I won't even pretend to know anything about league football in Ireland (and I mean the whole of Ireland here) but the attendances for Irish League football have always been pretty low, haven't they? Not surprising when you have English League football across the water, as well as the Old Firm. It also has to compete with Gaelic Football (or Football as I believe many call it over there) Hurling and, of course, Rugby. I suppose, as over here, with the increase of glamour and the level of Premier League football over the last 20 years, unless someone took a child every week or they just loved their local team/league, there's little competition given the choice between the two leagues.

Anyway, not too much early news, atm.

City have rejected an offer of £16.7m from Besiktas for Robinho, as they want more.

The captain of Sunderland, Lorik Cana, has signed for Turkish side Galatasaray SK for a fee said to be a little over £5m.

More Sunderland news and Sol Campbell has been in talks with them over a deal.

Owen Hargreaves is out injured (again) and will miss the start of the season. Fergie said on MUTV that he didn't know how long he'd be out for. He's also unsure whether Rio will make the start of the season.

Spurs may be setting a new trend this season, after they announced that they'd have two shirt sponsors this season, one for league matches and one for cup games.

Standard Liege's Milan Jovanovic has signed for Liverpool on a free transfer. The striker had also been linked with AC Milan, Juventus and Valencia.

The only other news of note, IMO, is a few quotes from Arsene Wenger on Almunia from a Kenyan paper, The Standard.

Arsene Wenger says he will "make an announcement on the goalkeeping situation after the World Cup". Wenger said: "[Current number one] Manuel Almunia is a talented goalkeeper. In training, he is superb, the only problem is that he gets nervous on big matches, thereby making silly mistakes."

So, if the Schwartzer deal goes ahead, it sound like he may well go straight in as the #1 pick.

The Next Big Thing

07-08-10, 11:30 PM

honeykid

07-09-10, 12:26 AM

I think a few of us are hoping that Buffon comes over to our team (United in my case) and saves the day. Obviously, the pun was intended. ;)

Tacitus

07-09-10, 05:16 AM

There are a few English teams which I have a soft spot for, mainly because I lived in their catchment areas and went to see them when I could but there's no way I'd call myself a 'supporter'. Football should be about more than just picking whichever team is on TV a lot when you're a kid, it's about where you're from.

Of course, the Barcas, Man Utds, Liverpools etc take millions upon millions each year from people who've never even been to their grounds. When I was a kid most of my friends supported Liverpool because it was the 70s. It's Man Utd over here now, as well as the 'traditional' Celtic and Rangers brigade who I've got even less time for because that kind of support is usually based on something other than football, if you get my meaning.

If Georgie Best hadn't been from Belfast would there still be as many Man Utd supporters clubs here? Probably - They're as recognisable a world brand as Guinness, Marlboro, Ikea and Durex.

My stepdad's a Man Utd fan, by the way (my dad's a Glensman), but I'll give him a pass.

He's from Salford. :)

honeykid

07-10-10, 08:31 AM

Before I post todays transfer gossip, I'll catch up on yesterday.

The Star said that Chelsea are going to offer a paltry £30m for Torres. I presume that's just an opening gambit to get the ball rolling.

The Mail reports, as does everyone everywhere I think, that Wesley Sneijder will turn down any offer from United as he wants to stay at Inter.

In the Daily Express they add to this that Fergie may now look at Mesut Ozil, who's price has risen at least £5m during this World Cup, as £25m is the price mentioned. I'd like this, as he looks even better than Sneijder did at his age, which is when I wanted United to buy him.

The Sun have City offering £20m to Chelsea for Drogba. Surely that's a non-starter, isn't it?

Still with The Sun and with City, they have a surprising story which has City spending NO MONEY and picking up Richard Wright on a free, after he was released by Ipswich.

The Star brings us the news that Barcelona have admitted that they'll have to sell Zlatan Ibrahimovic in order to sign Fabregas.

The Sun says Chelsea are going to miss out on Gregory van der Wiel as Bayern Munich will sign him for £14m.

Avram Grant wants to keep Matthew Upson at West Ham.

OK, on to today's news.

imscouting says that Barcelona President Sandro Rosell will meet Arsene Wenger before the World Cup final over the potential transfer of Cesc Fabregas.

The Daily Mail is hedging its bets today, with the news that Mascherano wants to go to Inter or Barcelona. So, the place he's been linked to for the last year or the place he's been linked to since his previous manager moved there. Well done, lads. :rolleyes:

They also bring us the news that Craig Bellamy is about to turn up at Spurs to the tune of £6m.

The Daily Telegraph has Chelsea bringing Bruno Alves to the club, after agreeing to sell Ricardo Carvalho.

The Daily Mail have offered David James a player-coaching role at the club.

More from The Mail and Sunderland are thinking about making a £7m bid for Michael Carrick.

The Guardian are covering their bases, with a story which has Roberto Mancini approaching Inter Milan for Mario Balotelli, as well as a move for Wolfsburg striker Edin Dzeko.

In The Independent, 'Arry puts a dampner on any and all stories linking Robbie Keane to Celtic: "We paid good money for him and to loan him out again wouldn't be a goer." Gawd bless the Queen Mum! ;)

The Daily Record say that Joe Ledley has passed his medical and should sign within 48 hours. Something that seems to be confirmed by Stoke manager, Tony Pulis, who was also interested in signing the player. He's quoted as saying "As far as I was concerned, Joe had gone and signed for Celtic. So, that's the end of the matter,".

Lastly, Gary Neville will sit out United's US tour after picking up a calf injury.

Tacitus

07-10-10, 02:47 PM

Any thoughts on tomorrow, HK?

All I'm saying is that this is the weekend of the 12th of July and there are a Dutch team playing in orange in the final. King Billy, and all that. ;)

It is written...

Aaanyway. Did you hear about Gazza turning up when police were surrounding now-dead gun nutter Raoul Moat claiming to be a friend and offering a can of lager and a shoulder for the ginger Rambo to cry on?

The poor bloke seriously needs help. :(

christine

07-10-10, 06:16 PM

Aaanyway. Did you hear about Gazza turning up when police were surrounding now-dead gun nutter Raoul Moat claiming to be a friend and offering a can of lager and a shoulder for the ginger Rambo to cry on?

The poor bloke seriously needs help. :(

was that true? my son told me that and I thought he was making it up!..he said Gazza had KFC too :rolleyes:

Y forgot it was the twelth Taccy. I remember the marches in Liverpool when I was a kid. I was taken on one once by another kid in the street all the way from the Dingle into town. My mum went bonkers.

see the match tonight? I loved that Forlan goal tonight where the German goalie just stood there motionless with his hands on his hips :lol:

Tacitus

07-11-10, 04:33 AM

The Gazza thing seems to be true. I've not heard it myself but he was interviewed on 5Live soon after it happened, sounding a bit the worse for wear. That poor guy's gonna be found in a ditch some morning if his 'friends' don't forcibly get him committed somewhere.

Heh, I was amazed when I moved to the North West that one of the few places outside NI that celebrates the Battle of the Boyne was Merseyside. Don't they call it 'Orangeman's Day' or something? Needless to say I was just as likely to be seen at a parade in Southport as I was back home. ie: Not at all. ;)

Those proud Dutch Protestants against the dastardly Spanish Papists? Only on winner. :p

At least on the Shankill Rd, anyway...

Didn't see the 3rd/4th place match, don't think I've ever watched one of those.

honeykid

07-11-10, 07:24 AM

Any thoughts on tomorrow, HK?

All I'm saying is that this is the weekend of the 12th of July and there are a Dutch team playing in orange in the final. King Billy, and all that. ;)

It is written...
lol.. I had no idea that was the case. :D

I'm torn between the Dutch, who I really want to win, even though it'll mean Dirk "The Labrabor" Kuyt will be a World Cup winner, and the Spanish team I plumped for (along with everyone, of course) at the start of the tournament. I think it'll come down to how David Villa plays (is he the only world class player to turn up at this tournament?) and if Wes Sneijder can keep up his streak of lucky and important goals.

I still want the Netherlands to win, if only because they should've won in '74, they've given us lots of talented players over the years and their female fans just appear to be better looking, IMO. ;)

So, yep, I think Spain will win :D but I'll be cheering for the Dutch.

I didn't hear anything about Gazza and the nutter, or vise versa. Partly because I've been asleep for most the last 48 hours and partly because I've paid hardly any attention to that idiot running around. Glad that he shot himself, though. Saves him causing any more trouble for anyone. It's not like he was going to give us (society) anything but pain, was it?

I also spend most years waiting for Gazza to die. Such a shame, but there's no other end for him unless he drastically changes his way of thinking. Maybe, like Best, he can't.

I might be able to post the Sunday gossip sometime later tonight. However, after a quick look at it, it looks awfully familiar, tbh.

The only thing I'll mention here and now, because we have an Everton fan as a regular, is that it seems that Steven Pienaar is looking to stay at Everton rather than leave, and is looking over a £55,000 a week contract.

Tacitus

07-11-10, 08:07 AM

I've been waiting for Shane MacGowan to croak for 20 years but he's well in his 50s now and will probably outlive us all. Gazza's different, though. As well as being an alcoholic he's clearly mentally ill.

He apparently knew Moat from his days as a nightclub bouncer and, I suppose, his bizarre intervention was his way of trying to diffuse a really tense situation.

You're probably right about Villa. Schweinsteiger, Robben, Sneijder etc are guys who've been knocking on the door for a while and have taken the leap to genuine world class in this tournament while the likes of Muller have come from seemingly nowhere. Robben is probably cheating a little because he'd already be one of the world's best players if not for him being made of glass.

I, too, want Holland to win (and not for Orange reasons :D) but I think Spain will do it. They've done just enough so far to justify the 'best in the world' tag because they've/Villa has upped their/his game when needed most.

I think a really important factor for the Spanish is how Puyol has played his way into form as the tournament has gone on. Old Deidre Barlow is beginning to look like the player he was a few years ago - The one John Terry thinks he is. ;)

Off to watch the GP now and if those classless Red Bulls will sail off into the distance or take themselves off at the first corner...

christine

07-11-10, 11:12 AM

Thanks for the Pienaar news Hon. Hope you feel better soon!

honeykid

07-12-10, 12:18 AM

You're probably right about Villa. Schweinsteiger, Robben, Sneijder etc are guys who've been knocking on the door for a while and have taken the leap to genuine world class in this tournament while the likes of Muller have come from seemingly nowhere.
I thought I was right, too. Then I watched Iniesta tonight and realised I completely forgot about him. How did that happen? Frankly, I'm embarrassed.

Robben is probably cheating a little because he'd already be one of the world's best players if not for him being made of glass.
Absolutely. He breaks quicker than a reject condom.

I, too, want Holland to win (and not for Orange reasons :D) but I think Spain will do it. They've done just enough so far to justify the 'best in the world' tag because they've/Villa has upped their/his game when needed most.
That's pretty much how it went, wasn't it? As we said at the start of the tournament, it's Spain's depth of quality that pushes them above everyone else. I agree that they're the best team, but anyone can have a bad game and that's where Spain really shine, atm.

Despite the way that the Dutch played, I still wanted them to win but, with the exception of Robben's first chance, it never really looked like happening, did it? No doubt that the best team won and deserved to win.

Thought Howard Webb was treated rather poorly, though. Can you imagine if he'd played to the letter of the law? Holland may not've finshed the game at all, let alone with 10 or 9 men.

Off to watch the GP now and if those classless Red Bulls will sail off into the distance or take themselves off at the first corner...
Really interesting Grand Prix today. Although I have to put up with all the "Britishness", Silverstone is usually one of the best Grand Prix's of the year. Spa, Silverstone, Monaco, Gilles Villeneuve and Interlagos. Those are my favourite tracks because they usually provide the best/most interesting racing.

Anyway, onto transfer gossip.

goal.com said that Aston Villa are interested in Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, but they say he'd have to greatly lower his £70,000 a week wages. The NOTW say that, along with Villa, he's also been offered to Spurs and City.

It seems that most papers were talking about Liverpool in one fashion or another.

The Mail On Sunday said that Liverpool would put a £100m price tag on Torres before the World Cup final. I'd have said that no one would pay that before he pulled up again with, what looked suspiciously like, a hamstring injury.

Whereas the News Of The World said that Liverpool had told Torres that he'd have to put in a written transfer request and that, unless they stumped up £70m, he wasn't going to Chelsea. From that, I assume that Chelsea is the only realistic destination for Torres.

However, if you were reading the Sunday Telegraph you'd have been told that Chelsea were growing confident of getting Torres for £50m.

They also said that Hodgson was already in talks with Wolfsburg for Edin Dzeko, should Torres walk. Well, hobble. :D

But if you read the Sunday Express, you'll have seen Hodgson will be spending his cash on Nice striker Loic Remy and will be paying £15m.

Again, another paper and another option, with the NOTW saying that the new Liverpool striker will be Ghana's Asamoah Gyan and that £20m is the price.

The Mail On Sunday had a story about Mourinho wanting Ashley Cole to go to Real.

The Sunday Telegraph has Fergie telling everyone that he's not bid for Wes Sneijder or German wunderkind, Ozil, so he can't have been turned down or refused by anyone.

The NOTW has West Ham joining 'the race' to sign Sol Campbell.

They also tell the great story about the fall of football, I mean, of Jimmy Bullard having to take a £15,000 a week cut in wages to join Celtic, as they can't afford the wage Hull City were paying. Yep, you've read that right. Celtic can't afford to pay Jimmy Bullard the same wage as Hull did.

Another NOTW story has Heskey moving to Celtic, with Aiden McGeady coming the other way.

They also tell us that Martin O'Neill is confident of landing Robbie Keane and Stephen Ireland.

Steve Sidwell is off to Fulham for £3m. Fulham are also talking to Eidur Gudjohnsen, after his contract talks with Spurs stalled.

Arsenal have missed out on Portugal keeper, Eduardo, because they took too long to make their move. He's joined Genoa as he originally intended.

Jermaine Jenas has said he's going to 'fight for his place' at Spurs, rather than move to Villa. In other words, "There's no way they'll pay me what Spurs are, so why should I go?"

Finally, a paper other than the NOTW has piped up. The Sunday Express tells us that Real Zaragoza's 18-year-old defender Diego Torrellas will join Arsenal.

They also say that Spurs think that they can get Luis Fabiano for around £20m.

West Ham and Birmingham are fighting over Robert Pires, after he was released by Villareal.

The Sunday Mirror says that Stoke will Liverpool's rival over the £7m signing of Maynor Figueroa. How the mighty have fallen.

The Star have a story which has Joe Cole instructing his agent to look at Serie A and La Liga teams.

The Sunday Mirror tells us that David Bentley may find a home at Aston Villa.

Ajax have told United to make them an offer they can't refuse and sign Luis Suarez. £25m was the price, now Ajax say that after the World Cup he's had, £35m is the offer they couldn't refuse. Pretty much prices him out of United's transfer bracket, I suspect.

Sunday Express has Sven-Goran Eriksson as Fulham's new boss.

Capello's reorganizing his backstaff and cutting Stuart Pearce and Ray Clemence. He'll also demand the introduction of a winter break in English football. That's from the NOTW.

Another Russian billionaire is coming into English football. The NOTW say Len Blavatnik is about to make a £30m offer to buy a 35% stake in West Ham.

Jack Wilshere is seeking assurances from manager Arsene Wenger over how much he will play in the first team next season.

Yossi Benayoun has put the boot in on Rafa. He has accused his former manager of trying to "break" him and said "never treated me with the respect I deserved".

The Daily Telegraph has Craig Johnston putting the boot into the Jabulani ball, much like he did on the MOTD highlights programme about 2 weeks ago, you mean guys?

The Mail reckon that Shay Given may be left out at City, after Roberto Mancini re-signed Stuart Taylor and welcomed Joe Hart back from his season-long loan at Birmingham City.

Interesting, if true, story in the Sunday Mirror where Jose Mourinho will be able to leave Real Madrid for free at the end of each year of his current contract, making him available to take over at Old Trafford should Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson be ready to retire.

OK, early stuff from today's papers.

Carlo Ancelotti has 'admitted' that he'd like to sign Kaka, but doesn't there's much chance of it happening. Is that a story? Manager of football club wants one of the best players in the world to play in his team, but he probably won't.

David Villa says Fernando Torres won't go to Man City. He also reckons if Torres quits Liverpool it is likely to be to join Chelsea. Both those stories from The Mail.

The Mirror tells us that Wenger decided not to meet with Barcelona in South Africa to discuss the transfer of Cesc Fabregas.

Tacitus

07-12-10, 06:11 AM

Well, one of those classless (and there can't be anyone arguing with that now who's not employed by the company or related to Vettel) Red Bulls sailed off into the distance. The other one showed again that he has less racecraft than my granny. ;)

Good GP, poor WC final. Below par World Cup in total, I think. Dunno quite what we'll remember of it in future years apart from those bloody trumpets and the best players in the world failing to perform.

The Dutch were awfully cynical but I guess that wasn't helped by Spain making the most of every foul.

Would Iniesta be the same player without Xavi? You're right about him (and Xavi) being overlooked - They work together so well in that midfield unit without being flamboyant in any way. Maybe that's their problem in terms of recognition.

Interesting, if true, story in the Sunday Mirror where Jose Mourinho will be able to leave Real Madrid for free at the end of each year of his current contract, making him available to take over at Old Trafford should Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson be ready to retire.I think that Old Trafford is the only logical place for Jose to end up. No matter how successful he is at Real, we all know it's not gonna end well and I can see Ferguson finally hanging up the wine rack at the end of this season.

Of course, if a club doesn't have to pay Real compo for Jose's services does that also mean that he's not due any compo if/when he gets sacked? ;)

I have got a pile of movies to watch which is now taller than a small child. Thank god the football's over!

For a few weeks, anyway.

Fenwick

07-12-10, 04:46 PM

Congratulations to Spain.

I'm genuinely delighted for them. They have the togetherness, grace and talent that puts England's hodgepodge of dwindling, one-paced 'stars' to shame. And they don't play boring football. I could spend a lifetime watching Xavi and Iniesta. Utterly tremendous team.

Look at this wicked video as well:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7Y9cYmv-og&feature=player_embedded#!

That second kiss is gorgeous (that's Iker's missus by the way), shows affection rather than the expected macho lust. I dread to fear what might have happened if that was Terry instead of Casillas. He probably would have flipped her over and spit-roasted her with a couple of his braindead co-pro's, then would come an internet leak, kiss and tell exclusive in the Currant Bun, super injunction at the high court, a few non-convictions thanks to their £1000 an hour lawyers, etc.

ravr12

07-12-10, 07:17 PM

howard webb ruined the game.

honeykid

07-12-10, 08:01 PM

Really? Ruined the game? I've yet to understand how he did that. All I've read is everyone whinging about his performance, but I think that, not only did he do the best he could, I think he did the right thing.

Had he reffed the game the way FIFA likes, that is, to the letter of the law. The Dutch would've been lucky to finish the 1st half with 10 men. The Spanish play the second half passing around the Dutch and win the game by three or four goals. People moan that the ref 'ruined the game' with the sending off and, after that, it "was ruined as a spectacle". That's how it usually goes.

Had he not dished out the yellow cards, he'd have been called "weak". Not only that, he'd have probably never reffed a big game again in his life, effectively ending his career.

I thought this was worth a look.

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/12072010/58/world-cup-2010-howard-webb-hero-villain.html

I whilst I agree with the conclusion, I still stand by what I said above. A case of damned if you do and damned if you don't, as it usually is for refs. :(

OK, transfer news.

Both Manchester clubs want to sign the 19-year-old Inter Milan striker Mario Balotelli, with the Italian flattered by United boss Sir Alex Ferguson's interest according to the player's agent. This is from the Press Association.

The Daily Mail has Hull's head of football operations Adam Pearson accusing Jimmy Bullard of making "ridiculous financial demands" which prevented his season long loan to Celtic.

L'Equipe tells us that Loic Remy wants any deal with West Ham to be completed quickly. He's said he's interested in a move to Upton Park but has admitted that Nice's asking price could be a problem, saying: "[they] are asking for a lot of money."

The Sun says that Chelsea will move for Fabio Coentrao of Benfica and Portugal, should Ashley Cole move to Real.

The Daily Telegraph has gone back a few weeks to tell us that Man City are looking at Wolfsburg striker Edin Dzeko, but don't want to pay the £34m asking price. However, a player-plus-cash deal involving Roque Santa Cruz could be one option. So, the buy out clause price (£34m) has become the asking price? I wish Fleet Street would just admit they don't know. That or take a look at previous stories so they can keep it all straight.

Though Dan Gosling is as good as at Newcastle, Everton are still hopeful of securing £4m in compensation for the England Under-21 international. That's from The Mirror.

The Daily Express tells this sad story of woe. West Brom want to sign Marcus Berg on a season-long loan deal from Hamburg, although the German side are demanding a "substantial" fee for the striker. The Baggies are also keen on David Ngog following their return to the Premier League. They want goals and they're keen on Ngog? You see what poverty does to you? Don't Baggies fans have enough strife in their lives?

Papa Bouba Diop is probably off to AEK Athens from Portsmouth for £3.5m.

The Star tells us that Harry Redknapp fears this could be Johnathon Woodgate's last season as a professional footballer, due to the injuries he's suffered throughout his career. I disagree. I think it'd be his first, but only if he plays. :D

That's the gossip. Not much as, I assume, most of the space was dedicated to last night's final. I saw that the viewing figures are in from last night. 20 million watched overall, with the BBC obliterating ITV (as I'd expect) with a 60% share of the audience and a peak audience of 17.9m. While ITV peaked with a 13% share and an audience of 3.8m. The game averaged 15.1 million (a 54% share of viewers) on BBC1 and 3.3 million (12%) on ITV1. I'd also like to mention that the British GP was watched by an audience of 6.8m, one million more than last year.

Tacitus

07-13-10, 04:58 AM

That second kiss is gorgeous (that's Iker's missus by the way), shows affection rather than the expected macho lust. I dread to fear what might have happened if that was Terry instead of Casillas. He probably would have flipped her over and spit-roasted her with a couple of his braindead co-pro's, then would come an internet leak, kiss and tell exclusive in the Currant Bun, super injunction at the high court, a few non-convictions thanks to their £1000 an hour lawyers, etc.

Here's a fundamental difference between English football and Spain's. They've got this wonderful gal asking them post-match questions and the BBC have ... Garth Crooks. And his minute-long sentences.

What sort of example is this to young professionals? Where's the incentive to do well and win stuff? At the very least The FA should set up an enquiry.

Suggestions: Melanie Sykes or, if they want to go down a serious journalistic route (there's always a first time for the Beeb's footie coverage) and a 'stick' rather than a 'carrot' approach, Kirstie Allsopp.

Can you imagine England's Lion Big Brave JT, Fat Frank, Cashley (funny how they're all Chelsea players ;)) et al disagreeing with Kirstie?

Cashley would be walking funny for weeks. :D

Fenwick

07-13-10, 06:12 AM

Here's a fundamental difference between English football and Spain's. They've got this wonderful gal asking them post-match questions and the BBC have ... Garth Crooks. And his minute-long sentences.

What sort of example is this to young professionals? Where's the incentive to do well and win stuff? At the very least The FA should set up an enquiry.

Suggestions: Melanie Sykes or, if they want to go down a serious journalistic route (there's always a first time for the Beeb's footie coverage) and a 'stick' rather than a 'carrot' approach, Kirstie Allsopp.

Can you imagine England's Lion Big Brave JT, Fat Frank, Cashley (funny how they're all Chelsea players ;)) et al disagreeing with Kirstie?

Cashley would be walking funny for weeks. :D

Some of the Sky Sports News birds should start taking some post-match interviews. Millie Clode and Georgie Thompson would suit our purpose just fine me thinks. :)

Back to Casillas' Doris for a second, there is quite a story behind their hook-up (they are now the Posh and Becks of Spain although I trust that the media love-in is less crass and stalker-like than it would be in the UK). Apparently, the girl in question is one of those impossible Spanish birds and the Real Madrid players had a little wager on who could be the first to take her out on a date. The winner would get the date paid for by the rest of the squad. Casillas was the third to try and hasn't looked back since but then, why would you?

Tacitus

07-13-10, 06:23 AM

Kirsty Gallacher used to do some post-match interviews for Sky didn't she? Don't think she does any more and is it a coincidence that England have a really crap team?

I think not.

What about Nadine Coyle from Girls Aloud?

"Jan Turry, youse hiv wan, wan null. How di yis feel?"

She's no less articulate than Shearer. :D

ravr12

07-13-10, 07:00 AM

Tacitus

07-13-10, 09:23 AM

Dunno if there's an appropriate smiley for laughing so loudly that a passing dog turned its head towards the livingroom window, but if there was I'd post it here.

You see, I've just been reading Football365's essential Mediawatch column and have found out what Sepp Blatter's middle name is:

Joseph Bellend Blatter

Proof (http://politifi.com/Businesspersons/Sepp-Blatter/page4) and more proof (http://www.thepresidency.gov.za/orders_list.asp?show=482).

Words fail me at the aptness of it all...

honeykid

07-13-10, 03:00 PM

Sure i agree he had to pull out yellow cards to dont look weak, but he should have pulled more on Spain too.
I think there may've been a card or two extra for Spain but, tbh, I don't remember him going too easy on the Spanish. I think he reffed the game according to how the Dutch played. Let's be honest, there were a good few yellow cards not given to players because they were already on a yellow. A quick and, probably rather lazy example is as follows. Iniesta gets a yellow card for removing his shirt after scoring but Robben didn't get one for kicking the ball away after he'd heard the whistle. Reason? Iniesta hadn't been booked and Robben had. If he'd sent Robben off for that, late on in the World Cup final, there'd have been murders.

Ok we were lucky nigel de jong wasnt send off after his karate kick.. bit later in the game van bommel got kicked down by a player of Spain while the ball was long gone.. and the referee saw it and gave no card at all.
True and it should've been a card. But then, van Bommel shouldn't have made the end of the 1st half so, had he reffed by the rules, that incident wouldn't have happened because van Bommel wouldn't have been on the pitch. As I said, damned if he did and damned if he didn't.

Also the last yellow card for heitinga was totally undeserved he barely touched iniesta and he went down.
That yellow was for persistant fouling. Whilst I can see the argument that, if he hadn't sent him off before, why choose that one? But, at some point, you have to say enough's enough.

Above and the following decision ruined the game:
In the last minutes before the goal in the 118 minute the dutch got a free kick, sneijder shot it into the wall and via the wall it went behind so it would've been a corner. instead Spain got a goal kick and after that the goal was scored.. that is the biggest mistake and it was a clear corner, everybody saw it, hell you could see that thing from out of space but the referee didn't saw it or didnt want to see it.
No, that's not exactly how it happened. I agree that the incident you describe should've been a corner. No argument there. That was a mistake, but the ref won't usually overrule his assistant on those decisions. If the linesman didn't flag, then a ref won't usually give it. I'm not saying it's right, it wasn't, but that's usually what happens and it happens fairly often. However, that wasn't what lead to the goal.

The goal came from the decision not to give a foul for the block on, I think it was Elia, on the edge of the box. Now, that's a ref's job, to make that judgement. It wasn't clear cut. Sometimes you get them, sometimes you don't. Sometimes going down easily (which he did) can be enough for the ref not to give it. Personally, I thought it was a foul, but I wasn't surprised he didn't give it, especially after what he'd put up with. He's only human, after all.

From that, the Spanish break, but the Dutch have players back. The play switches to the left, then either it breaks down or is blocked (I can't remember which) the Dutch don't clear it and it's passed across the box to Iniesta, who scores.

If we lost with penals i would say congrats so Spain. but now i think its undeserved.. Spain was better in parts of the game, others parts the dutch played better, it was well matched but the referee ruined the game by making allot of wrong decisions

Trust me, I understand being bitter after being knocked out in a Cup final, but to think that Spain didn't deserve to win that final is really myopic. They didn't deserve to finish the game, let alone win it and, while a neutral, I was cheering the Dutch all the way and still wanted them to win until the end, but Spain were the best team on the night and the best team in the tournament.

OK, transfer gossip.

The Portsmouth News says Portsmouth's Papa Bouba Diop has made his move to AEK Athens. Striker John Utaka is also said to be on the way out of the club. The Indepentent say Sunderland is the expected destination. Staying with Portsmouth and the Daily Express tell us that Portsmouth are about to release David James are getting frustrated with not hearing from him about a one year extension to his contract.

Ronaldinho has agreed to join Flamengo and is now waiting for AC Milan to close the deal with the Brazilian club, GloboEsporte reports.

ESPN Soccernet reports that Harry Redknapp has spoken "at length" with Joe Cole's agent about a move to Spurs.

More of the same about the Mascherano transfer rumour and more from the player's agent. The Press Association has him quoted as saying "to be linked to Inter has a magical taste...it's a dream." I'm starting to wonder how much of this is the agent wanting to get paid and how much is the player. My guess is that Inter will pay more than Barcelona for him, which may be why the agent favours that move so much.

goal.com have an interesting, if true, story about Fulham Ottmar Hitzfeld about taking over from Roy Hodgson. I've got a lot of time for Hitzfeld and he was someone I'd have liked to have seen at United when Fergie said he was going to retire. However, The Sun says that Fulham are looking at recruiting United States coach Bob Bradley as manager.

The Guardian says that Torres could be out for two months with a groin injury and that his move to Chelsea may now be called off.

The Mail says that Edin Dzeko is confident that his current team, Wolfsburg, will drop their asking price of £50m to get him to Man City.

They also have a story about Blackpool looking into a move for United States international midfielder Michael Bradley.

The Daily Mirror tell us that Mexican winger Pablo Barrera is set to complete his £4m switch from Pumas to West Ham on a two-year contract, with the option of a third, subject to gaining a work permit.

They also carry news about Loic Remy's proposed move to West Ham. £12m is now the mentioned asking price.

The Daily Mail report that Liverpool have stopped the season long loan deal taking David Ngog to West Brom, in case they can't bring in two strikers before the transfer deadline.

The Daily Star, among others, carries the story that Real have given up on Steven Gerrard, as they don't think £30m represents value for money for the 30 year old. Haven't we heard all this before from Real?

The Daily Record tells us that the Old Firm reunion at Middlesborough is set to continue with the £2m transfer of Rangers midfielder Kevin Thomson. Kris Boyd, Chris Killen and Barry Robson are already at the Riverside Stadium.

Lots of papers tell us that Artur Boruc's bags were unloaded from the plane that was taking Celtic to the US to start their tour. The rumour is that he's on this way to Fiorentina to secure a £1.7m transfer.

The Daily Express also brings us the news that Aiden McGeady wasn't on the plane to the States with his Celtic teammates because of injury and not because he's about to leave the club.

The future of James Beattie and Dave Kitson look to lie elsewhere, after Stoke manager, Tony Pulis, left them both out of the clubs tour in Austria.

The Daily Mail has a worrying story for Arsenal fans. It tells them that Cesc Fabregas had a Barcelona shirt forced on him and was referred to as "the future of Barcelona" by Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina as Spain's players celebrated their World Cup win in front of 200,000 fans in Madrid. Here's a pic of the man himself, with Iniesta who, along with Pique put the shirt on him.

http://images.football365.com/10/07/240/Cesc-Fabregas-Spain-party-Barca-shirt_2476868.jpg

honeykid

07-14-10, 02:04 PM

Before I get to today's gossip, I'd just like to illustrate to those who don't know (or aren't aware) just how pointless everything FIFA is.

Today's FIFA World Rankings. I'll just post the top 15, but here's the link for the article and top 50.

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/14072010/58/world-cup-2010-england-flops-climb-world-rankings.html

Ranking (previous position in brackets)

1 (2) Spain

2 (4) Netherlands

3 (1) Brazil

4 (6) Germany

5 (7) Argentina

6 (16) Uruguay

7 (8) England

8 (3) Portugal

9 (12) Egypt

10 (18) Chile

11 (5) Italy

12 (13) Greece

13 (14) USA

13 (15) Serbia

15 (10) Croatia

Yep, that's right. England, after our worst performance in a World Cup finals, have risen one place in the FIFA rankings.

OK, here's the transfer gossip.

The Sun tells us that Real have just about sealed the deal for Ashley Cole's £30m move from Chelsea and quote Iker Casillas saying: "I am confident he can be a Real Madrid player next year".

They also have a story which has Chelsea switching targets from Mesut Ozil to Stuttgart and Germany midfielder, Sami Khedira.

More Chelsea gossip in The Star, where they say that Chelsea will join United and Man City in the race to sign Italian striker Mario Balotelli from Inter Milan. However, they'll have to bid, at least, £28m which they tell us is how much United are willing to pay. They add that it's also £2m more than City have offered.

The Times goes back to a story that started the summer - the exodus of players at Man City. They say that Robinho and Craig Bellamy are expected to be among the first out the door and start an £80m exodus from the club this summer. They've got Robinho off to AC Milan and Bellamy off to Spurs (as has been rumoured for at least a week.) Micah Richards has also been linked with a move to Spurs.

Until you hear differently, just assume that there's a story in one of the papers quoting Mascherano's agent saying a move to Inter would be a "dream". Today, it's in The Mirror.

The Sun have a story saying new Liverpool manager, Roy Hodgson, is interested in Chu-Young, the South Korean striker at Monaco.

In The Daily Star they have Birmingham City manager, Alex McLeish, about to bid £8m for Liverpool's Ryan Babel.

The Mirror says that Sunderland have made a second attempt to sign Paraguay striker Nelson Valdez from Borussia Dortmund.

Another story in the paper has Owen Coyle ready to sign Real Madrid left-back Marcos Alonso in a £2.2m deal to bring him to Bolton.

Over the border, The Herald says that Celtic have completed the signing of Mexican left back Efrain Juarez for £4m from UNAM Pumas subject to a medical and work permit.

Still over the border and in The Daily Record they tell us that Artur Boruc wants a pay off of about £700,000 from Celtic before completing a £3m transfer to Fiorentina.

A couple of Old Firm related stories from the Daily Express.

Celtic will sign a replacement for goalkeeper Artur Boruc and have asked about Coventry City's Keiren Westwood and Preston's Andy Lonergan.

And Rangers have started talks with Burnley about signing £1.5m-rated midfielder Chris Eagles.

Back to The Daily Star, where they tell us Fabio Capello will tell the FA he wants Italian coaches Mauro Tassotti and Walter Zenga added to his backroom staff to replace Stuart Pearce and Ray Clemence.

Roy Hodgson has told Lucas Leiva that he has a future at Liverpool, so says The Mail.

The Independent goes with the story that Otmar Hitzfeld is in informal talks with Fulham over their vacant managerial role, even though he has two years left on his contract as manager of Switzerland.

Could Man City become the A-Team? The Times carries the story that Man City have given a trial to Roldand Benedict, the son of Dirk Benedict, one of the former stars of The A-Team. Roland Benedict, 20, has been training with City's development squad.

Finally, those reading in New York may want to get themselves a season ticket for the Red Bulls, as Thierry Henry has signed a "multi-year contract". He's expected to make his debut for them on July 22nd against Spurs.

Tacitus

07-14-10, 03:03 PM

Could Man City become the A-Team? The Times carries the story that Man City have given a trial to Roldand Benedict, the son of Dirk Benedict, one of the former stars of The A-Team. Roland Benedict, 20, has been training with City's development squad.

They've already got Howlin' Mad Bellamy in the squad, but for how much longer I dunno.

Dennis Bergkamp might be worth bringing out of retirement too - He ain't gettin' on no plane, fool! ;D

Sorry. :blush:

honeykid

07-14-10, 03:16 PM

Don't apologise, Tacitus, bring in Bergkamp was great. :cool:

What about Fabrizio "The White Feather" Ravanelli for Hannibal?

Tacitus

07-14-10, 05:17 PM

Indeed. ;)

Gazza for Murdoch seems too cruel...on which one, I don't know yet.

Franck Ribery for Face? Failing that, old 'Modo himself, Peter Beardsley.

The girl who sometimes tags along and basks in the A Team's glory could be Capdevila, I suppose. :p

EDIT - Or David May.

honeykid

07-14-10, 09:10 PM

Surely Robbie Savage for the blonde journo, no?

Ribery would be the scariest Faceman, wouldn't he? Beardsley would work well, but if we couldn't get him, how about Ian Dowie or the goregous Luke Chadwick. ;) :D

Tacitus

07-15-10, 06:22 AM

Chadwick?!?!

Thank god I didn't read this post before bedtime. :D

Talking about lá Savage (who's always reminded me of an Afghan Hound), did you hear him at all on 5Live over the World Cup? Throughout his playing career he's been a thoroughly dislikeable pantomime villain to fans of every club he's not actually playing for but I took a bit of a shine to the guy when he's in the pundit's chair.

He's not as good as The Waddler (the clip of him going completely batsh*t during the England/Germany match is a classic already) and is clearly thruppence short of a shilling but Alan 'He'll be disappointed with that' Shearer he isn't.

And this should be treasured. ;)

Golgot

07-15-10, 09:51 AM

Savage became a whole pantomime audience - booing teams he didn't like ;)

And talking of strange animal life forms... another creature was predicting world cup success this year... the Toxoplasma Virus (http://www.slate.com/id/2259350/pagenum/all/)

Hooray for science ;)

Tacitus

07-15-10, 11:12 AM

Makes a change from the argument as to why it was a dullish WC because the Southern hemisphere means that the liquid in (European-based) players' brains was sloshing around in a different direction than usual...

Aaaanyway :D

Good old Robbie:

Took a four-mile run with my BBC producer John Southall the other morning. He was blowing hard by the end but I was fine and commented that the altitude didn’t seem to be affecting me one bit.

“Robbie, you idiot,” he said. “We’ve just been running on the beach.”

honeykid

07-15-10, 04:59 PM

Footballers? They're bright ones, arent' they? My favourite one is that genial wit and "Spice Boys" member, Jason McAteer. There are a few of these out there about him, but the one I always remember is when a few of the lads went out for pizza and were asked if they wanted it cut into 4 or 8? Jason pipes up that he'd better have 4, as he'd never manage 8. :facepalm: True or not, I don't know, but I love it.

Thursday transfer gossip.

The Guardian has the 'news' that Man City are looking to sell Craig Bellamy now that the deal for David Silva has been made.

The Sun tells us that Man City have told Liverpool not to bother with a bid for Micah Richards. I'm just assuming that it's not limited to Liverpool, though.

Still at City (something tells me it's going to be City and Spurs heavy today) and The Telegraph says that they'll go back for Everton's Arteta if they can't get James Milner.

While The Mail has United looking at Philipp Lahm again. I'd take this signing over any other this season. We really do need a reliable right back and Lahm is about as good as a right back gets atm.

Also in The Mail and Inter have said that Mario Balotelli is not for sale and that Maicon is indespensible to the team.

Another Mail story and Chelsea haven't been put off by Torres' groin injury and are going ahead with a bid for him.

More Chelsea news and The Telegraph say that they think they'll be able to fend off the interest from Real for Ashley Cole, even if he wants to leave.

The Daily Mirror has West Ham in talks with Olympiakos about selling midfielders Alessandro Diamanti and Radoslav Kovac but want to keep midfielder Scott Parker and the owners have travelled to the south of France to try to push through a £12m deal for Nice striker Loic Remy.

Sunderland are putting together a deal for United striker Danny Welbeck and Manchester City defender Nedum Ohuoha. That's from The Mail.

The Mirror have Sam Allardyce looking to offload Jason Roberts to raise funds for a new forward.

Emiliano Insua is to join Fiorentina after they agreed a £5m fee with Liverpool for him.

The Mirror has David Moyes saying that he doesn't think that Everton will be signing any more players before the end of the transfer window.

They also have a story which says that Sven-Goran Eriksson turn down the chance of a return to the Premier League with Fulham and stay with the Ivory Coast.

Tacitus

07-15-10, 06:07 PM

Fenwick

07-16-10, 06:15 AM

It's funny how Bellamy has turned into a de facto wide man over the last season and probably given his top level career a new lease of life. He's perfect for playing on either side of a front three...

I can remember watching him quite a bit as a youngster when he was bought to replace Robbie Keane at Cov City. A wonderful little player back then with so much promise. It's a shame that he's so injury prone as that's bound to have affected his development.

It's also a shame that he appears to be an utter cock.

Haha.

Bellamy is a tramp-stamped, mong-faced shitehawk of the highest order. And it looks like Spurs will be getting him! So YAY ****ing YAY. If anything was missing from last season, it was in-fighting with golf clubs and a streak of general ****ishness.

In the Currant Bun today though is the headline 'Luis Fabiano Urges Harry Redknapp to Sign Him'. Fabiano isn't adverse to being a bit of a tool either but Carlos Kickaball that he is, is certainly more interesting than Bellamy and Micah 'spitroast' Richards. I hope we can pull that off 'cos he is a 'triffic player and may give us the means to play 4-5-1, which now seems the way forward in both domestic and European competition.

honeykid

07-16-10, 10:18 PM

The Press Association carries quotes from Sandro Rosell, he says there are currently no talks between the two sides over a deal for Spain midfielder.

"Arsenal feels very hurt by Barca," Rosell told Catalan TV3. "They don't want to listen to offers or sell and they are not putting the player on the market. There was a strong dispute a few months ago and they have not forgotten it.

"He will arrive, even if it is not now, it will be next year. We will see. One thing that is certain is that we will not go mad trying to sign him. No shareholder would pay 60 or 70m euros for him.

"We will not go all out for him. We would only pay his value in the transfer market."

BBC Sport reports that Man City have signed Manchester City Serbian left-back Aleksandar Kolarov, from Lazio for a fee of £16m

West Ham have made the signings of winger Pablo Barrera for £4m and Lyon striker Frederic Piquionne, who was on loan at Portsmouth last season.

The Daily Mail says United could lose Nemanja Vidic to Real Madrid. It's an old story, but it just won't go away.

The Mail also carries the story that Shakhtar Donetsk are looking at making a £20m bid for Robinho.

They also tell us that Spurs and Arsenal are in a bidding war over 17-year-old Ipswich striker Connor Wickham. £8m is the figure being bandied about.

In The Independent, Massimo Moratti (Inter Chairman) has hinted the club may be ready to sell forward Mario Balotelli if a club makes the right offer. Oh, cal suprise.

AC Milan are shopping Klaas-Jan Huntelaar around to Premier League clubs to raise funds for a move for Wolfsburg's Edin Dzeko.

The Sun says Aston Villa are thinking about making an £8m bid for Dinamo Zagreb striker Mario Mandzukic.

You know that running story about West Ham making a bid for Nice forward Loic Remy? Well, The Sun is still going with that. However, The Daily Mirror tells us that Liverpool may yet come in and make a bid.

The Daily Star says that Steve Bruce is close to taking Danny Welbeck to Sunderland from United on a 12-month loan deal.

However, Bruce will have to pay £10m for Stephen Ireland, says The Mirror.

They also say that Martin Jol has emerged as a late contender for the Fulham job.

Meanwhile, God himself (or Eric Cantona to the non-United fans) has told The Sun that he is "sure England will not qualify" for Euro 2012 or the 2014 World Cup because there are not enough English players competing in the Premier League.

The Mirror says that Robbie Keane will be sold to Villa, in order to make room for Craig Bellamy at Spurs.

The Mail has Portsmouth defender Tal Ben Haim set to become West Ham's third signing of the week. Avram Grant has been busy this week, hasn't he?

More from The Mail and Zenit St Petersburg want to sign Porto defender Bruno Alves amid fears Manchester United could make a move if Nemanja Vidic should leave Old Trafford.

Lastly, in The Telegraph, they tell us that Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed he twice turned down the chance to coach the England national team. Apparently he was first choice after Terry Venables and again, three years later, after Glen Hoddle.

“I was offered the chance to manage the England team on a couple of occasions but, of course, it was just out of the question. “It’s a poisoned chalice anyway. I think it’s a terrible job, plus the fact that I would have had a tremendous handicap being Scottish; no matter which way you look it, that’s important.” Fergie said.

honeykid

07-17-10, 03:09 PM

Man City manager Roberto Mancini has added Attilio Lombardo to the coaching staff at the club. The 'Bald Eagle' was a former team-mate of Mancini's at Sampdoria. He'll meet up with another forrmer Sampdoria man on the coaching staff, David Platt.

Adriano Correia has made the move from Sevilla to Barcelona, signing a four-year deal with the Catalan club and will could cost them £11.5m.

Still at Barca and the Press Association carries quotes from Barcelona striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic who says he is staying at Barcelona and has quashed speculation linking him with a move to the Premier League.

"I was a Barca player when I left [to go on holiday] and I'll be a Barca player when I go back," he said at a press conference to announce his return to the Sweden national team.

"I want to congratulate everybody that has used my name, because it's fun to have been at Chelsea, at Manchester City, without having been there."

The Sun brings good news to Arsenal fans by reporting that the club are winning their battle to keep Fabregas.

But they bring less welcome news for United fans. Yep, it's the Vidic story again. £18m is what they say Real will pay. I know he's not the player he was a couple of seasons ago, but I'd still want around £10m more than that for him.

The Daily Mirror say that Inter are hoping that United and City will create a bidding war for teenage striker Mario Balotelli. Good luck with that, Inter. If you want more than £30m, I think you may as well sell to City now.

The Mail bring us the news that Spurs' Giovani dos Santos is wanted by Sporting Lisbon on loan and could be used to bring forward Yannick Djalo to White Hart Lane in a £4.2m deal.

The Star says that Everton have been told to forget about a deal for Landon Donovan.

Sunderland are interested in signing both Danny Welbeck and Burnley winger Chris Eagles to the Stadium of Light. So says The Mail.

The Mirror tells us that Bolton have been given first option to take midfielder Jack Wilshere back to the Reebok should Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger send him out on loan again.

Also in The Mirror and they say that current Ajax manager (and former Spurs manager) Martin Jol has agreed a deal to take over as Fulham manager.

honeykid

07-18-10, 03:05 PM

Hooray for Sunday! Bumper transfer gossip day.

Werder Bremen have said they're ready to listen to offers for German playmaker Mesut Ozil. That's from the Associated Foreign Press.

101greatgoals tells us that Harry Redknapp has confirmed that the club are on the verge of signing Croatia keeper Stipe Pletikosa from Spartak Moscow.

The Mail On Sunday bring us the, not unexpected news given the recent disclosure of Barca's finances, that they're about to give Arsenal a £40m "take it or leave it" offer for Fabregas. From what's been reported, I'd say that's their entire transfer budget for this summer. Looks like he's staying, Gunners fans as, by my prediction, that's £20m short.

The Sunday Mirror carries the news that Chelsea manager, Carlo Ancelotti, has said that Ashley Cole's not going anywhere and that include Real and City. I've also read on the BBC website Ancelotti say that he's not interested in a £50m bid for Torres as they have enough strikers at the club.

That being the case, Real manager, Jose Mourinho, will now go for Patrice Evra at United. That's in the News Of The World, who also say that Vidic is also a transfer target for Real.

The Sunday Express say United are preparing a bid for Bayern Munich's Philipp Lahm and are prepared to offer forward Dimitar Berbatov in order to get him.

Will anyone decent leave Liverpool? Not according to the Sunday Times who say that Rafa Benitez will go for Dirk Kuyt. :D They also say he's looking at Everton midfielder Steven Pienaar. Frankly, I don't see either of these happening. Though I'd bite their hand off at the chance to get shot of Kuyt.

More from the Sunday Mirror, who say that Arsenal have had a £14m bid for Phil Jagielka turned down. However, it also says that they'll be back with a £16m offer.

Another story from the Sunday Mirror sees Newcastle making a sly bid for Mahamadou Diarra, who's said to have dropped out of favour at Real.

The News Of The World has Inter excited and ready to let Mario Balotelli talk to Man City, after City offered £20m. Looks like none of them know what the hell's going on with this transfer, either. Wasn't it reported during the week that City had already offered £28m? £2m less than United were prepared to offer? Anyway...

Also in the NOTW, though not really a story atm, is Joe Cole moving to Liverpool on a £90,000 a week, three year contract. I heard about this yesterday and later read that betting had been suspended on the Joe Cole move, so there really might be something behind it. Though I'm still having trouble seeing him that far north, maybe the 3 year deal is enough to do it?

Still with the NOTW and new manager, Roy Hodgson, has told Torres and Gerrard to make up their minds within the next two weeks whether they want to leave or not.

They also say that the Jimmy Bullard to Celtic move is back on, after he accepted a fee to leave Hull.

The Sunday Times say David James may move to Celtic on a free as a replacement for Artur Boruc.

Or Celtic may go for Crystal Palace's Julian Speroni, from the NOTW.

More NOTW rumours who tell is that Arsenal and Tottenham have will have to pay up £10m for Ipswich's 17-year-old striker Connor Wickham.

Spurs are also looking at Blackburn's 18-year-old defender Phil Jones.

The Daily Star On Sunday (that's a mouthful, isn't it?) says West Brom are lining up a £1m bid to sign Blackburn striker Jason Roberts.

The Sunday People reports that Stoke City are going to offer West Ham £8m for Carlton Cole.

The Daily Star On Sunday has the owners of the New York Yankees looking at buying Tottenham for £450m.

The Sunday Mirror says Fabio Capello believes his failure to convince Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes to come out of international retirement was a massive contributing factor to his side's dismal World Cup showing this summer.

The Sunday Mirror says that there are England players who want Capello sacked following the publication of player ratings website the Capello Index.

Ricky Hatton is reported to have given up his executive box at the Wastelands, after the club raised the price from £22,000 last season to £39,000 this season.

The Mail On Sunday tells us that it's that over one million World Cup seats went unsold in South Africa, with many locals unable to afford to buy tickets for the games.

christine

07-19-10, 06:33 PM

I think you've all seen The Damned United, but did you see the documentary on last night on BBC2 Brian Clough: The Greatest Manager England Never Had?
was good.

honeykid

07-19-10, 08:38 PM

I didn't see it last night, but I have seen it before. *in my best Jimmy Saville voice* As it 'appens, I recorded it and am watching it now. :)

Looks like, as usual, the bookies info was correct, as Liverpool have signed Joe Cole on a four year deal, subject to his medical.

Spurs have become my favourite Premier League team (after United, of course) as they've become the first Prem team to ban vuvuzelas from their ground. Well done you lilly whites. :up:

The Daily Mail isn't letting go off the Fabregas story, even though it looks dead for another year. They say that Fabregas is refusing to give up "his dream" of going back to Barca, but may have to submit a transfer request to force it through.

The Sun says that Luis Fabiano will probably stay in Spain, even though there are a number of Premier League clubs who want to sign him. Obviously, not the right ones.

They also carry the obligatory "Loic Remy to West Ham" story and also carry the now also obligatory "Liverpool are also in for him" story.

The Mirror, however, carry a story that West Ham have turned their attention to Rosario Central's Argentine striker Milton Caraglio.

The Daily Mail say that Man City officials have travelled to Italy to seal a £35m deal for Inter's Mario Balotelli.

They also say that Newcastle want to sign Saint-Etienne's 23-year-old centre back Yohan Benalouane.

The Daily Mirror tells us that Chelsea's 18 year old defender Jeffrey Bruma, 18, will join Wolfsburg, managed by Steve McClaren, on a season-long loan deal.

Another Mirror story has Martin O'Neill ready to bid £10m for Celtic midfielder Aiden McGeady. And Marlon Harewood has been offered a two-year deal at Rangers, after being released on a free from Aston Villa.

Lastly, Joey Barton (remember him?) shows us his comedic skills by telling the Daily Mail that he is "as good as anyone in the country", including fellow midfielders Steven Gerrard of Liverpool and Chelsea's Frank Lampard.

The Daily Mail tell us that Martin Jol, who's expected to take over at Fulham, is interested in signing Spurs striker Robbie Keane, after being promised a £20m transfer kitty.

Fenwick

07-19-10, 08:54 PM

In some concrete news, Joke 'I don't want to leave London' Cole has joined Liverpool on a four year deal for an estimated £90,000+ a week. Oh well, he certainly isn't a player to be breaking the wage structure for and i'm not sure he'd get in ahead of Kranjcar anyway, let alone Modric. Hopefully we can put our energies into getting a top quality front man.

I'm glad we've banned the vuvuzela's as well, even if it is a little pointless. I'd like to see the reaction in my vicinity if someone started tooting that noise pollution pipe. Some guy in the Paxton brings an old wooden rattle to every game and gets enough grief for that. There would be a riot if he replaced it with a trumpet!

Nice to see Jol back in England as well. It'd be even nicer if he took Keane off our hands.

christine

07-20-10, 06:02 PM

strange footie related story

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/8836152.stm

honeykid

07-20-10, 08:17 PM

AC Milan owner, Silvio Berlusconi, has said that they'll never sell Brazilian forward Ronaldinho.

"Ronaldinho is not transferable and we're all in agreement that he will remain at Milan as long as he continues to play," said Berlusconi. "I've not spoken to him recently, but it is certain that we will be renewing his contract and that he'll stay (at Milan) as long as he continues to play.

"I consider him the best player of all time."

Contrary to newpaper stories today, the Blackpool City website says that the club isn't encouraging people to bring vuvuzelas to home games.

"We haven't really given any full consideration to vuvuzelas - we've had plenty of other things occupying the mind with a debut season in the Premier League to prepare for," said a club spokesman.

"Any decision will be taken in due course and in consultation with relevant supporter groups."

More denials to newspaper stories, this time from Man City, who've denied talking to Didier Drogba. Thierno Seydi suggested in a radio interview that Drogba could leave Chelsea before the transfer deadline and said there had already been talks with City. But a City spokesperson said: "There has been absolutely no contact. We have not spoken to him and there is no foundation to this." That's carried by the Press Association.

Even more wrong stories, this time the Martin Jol to Fulham story that's been knocking around for about a week. The Press Association says that Martin Jol is prepared to snub Fulham and remain at Ajax, providing the club allow him to strengthen the squad this summer.

"They (Fulham) were interested but in principle I will stay at Ajax," Jol told Amsterdam-based newspaper De Telegraaf on Tuesday.

However, this evening the BBC website has a story saying that Fulham are in talks with Ajax about negotiating a deal to let Jol take the job at Fulham and that Jol is "unhappy" at Ajax.

The Daily Telegraph tells us that Barcelona hope to talk with Arsenal to discuss the their grievances over their persistent pursuit of Fabregas before submitting a second bid in an attempt to bring him to the club.

The Times says that Arsenal's Eduardo is on the verge of a £6m move to Shakhtar Donetsk after undergoing a medical.

I can't believe he still hasn't gone to PSG, but The Sun today carries a story that Panathinaikos are offering William Gallas £25,000 a week and a £1m signing on fee.

The Guardian says with the signing of Joe Cole that Liverpool hope to persuade both Torres and Gerrard to stay. Latest reports tonight, again from the BBC website, suggest that Gerrard has told Liverpool that he's going to stay.

The Daily Mail says Sunderland are looking at bringing Titus Bramble to the club for £5m. While, The Sun, says that Sunderland are also favourites to get Sol Campbell on a free transfer.

Still with The Sun who say that Bolton and Sunderland are front runners for the signature of Algerian midfielder, Karim Matmou, for a fee of £6m.

honeykid

07-21-10, 06:18 PM

The Mirror tells us that Manchester City are talking to Benfica and Brazil midfielder Ramires, after the deal for Villa's James Milner stalled. The story says he's rated at £30m, which is twice the value I remember stated a couple of weeks ago when this story first came about.

The Mail has City confident of signing Mario Balotelli for £23m, which is £7m less than they were reported to have bid a day or two ago. They really don't have a clue, do they?

The Sun has Fergie interested in signing Mezut Ozil from Wolfsburg. However, seeing as every media outlet, including The Sun, have been carrying stories with Sir Alex saying that he's happy with what he's got (ie. There's no more money for signings) I can't really see where this story is coming from.

The Sun also say that Spurs are now at the head of the queue for Real Madrid's free transfer, Raul. Again, it's almost as if they've not got a clue where he's going. ;)

The Daily Mail says that Chelsea have had a £16.9m offer for 18-year-old Brazilian forward Neymar turned down by Santos.

The Express say that Barcelona star Xavi has told Arsenal they only have Cesc Fabregas "on loan" and that the Gunners captain will eventually return to the Nou Camp, where he started his career.

The Daily Express also bring us news from the transfer that never happens. Fulham's Mark Schwarzer has been offered a player-coach role to join Arsenal.

The Mirror say that Liverpool want £6m for David Ngog, to raise funds for other transfers.

The Daily Mail says that Roman Pavlyuchenko is on the verge of a season-long switch to Sporting Lisbon.

Back to The Mirror and West Ham are set to finalise a move for Lyon defender Francois Clerc, who is available on a free transfer.

Defender Tal Ben-Haim's proposed move to West Ham from Portsmouth is on the verge of collapse after he failed a medical.

Today's "Which former player will Jose take to Real" story says that Ricardo Carvalho is the latest Chelsea player to join him. At least this story has some backing to it, as Carvalho moved with Jose to Chelsea from Porto and there's been rumours about Chelsea selling him this summer for a while now. Who knows, maybe this one will actually go ahead.

The Mirror also brings us the news that Wolves, West Ham and Blackburn are all after City striker, Benjani, who's been released on a free.

Real midfielder, Mahamadou Diarra, has pledged himself to Real Madrid, killing any interest that Newcastle may've had in him. That's in The Independent.

Also in The Independent, news that Petr Cech could miss the first Premier League game of the season against West Brom, after suffering a calf injury in training on Tuesday.

christine

07-21-10, 07:09 PM

I could still never believe that Gerrard would leave Liverpool whatever happens

honeykid

07-21-10, 09:44 PM

Nope. I think if he were going to leave Liverpool, it would've been when Chelsea first came in for him. Had Real (or another big European club) made a move for him then, it's possible, but Stevie Me loves being the King of his Realm and I don't think he'd get away with half of what he does in, and for, Liverpool. ;)

Also, I don't think being 'another' star in a team of stars is his thing at all.

Fenwick

07-22-10, 10:51 AM

I'm sorry to all American vistors to this thread, although i'm sure there aren't many, but this interview rivals the infamous Darren Huckerby one when he arrived Stateside.

http://www.thefinalthird.com/2010/07/20/good-day-new-york-interview-with-thierry-henry/

"So Thierry, you've just won the World Cup?". Err no.

It's almost unwatchable from then on, seeing two shing-faced morning news presenters question someone they don't know about something they know nothing about. I'm all for showing that handball in the lead up to Gallas' controversial goal vs Ireland as an indicator of his abilities, this coming from a bitter Spurs fans who remembers him sprinting the length of Highbury to celebrate in front the lilywhites packing the away end, but of all the great moments in his career, and unfortunately there were many, I can't believe the editor picked that one to showcase to America.

As for the presenters and Henry trying to make out that racism is a massive problem in Europe while everything is squeaky clean in the States, well, words fail me. It's a full-on retard-fest all round.

I think Henry will make his debut tonight against Spurs, as we are doing one of those money-spinning yet horrendously impractical tours of the US for pre-season. Hopefully it's a little better than our last game against the San Jose...erm...EARTHQUAKES! but as long as everyone comes out unscathed, it really doesn't matter to me.

And for those curious about the Darren Huckerby interview. Here it is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-B6ucoSoIy4

honeykid

07-22-10, 06:48 PM

The Sun tell us that Chelsea hope to beat Barcelona and Bayern to the signature of defensive midfielder Ramires. Today, however, his price has dropped a third, to £20m.

More from The Sun, who tell us Fernando Torres has been in talks with Liverpool managing director Christian Purslow, though he's yet to give any sign as to whether he'll stay or not. I'd have thought that breaking down in the final of the World Cup, after only being on the pitch for about 10 minutes, was a pretty good sign that he's going nowhere this summer. Unless he goes to City. I can see City putting down £50m-£70m on a striker who's spent the last two years on the treatment table.

Today's "Mascherano Goes To Inter" story comes from The Guardian.

The Daily Mirror says that Roy Hodgson is looking at the possibility of signing City defender Wayne Bridge.

They also carry one of today's "Loic Remy To West Ham" story. However, the twist in today's story is that they're going to include Nabil El Zhar and Damien Plessis in a players-plus-cash offer. The other is from The Mail, who say that West Ham are in "pole Position" after making a £13m bid. Just where are the Hammers getting this cash from?

More from The Mirror, who says that Arsene Wenger thinks he can persuade Sol Campbell to stay at Arsenal and resist offers from Newcastle, Sunderland and Celtic.

Some stories from The Mail now. They say that Sunderland have joined 'the race' to sign David James.

And that Sevilla have made Everton a £9m bid for Mikel Arteta.

That Wigan are thinking about a £2m move for PSV defender Carlos Salcido, should Figueroa move to Liverpool, as has been rumoured.

Celtic Manager, Neil Lennon, has promised Hoops fans his summer signing blitz will kick into overdrive once he returns from the USA on Friday.

The Sun catch Harry Redknapp after a quick schmoke (apparently) as he tells them that he believes his side are capable of building on qualifying for the Champions League by winning the Premier League title.

Whereas, in The Express, he's in a better state of mind, when he tells us that it is only a matter of time before Manchester City's spending bags them the Premier League crown and that, if he could bring in four players of his choice, he would win the league.

Some quick news.

Martin O'Neil has said that he'll sell James Milner if he wants to leave.

Scottish defender Danny Wilson has signed for Liverpool. He's signed a three-year deal after a move from Rangers. The deal could be worth upto £5m, though Liverpool will pay £2m upfront with the rest dependent on clauses.

Chelsea defender, Alex, will be out for a month with a thigh strain and so will miss the first game of the season.

Martin Jol has turned down the chance to take over at Fulham, having decided to stay at Ajax.

Lastly, United's new signing Javier Hernandez, will have the name Chicharito - which means little pea - on the back of his shirt next season.

Tacitus

07-23-10, 06:56 AM

I've posted that Huckerby interview a few times here, it's a classic.

"He's a legend!"

Poor Darren. Bags of skill and pace but didn't have a brain in his head so the skill and pace only combined a couple of times a season.

As for Henry, if you're gonna retire from professional football then you're gonna have to put up with stupid interviews. I know he's a shadow of the player he was a mere two or three years ago but surely he could have found a club in a league where people at least know who he is? He doesn't need the money, does he?

Maybe it's true that the only other club who offered him a deal was West Ham and maybe he was being genuine when he said a few years back that the only English club he'd play for would be Arsenal. If that's the case, then respect to him, I suppose, but it's kinda cutting off your nose to spite your face.

As it stands, Henry is following in the footsteps of Georgie Best, Pele etc who went after one last big payday in the land where professional sportspeople are treated like gods. Except footballers.

honeykid

07-23-10, 09:22 PM

The French Football Federation has said it will suspended all 23 members of France's World Cup squad for their next game, a friendly against Norway on 11th August.

Good news for United fans like me, as Nemanja Vidic has agreed a new "long-term" contract, according to United chief executive David Gill.

Goal brings us the news that AC Milan are 'very close' to completing a £12.5m deal for CSKA Moscow's Japan World Cup star Keisuke Honda.

Now a story from Italian Sky Sports (did you know such a thing existed? I didn't.) Anyway, they're saying that Inter have confirmed there is a "dialogue" with Man City about Mario Balotelli, and they are "waiting and considering" but have yet to take a definite decision on his future.

Still with Man City and The Guardian tells us that the club are about to make a £24m take it or leave it offer for James Milner.

Whereas the Daily Mail says that Milner is fuming and demanding talks with Martin O'Neill, after being accused of wanting to walk out of Villa Park. He says that he's never said he wants to leave and wants to know why O'Neill says he did.

The Mail also says that Blackburn have been unable to sign James Beattie, who's unwanted at Stoke. So the club that was 'supposed' to be looking at signing Raul, can't convince James Beattie to join? :D

The Sun says that Sol Campbell has signed an extension to his contract at Arsenal.

The Times says that West Ham has dropped their asking price for Carlton Cole... To £12m. Now that, if I remember correctly, is £2m more than the price they wanted earlier in the summer. :facepalm:

A story from the Daily Mirror, now, and French league winners, Marseille, are about to offer £8m for Wigan's Charles N'Zogbia.

They also say that West Ham have asked Algeria's World Cup goalkeeper Rais M'Bolhi to join their pre-season training camp in Germany.

And they have Luke Young going to Villa from Fulham, after reporting that he didnt' turn up at pre-season training in Germany.

The Independent have a story that I've not seen anywhere else. They say that some Fulham players want Cardiff boss Dave Jones to take over at Craven Cottage.

Sadly, for football journalists, Germany's Sami Khedira has said that the only club he's willing to join is Real Madrid.

Not £34m. Not £50m. No, Wolfsberg have no told Man City (apparently) that Edin Dzeko isn't available at any price. According to The Mail, anyway.

The Mirror has Chelsea in the market for a striker. It'll be no surprise to you that Mario Balotelli is the name mentioned. They also say that Franco Di Santo will be sold.

The Daily Express tells us that Sven-Goran Eriksson's agent has said that there's been no contact with Fulham about taking over at the club.

The Mirror say that Avram Grant wants Mikael Silvestre to come to West Ham.

Panathinaikos' reported offer of £25,000 a week and a £1m signing bonus apparently wasn't enough for William Gallas. The Mail says that Panathinaikos have stopped negotiations after refusing to meet his wage demands.

The Mirror says Stoke are stupid enough to pay £12m for Carlton Cole.

Lastly, Robbie Keane refused to answer questions about his future at Spurs, after scoring in the 2-1 win over New York Red Bulls.

honeykid

07-25-10, 10:31 PM

It's Sunday (or, at least, it was) so it's another round of Sunday Bumper Transfer Gossip Day.

The Sunday Times goes back to a story that's almost as old as the hills. It's the one about David Beckham going to West Ham. This time, however, they've managed to tie in the 2012 Olympic bid, saying that they hope that, with Beckham aboard, they'll get to move to the Olympic stadium in 2013.

The Sunday Mirror says that Carlo Ancelotti has made it clear that Ashley Cole is going nowhere.

The News Of The World is carrying a story which has Spurs 'hijacking' Man City's deal for James Milner.

While The Mail On Sunday says that Jose Mourinho is to make one last-ditch attempt to sign Steven Gerrard and has instructed the Real Madrid hierarchy to offer £30m.

They also tell us that Man City is planning a player clear out and, if that wasn't news, it then goes on to mention all the names you'd expect to hear.

They also say that Arsenal are still interested in signing Phil Jagielka even though, they tell us, that they've already had a £10m bid turned down. It was £14m last time, wasn't it? :D They also say that Arsene Wenger has turned down the chance to sign David James, so he's off to Celtic.

The keeper that the NOTW say Wenger is after is Ajax and Netherlands keeper Maarten Stekelenburg.

Remember Loic Remy? Of course you do, there's been a bloody story telling us he's on his way to West Ham for the last two weeks. Anyway, the Mail says that he may not be coming to the Premier League at all (they use the words "denied a move to") because his former club, Lyon, have been given 48 hours to match any offer made by West Ham, Liverpool or Arsenal if Nice decide to sell. Is it me, or is this story falling away in a classic Fleet Street manner?

Stoke are looking into a £4m bid for Kevin-Prince Boateng from Portsmouth. That's from the Sunday Mirror.

The NOTW say that Wigan, Blackburn and Stoke are all after 24-year-old striker Mamadou Samassa, who's contract has run out at Marseille.

Back to the Sunday Mirror and Martin O'Neil will 'consider his future' at the club if they try to sell Ashley Young behind his back. Wouldn't that apply to any manager with any player? Unless it's in the contract, of course.

Roy Hodgson seems to be paving the way for Torres to leave Liverpool. He says there is nothing more he can do to keep him at Liverpool and is quoted as saying; "His beef is with the club and not me," Of course, he's also quoted as saying; "If he has problems with the club for things in the past, it is difficult for me to dismiss that." Doesn't that "if" sound a bit iffy?

The Sunday Mirror says that Harry Redknapp has asked the Spurs board to back him with funds in the transfer market, so that this opportunity to get Spurs amongst the Premier League elite isn't wasted. I don't know how much he's asking for but, according to reports, he's got a transfer budget of £40m. However, Chairman Levy won't break the club's pay structure.

There's stories about Fabregas. One says Wenger's going to have 'showdown' talks with him. The other that he's going to stay because, wait for it, the Arsenal fans mean so much to him. :rolleyes:

The Mail On Sunday says Everton are looking to make Arteta the best paid Everton player ever, in an attempt to keep him at Goodison.

And a couple of the stories that interest me from the early editions.

The Telegraph has Newcastle hoping to sign Marseille winger Hatem Ben Arfa on a loan deal.

They also say that Harry Redknapp intends to name Robbie Keane in his 25-man Premier League squad despite persistent speculation that he's off to.. Well, anyone who can pay him enough.

The Mirror says David Ngog is putting off potential employers with his £40,000 a week wages.

They also have Sunderland and Blackpool in a race to sign Danny Wellback on a year loan from United.

Brodinski

07-26-10, 04:15 PM

Raúl leaves Real Madrid for Schalke 04. Wow...

honeykid

07-26-10, 11:30 PM

Has this definately happened? I only ask because Raul has said that the deal's not done and that there were teams in England that were interested. He did say that his future lay in either Germany or England. Anyway, according to the papers here (which is like consulting tea leaves most of the time) it's Spurs or Newcastle for Raul. Anyway, atm, all the news (bar one) is from the Daily Mail.

Javier Mascherano has been told by Liverpool that he can leave the club (soccernet) and that Inter are putting together a £25m bid. I remember reading that Liverpool want £30m and Inter didn't want to pay more than £20m, so £25m may well be the magic number.

Arsenal's Manuel Almunia is wanted by his first club Osasuna and that, if this happens, then the Mark Schwarzer, Fulham to Arsenal deal, might finally happen.

Martin Jol, who's still at Ajax after turning down Fulham, wants Mido from Middleborough. If true, I can't see this deal taking more than a minute.

An interesting West Ham story (or, at least, one that doesn't feature Loic Remy) with the news that Roma want to sign midfielder Valon Behrami and could offer goalkeeper Doni or striker Stefano Okaka in exchange.

Lastly, Sunderland, Fulham and Bolton are all fighting it out to sign Portsmouth forward John Utaka.

Brodinski

07-27-10, 01:11 PM

Yeah, it was in every Belgian newspaper yesterday. He's really leaving Real for Schalke 04. That is a true icon of club love that is leaving a team that is synonymous with his name. What's the first name that comes to mind if you say Real Madrid? As of now, that's Casillas... Wow...

I NEVER thought Raúl would ever leave Real. It would be like Giggs leaving Man U for *gasp* Lyon or Bordeaux or whatever.

honeykid

07-28-10, 12:41 AM

I was sure that he's leaving Real, there's been no doubt about that all season and, once you knew that Jose was going there (around about October last year) you could see that he'd want to leave. I actually think there's more chance he'll go to Schalke than he will come to the Premier League, as I think the pace will suit him more.

Anyway, some more gossip

The BBC website has a story about Maxi Rodriguez being on the verge of returning to Spanish side Espanyol.

Also, they say that Sol Campbell is set to sign for Newcastle United, after arriving at the club for a medical.

Roy Hodgson is quoted as saying about Torres; "He has told us that he is looking forward to Monday, to getting back to work and looking forward to playing for Liverpool next season.

"That is what I know so other reports, I would suggest, are erroneous."

Royston Drenthe agent has told the BBC that his client won't be moving anywhere this summer, despite a facebook page, claiming to be Royston Drenthe which said "I will soon be joining Liverpool FC. I hope I will have a good season,"

And goal.com says that, now £30m rated, Luis Suarez is on Harry Redknapp's shopping list.

The Mirror says that Mario Balotelli has rejected a bigger pay packet at Manchester United to join former boss Roberto Mancini at Manchester City.

This £25m transfer, they say, trigger the transfer merry-go-round. Emmanuel Adebayor will join Juventus on loan, while Mascherano, Dirk Kuyt and Atletico Madrid striker Diego Forlan will move to Inter Milan.

Shaun Wright-Phillips may be offered as part of a deal to sign James Milner, as the "City To Sign Milner" sage drags on, so say The Mirror.

The Sun say Liverpool want defender Carlos Salcido and that PSV Eindhoven will ask for about £3m.

Spurs want Scott Parker, but West Ham are rumoured to ask £15m for him, which said to be putting them off. I've also read that Liverpool are interested in him.

The Sun carry a story I like, which is that United are looking at Steven Defour. The midfielder would cost around £13m, so they say.

The Daily Express say that United are worried that both Owen Hargreaves and Anderson won make the named 25 player squad that Premier League team have to have this season. There's also a story (somewhere) that Jonathon Woodgate will be left out off the Spurs list, too. They also speculate that his career may over. Nothing new there.

Benfica are asking for £33m for defender, David Luiz, who's been linked with Chelsea, Real and City.

The Mirror say that Wenger will make a bid for Per Mertesacker and think that £10m should do it. They say that this is in reaction to Sol Campbell moving to Newcastle, I this story has been knocking about for a day or two now.

The Daily Mail say that West Bromwich Albion have had a £3m bid for midfielder Cheick Tiote rejected by FC Twente.

They also say that Scott Parker will be offered a new, 5 year deal worth £20m to try and keep him at West Ham.

Lastly, The Sun say that Arsenal will make a bid for Arsenal are poised to move for Italy's #1 keeper, Federico Marchetti after his club, Cagliari, put the 27-year-old up for sale.

honeykid

07-29-10, 12:28 PM

Mark Hughes is Fulham's new manager.

Stuttgart's managing director Fredi Bobic has said that midfielder Sami Khedira, 23, wants a move to Real Madrid. "He's told us that he wants to go - now we have to find a solution," Bobic told Bild newspaper.

Manchester City are set to confirm the £24m signing striker Mario Balotelli on Thursday after he agreed a contract worth about £65,000 a week.

The Sun carries the story that David Beckham has promised to give West Ham a decision soon on whether he will end his career at Upton Park.

Liverpool are ready to offer Aston Villa £7m for midfielder Stiliyan Petrov, as a replacement for Mascherano who's said to be off to Inter for £25m

The Mirror also carry a story about Luke Young's move to Liverpool. They say it may be off, as he wants a pay-off from Aston Villa as he would have to take a drop in wages.

More from The Mirror and Chelsea chief executive Ron Gourlay has said Carlo Ancelotti will be given money to rebuild the side and that striker Didier Drogba will not be leaving.

IMScouting say that Mourinho has ruled out a move for David Luiz, so Man City are now favourites to sign the Benfica defender.

They also have Javier Garrido moving from Man City to Lazio for £2.5m.

More from IMscouting who say that Federico Marchetti is almost at Arsenal in a deal, said to be around £5m.

The Sun say that Wigan are putting together a, club record, £7m bid for Chile's World Cup striker Humberto Suazo. Birmingham and Sunderland are also eyeing a swoop for the 29-year-old.

The Mirror has Australian midfielder Vince Grella moving to Galatasaray from Blackburn, with the clubs seeking to negotiate a deal of about £2m.

As Fulham's new manager, Mark Hughes wants to take Craig Bellamy to The Cottage. That's according to goal.com.

While, The Daily Mail have Spurs offering £4m for the City striker.

The Daily Mail also bring us news that Danish goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard, who plays for Norwegian side Aalesunds, is being lined up by Manchester United as Edwin van der Sar's successor.

More United news, this time from The Sun, who tell us United lead the chase for Ghana's midfielder Anthony Annan, who plays for Rosenborg. Arsenla and Chelsea are the other two clubs mentioned.

The Mail say that Besiktas want Villa's John Carew.

They also say that Mick McCarthy has ruled out a permanent move for Chelsea's Michael Mancienne. who he had on loan last season.

A few papers carry John Bostock's words about his progress, in his mind, being damaged by foreign players in the English game. The 18-year-old, who was on loan at Brentford last season, wants another loan move as he has only made three substitute appearances for Spurs in two years.

France coach Laurent Blanc has said he will quit if he fails to secure qualification for the 2012 European Championships.

Yesterday, The Mirror said that Roque Santa Cruz is on his way to Marseille for around £9m. Frankly, I think City will be lucky to get that. They also said that Jo may be on his way to Blackburn.

Whereas, IMscouting said that Marseille will go for Emmanuel Adebayor.

honeykid

07-30-10, 01:28 PM

Internationally retired (is that a phrase? It is now) Thierry Henry has told L'Equipe that he will never even consider playing for France again, even if new coach and former team-mate Laurent Blanc asked him to.

David James has joined Bristol City.

The Independent say that the deal to take Mario Balotelli to Man City, is still "a substantial distance" from being agreed.

The Mirror have Roy Hodgson telling everyone that David Ngog will stay at Liverpool despite the rumours to the contrary.

Finally, it sounds like the death rattle of the "Fabregas to Barcelona" story and, today at least, it's coming from The Independent, who tell us that Cesc Fabregas has hinted he is still tempted by a return to Barcelona and has said that the conversation over his future with Arsene Wenger was "one of the most difficult moments of my life."

The Daily Mirror say that Bolton will bring Ivan Klasnic back to the club on a permanent deal from Nantes.

Sad news today in the Mirror, as it carries a story which says that Queens Park Rangers and Coventry are after Marlon "I hit women who don't won't let me **** them" King, who was released from prison yesterday.

The Star say that Luke Young's move to Liverpool is definately off, as he won't accept a £10,000 a week drop in wages.

While, in The Sun, they say that West Brom have joined Blackburn and Sheffield United in the chase for Stoke's James Beattie and have made a bid of £1.5m.

In completely unsurprising news, The Mirror have new Fulham boss Mark Hughes going after City rejects (and former buys of his) Craig Bellamy and Roque Santa Cruz, as well as Stephen Ireland, who was a regular first team player during Hughes' time at the club.

The Mail say that Hughes may make a move for Robert Green, if Mark Schwarzer goes to Arsenal.

My favourite story of the day is from The Sun. Five thousand unsold 24-carat gold limited edition Frank Lampard signature iPods are to be melted down and rebranded into ones featuring cartoon character Hello Kitty.

christine

07-30-10, 01:44 PM

David James has joined Bristol City.

Our locals are made up!

The Star say that Luke Young's move to Liverpool is definately off, as he won't accept a £10,000 a week drop in wages.

you wouldn't though would you? It'd be so hard to scrape by.

honeykid

07-30-10, 02:06 PM

The thing that gets me is, he's Luke Young and it's a move to Liverpool. It's not like he's been at a load of big clubs or he's been chased by them all his career and yet, despite this, he's been on an absolute fortune most of these years.

I'm not saying he shoulld take a pay cut, but if I were a professional sportsman (and multi millionaire as I assume he is) I think I'd 'lose' half a million a year to play for a club like that.

Of course, if he's a Everton or United fan, then it's understandable. :D

downthesun

07-30-10, 02:43 PM

But Liverpool are on the way down whilst under MON Villa have been on the way up and he could force his way back into the team. To be fair even as a United fan I would never turn down a move to Chelsea, Liverpool, United or Arsenal, such large fan bases and history behind them (well maybe not Chelsea).

honeykid

07-30-10, 02:50 PM

True, but I don't don't see Villa pushing on. I think they're as good as they're going to get without some major investment being made, and Lerner's not going to do that. A seaosn or two of steady, comfortable management by Woy might be enough to get Liverpool back (at least) challenging for a top 4 spot and, again, you're playing for Liverpool.

Tacitus

07-31-10, 04:43 AM

Do people think that Luke Young will be doing anything more than sitting on the bench at Liverpool? I know that Fatty Johnson isn't exactly the new Cafu (he's not even the new Gary Neville) but I'd expect him to keep his place in the team.

I know he's played at left back but, c'mon. The guy might be one of those rare footballers who puts playing the game above adding a few million to the already hefty sum he must already have in the back. He's not Wayne Bridge, basically.

honeykid

08-01-10, 02:57 PM

Well, Fabio Aurelio's gone back to Liverpool, so that's the back up to Johnson in place.

AC Milan coach Massimo Allegri has said that Beckham won't be back for a third time. He cites his current injury as too much to recover from for a player of his age. Asked if he'd be back at Milan, Allegri replied; "I do not think so.

"He is now recovering from a very bad injury and at that age I think it is very difficult to come back."

OK, it's Sunday Bumper Gossip Day

Marseille have told Fenerbahce that Mamadou Niang is not for sale. Marseille president Jean-Claude Dassier told the AFP news agency: "Mamadou is at the club and he will be staying here."

Mesut Ozil thinks he'll play out the final year of his contract with Werder Bremen and not follow Germany team-mate Sami Khedira to Real Madrid this summer. That's from Sunday's Bild

In El Mundo, Jose Mourinho has warned Real fans that his teams do not reach their peak until his second season in charge.

The People say that Man City want Torres for £50m, but want an answer quickly.

Also in The People, City manager Mancini has asked Gai Assulin if he's interested in a trial at the club. Gai Assulin was a promising teenager at Barcelona, but left because he was struggling to get a game.

The Sunday Mirror say Liverpool are going to test the waters at West Ham with an £8m bid for Scott Parker.

They also resurrect the Maynor Figueroa to Liverpool story, saying £5m is the price.

The NOTW say that Ashley Cole has told Chelsea that he wants to leave England and go to Real.

The Sunday Mirror say that Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce denies that Galatasaray have made an approach for midfielder Vince Grella.

The NOTW also carry a Milner to City story. They say that City have raised their offer by £1m to £25m.

IMscouting says that Robinho's agent is trying to get his client to Inter. A few days ago the papers were saying that he was staying at City, after the club and Santos failed to reach an agreement.

The NOTW report that Emmanuel Adebayor has been told he can leave City. Juventus and AC Milan are said to be interested.

Also in the NOTW, Wenger is said to be looking at Montpellier's 29-year-old Bosnia international centre-back Emir Spahic, if the deal for Per Mertesacker can't be done.

More in the NOTW. Tony Pulis would like to take Jo on a season long loan, after Carlton Cole became too expensive for the club.

Whereas The People say that Stoke are going to make Loic Remy the club's record signing. West Ham have had a £12m bid rejected. Stoke are also said to be ready to make a £3m bid for David Ngog.

The NOTW say that David Moyes won't bring Landon Donovan to Goodison Park.

Goal.com say that striker Deniz Yilmaz, currently at Bayern, says he wants to play in the Premier League and believes he will fit in. The Turkish international has been linked with five English clubs.

The Sunday Post say that Rangers will only sign Rapid Vienna striker Nikica Jelavic if he remains eligible to play in the Champions League.

Carlos Tevez has said that he's struggling to get motivated after being knocked out of the World Cup. That's in the NOTW.

The Times Business section says that a mystery Syrian businessman has emerged as a surprise contender to buy Liverpool. Former Syrian international footballer Yahya Kirdi, who claims to be fronting a consortium of Arab investors, is in talks with Reds owner George Gillett.

christine

08-01-10, 03:03 PM

Thanks for that Hon. I read in the Liverpool Echo that Donovan wanted to come back to Goodison but it looked like he was going to be too expensive.

honeykid

08-01-10, 03:19 PM

Yes, the people at L.A. Galaxy don't want to let him go, hence the cost. There was a story in one of the nationals last week which said that Donovan wanted to return, but this seems to've put the kibosh on it.

Darkrose

08-01-10, 06:54 PM

I don't understand the thrill of football. I mean, I grew up with it on every Sunday and I don't resent it but...Can anyone explain their appreciation for it?

honeykid

08-01-10, 07:59 PM

This isn't that kind of football, DR. This is 'soccer'.

However, I like the American kind, too.

honeykid

08-02-10, 07:19 PM

The Stoke Sentinel quotes Tony Pulis saying that he's not had any bids for Carlton Cole turned down.

As (the Spanish paper) and Luis Fabiano is saying that he's staying at Sevilla, despite being linked to AC Milan and Tottenham. "My future is with Sevilla," he's quoted as saying. No one's come in for you, have they Luis? :nope:

caughtoffside says that Arsene Wenger is preparing a bid for Stuttgart centre-back Serdar Tasci as well as Bayer Leverkusen's goakeeper Rene Adler. They say wenger thinks that around £22m will do the trick.

The Daily Star say that Man City won't allow Craig Bellamy out on loan to Spurs. They'll be hoping to start a bidding war with Fulham's Mark Hughes, who's said to be keen to sign the striker.

They also report that Giuseppe Rossi may come back to United, should Villareal sell him, as there was a buy-out clause in the contract when United sold him. IIRC, it's for around £12. Personally, I don't see it happening. Good player, though.

The Mirror have Harry Redknapp ready to sell Peter Crouch for £7m, if he can get a striker in quickly, as he wants to 'refresh' his forward line.

The Daily Mail have Olympiakos joining in the chase for Santa Cruz, who's on his way out of Man City. They say that a loan deal is most likely, if he goes there.

While, in The Sun, they report than Villa have been priced out of a move for Celtic's Aiden McGeady, after Spartak Moscow put in a bid for £9.5m. Villa are said to be prepared to go no higher than £7.5m for the midfielder.

The Daily Mirror report that Hull City's new manager, Nigel Pearson, would like to take Spurs John Bostock on loan for the season.

In The Guardian, they run the story of Kenneth Huang, who has made an offer to RBS to buy Liverpool's £237m debt and oust owners George Gillet and Tom Hicks.

Tacitus

08-03-10, 06:30 AM

The Liverpool takeover seems to be gathering momentum and, karma permitting, might well mean that The Americans don't get a penny profit because it's in the hands of Kenny Huang and the banks.

He had to go and spoil things by saying that he'd like to bring Messi to the club - Why do potential buyers and presidents (in Spain) keep doing that? I'm pretty sure that Liverpool fans would welcome Dean Windass to lead the line with open arms if it meant that Hicks and Gillett were gone...

Whichever way it goes, it looks like the duo's days on Merseyside are numbered.

honeykid

08-03-10, 03:21 PM

Yep, it's good news if they can get rid of them. Especially if they don't make a penny out of it. I may hate them and laugh at the fans, but what's happened to that club is terrible.

Tacitus

08-03-10, 04:00 PM

Yep, I've got no great love for them but it always leaves a bad taste in the mouth when clubs are run in that way. I've got no problem with foreign owners of Prem clubs, as long as they're doing it for reasons which are at least in part altruistic. Of course, as we've seen with Newcastle, it's not only foreign owners who incur the wrath of supporters.

Lerner at Villa is a good example. He's not mega rich in the Abramovich mode but every Villa fan I know likes the guy and thinks he's got the best interests of the club at heart.

I wonder how much of Fergie's recent defending of the Glazers comes from him being a good company man?

honeykid

08-03-10, 05:32 PM

I wonder how much of Fergie's recent defending of the Glazers comes from him being a good company man?

Absolutely. You know as well as I do that Fergie has never been shy with the cash and, as much as he likes to see the youth come through, he's got no problem spending big money on a player to patch over for a year or two before that player comes through.

I can't believe that his change of behaviour coinciding with the credit crunch and the Glazers' business troubles is just coincidence.

The Next Big Thing

08-03-10, 06:06 PM

I read that Alexander Hleb is "intrigued" by a move to Tottenham. Im sure he'll receive a heros welcome when he returns to the Emirates. :D

christine

08-03-10, 06:14 PM

I'm one of those soft hearted Evertonians who don't hate Liverpool. I've never thought Hicks and Gillett were going to be good for the team, they never even seemed to like football or know anything about it, so bring on the day LFC get rid of them.

Fenwick

08-03-10, 07:14 PM

You know what they say about the Merseyside Derby - the 'Family Derby' :)

Do my fellow football fans reckon it'd be a good idea to start a seperate thread when the Premier League starts up in a week or so? This was originally destined to be an American egg chasing thread wasn't it?

Tacitus

08-03-10, 07:23 PM

I read that Alexander Hleb is "intrigued" by a move to Tottenham. Im sure he'll receive a heros welcome when he returns to the Emirates. :D

Now he's one of the biggest fanny-merchants I've ever seen. Spends loads of time on the ball and does bugger all with it. ;)

That Wenger made a profit on him was an excellent bit of business because he was hardly cheap to begin with.

Fenwick (Terry Fenwick? :D) - I think this thread was originally about proper football. It just gets hijacked every page. ;)

honeykid

08-03-10, 08:20 PM

We could always start a fresh thread. It'd stop the yanks coming in here and mentioning they thought it was the 'other' football. ;)

As for Liverpool. I just hope that this bloke's better than the current two. He does seem to be rushing things and, as always, there doesn't seem to be an attention to due dilligence. :suspicious: I will always remember those Scouser's boasting that they had "proper" Americans in charge of their club, unlike United. :rotfl:

Anyway, The Mirror seem to have a stupid story about Gai Assulin going to Man City. Not in itself a stupid story (or even a new one as it was in the Sunday papers) but then they claim that he's 'rated' at £34m but that City will get him on a free after he cancelled his contract with Barcelona. Um... No, quite. Better check those facts again, guys. He left because he couldn't get a game. How many £34m rated players do you know can't get a game? Much more likely that, as a promising teenager, that was the amount of the buy out clause. That sounds much more like it, doesn't it?

The Daily Mail carries a story about Birmingham making a cheeky loan offer for Juve left back Fabio Grosso.

Back to The Mirror, where they say that Spurs are interested in Portuguese striker Yannick Djalo. They also report that Newcastle are interested in signing him.

The Mirror also say that James Milner hopes his longwinded transfer to Man City will finally be finalised by this weekend, with Stephen Ireland going the other way.

More from The Mirror and Leeds want young Spurs defender, Steven Caulker, on loan for the season.

The BBC website is saying that Brazil midfielder Ramires will have a medical at Chelsea today (Wednesday) and if everything goes according to plan, he'll sign a 4 year deal by the end of the week. Although £17m is the price, Benfica will have to give £6m to sports entrepreneur Kia Joorabchian, who part-financed the player's transfer from Cruzeiro to the Portuguese club.

The BBC also say that, at least, one Premier League official have spoken to one of the parties interested in taking over Liverpool. No info as to whether it was anyone from the Kenny Huang bid, as there are said to be "several" parties interested in Liverpool.

Finally, now that everyone seems to agree that the Fabregas to Barca deal is dead for this summer, the Daily Mail prolongs the story by telling us that 'sources' at Barcelona say Cesc Fabregas' family are upset the midfielder hasnt' moved to the club.

That sound you can hear is the bottom of the barrel being scrapped. Thank God we've only got 10 days till proper football starts.

The Next Big Thing

08-03-10, 11:40 PM

Finally, now that everyone seems to agree that the Fabregas to Barca deal is dead for this summer, the Daily Mail prolongs the story by telling us that 'sources' at Barcelona say Cesc Fabregas' family are upset the midfielder hasnt' moved to the club.

That sound you can hear is the bottom of the barrel being scrapped. Thank God we've only got 10 days till proper football starts.

The sun has also reported that 'every' Barcelona player feels Cesc 'should' join them.

I say Jesus Christ himself can want Cesc at Barca, if they dont come up with our asking price for a player who has 5 years left on his contract he a'int going.

honeykid

08-04-10, 12:57 AM

Yep, I saw a story a couple of stories about Messi saying that Fabregas will go this summer, but it was such nonsense that I didn't bother posting it here. And, considering the stuff I do put up, that's saying something.

I said it'd take £60m to get Fabregas this summer. Now, I don't know if that's true or not, but I do now know that that's more than Barcelona have to spend, so I can't say I'm surprised he hasn't gone this summer. Next summer, however... ;)

Fenwick

08-04-10, 09:03 AM

Now he's one of the biggest fanny-merchants I've ever seen. Spends loads of time on the ball and does bugger all with it. ;)

That Wenger made a profit on him was an excellent bit of business because he was hardly cheap to begin with.

Fenwick (Terry Fenwick? :D) - I think this thread was originally about proper football. It just gets hijacked every page. ;)

Haha Tac, it's not the first time someone has mistaken my tag for Terry Fenwick (who according to my old man was quite a shocking player for both England and Spurs). It's just a nickname from my youth.

Can't say i'd be too excited about Hleb, not that I think the story has legs anyway. As you say, not enough end product to match his considerable talents. And he's a Goon to boot, so would run rule over my 'No Goons' policy (although i'm sure wheeler-dealer 'Arry would lap him up on a freebie if opportunity knocked).

Golgot

08-04-10, 11:20 AM

I've just learned something...

I'm learning from a manager who, in my opinion, is the best manager to learn from," he said. "I enjoy learning from him, every day is a learning curve for me.

source (http://www.hamhigh.co.uk/content/camden/hamhigh/sport/story.aspx?brand=NorthLondon24&category=Sportspurs&tBrand=northlondon24&tCategory=sport&itemid=WeED04+Aug+2010+12%3A24%3A11%3A500)

---

Starting a new thread might be good idea. Shall we call it Soccerball to avoid confusion? ;)

Tacitus

08-04-10, 12:10 PM

Triffic. :p

The big lad Hleb's a triffic player, y'see, especially on Football Manager 2005. I'd obviously love to have a player of his quality at the club but he's contracted to Barcelona so he's theirs until they say different.

The little lad Joey Cole was rubbish anyway - he runs like a teddy bear. I'm not going down that road...

Fenwick

08-04-10, 12:27 PM

I hate Tim Sherwood. What an utter melt he was and probably still is. I can't believe he captained us. He didn't show up for four years, a dissapearing act worthy of Jermaine Jenas' current stint, yet has now landed a cushty role alongside Arry's long-time minions Bond and Jordan (who am I to complain though - at least until 3pm on August 14th).

Tac, don't you think Joe Cole looks a little like that bird who used to be in Eastenders (I promise I never watched this), Michelle Ryan.

http://www.teenfi.com/image-library/port/376/m/michelle-ryan-awi.jpghttp://blog.forbiddenlondon.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/joe_cole_closeup_240x320.jpg

Uncanny I swear.

Tacitus

08-04-10, 12:43 PM

Noooooooooooooo! Michelle Ryan is a good looking girl!

I'm gonna have nightmares. :(

Golgot

08-04-10, 12:45 PM

Noooooooooo!

How am I supposed to letch over her now?

Luckily Joe looks more like he's shaved his monobrow in two. I will use this to distinguish them ;)

(EDIT ~ Heh, same reaction Tatty :D)

---

On Sherwood, yas, oh yas. He was a Jenas. A Freund retrofitted with a skull-headed gearstick, but lumbered with an older engine and rust. He was not our finest hour.

But hey, he can use words can't he. Not all of them, by any means, but he is capable of speech. He must have his uses. (Jordan can only growl ;))

Fenwick

08-04-10, 12:48 PM

Tacitus

08-04-10, 01:18 PM

I'm sure that Michelle can do stepovers without looking like an ADHD toddler having a fit.

honeykid

08-04-10, 02:48 PM

Sunderland have approached Man City about taking Joe Hart on loan for the season.

Ivan Klasnic, who was on loan to Bolton last season, has signed a two-year deal with them, after his contract with Nantes wasn't renewed. Nantes released him, which meant there was no fee involved.

Midfielder Steven Nzonzi has signed a new five-year deal at Blackburn.

OK, now onto the rumours.

Yahya Kirdi, who represents a group of investors from the Middle East and Canada, says his group is in advanced negotiations with Liverpool owners Thomas Hicks and George Gillett to purchase 100% of the club.

The Daily Mirror report that Lassana Diarra could be on the move from Real to United. Should this happen, they say that Tom Cleverly could go on loan to Bolton.

caughtoffside recken that United could offer Anderson and around £12m in an attempt to beat everyone to the punch and sign Mesut Ozil from Werder Bremen. I don't see this happening, but I'd be very happy to.

The Sun say that Liverpool are talking to Christian Poulsen of Juve. But IMscouting says that Poulsen's agent denies this. If they are talking to him, expect the Mascherano to Inter deal to happen pretty quickly.

The Sun also say that Fabregas is going to be talking to Arsene Wenger tomorrow (Thursday) about his future.

It never goes away, does it? Messi says that he's confident that Fabregas will be at the Nou Camp before the closing of the transfer window. That's in the Daily Express.

IMscouting also tells us that, according to Weder Bremen's GM Klaus Allofs, Per Mertesacker isn't leaving the club.

Also in The Sun, Chelsea youngster Scott Sinclair is set to reject interest from Ipswich and Swansea to join Blackpool.

The Sun again, who tell us that Birmingham want to take United striker Mame Biram Diouf on loan.

The Times says that West Ham have been offered Cagliari keeper Federico Marchetti and will make a bid if Robert Green leaves the club for Fulham... Of course, that depends on Mark Schwatzer leaving for Arsenal. It's like a goalkeeper chain stretching across Europe.

But it's a busted one, according to the Mirror, who tell us that new manager Mark Hughes has told Schwatzer that he's staying at Fulham.

The Guardian brings us news that Indian tycoon Ahasan Ali Syed is interested in buying Blackburn Rovers and is prepared to invest £300m into the club.

Lastly, The Mail says that Spurs will let Moroccan international midfielder Adel Taarabt leave for QPR in a deal that could be worth up to £1m.

This is quite interesting too

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/8886558.stm

Golgot

08-04-10, 02:51 PM

Spurs 'itk' talk (http://www.spurscommunity.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=62947) is that we'll get more than 1mil for Taartaboutwithit. Not bad for a midfielder who only passes as a last resort ;)

Fenwick

08-04-10, 08:18 PM

Spurs 'itk' talk (http://www.spurscommunity.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=62947) is that we'll get more than 1mil for Taartaboutwithit. Not bad for a midfielder who only passes as a last resort ;)

Haha G, a million per completed passes in a Spurs shirt. I was so excited about the lad when he came on against East Canning Town Bingo and Social Club during that magnificent 4-3 win back in 2007 (?). Tatty's terrific ADHD remark seems applicable to Taarabt (or Tarabat as everyone still loves to call him :)) too. Adel has a worryingly Andy Reid like figure for someone with more tricks than brain cells, but nevertheless he danced passed a couple of powder puff challenges to earn Berba a chance of netting the equaliser.

'Triffic he was, much like the day. I still have the paint of the Boleyn's seats on my shins now, marks that bear fond memory of the pandemonium in the away end when Canadian hunchback Paul Stalteri popped up with the winner. It would have been better if Spam went down too, but we sure made them feel like they were 'til they pinched something at Ewood Park the week after, so for that I am grateful.

I've read that ITK stuff a few times G. It used to be a pretty free-wheeling rumour mill; not quite the case any more. Since Paul Barber's gone, we seem to have plugged the leaks. Suprising when you think 'Arry is on Talksport every minute of every livelong day.

Tacitus

08-05-10, 06:45 AM

Golgot

08-05-10, 09:17 AM

when Canadian hunchback Paul Stalteri popped up with the winner.

One of the most surreal Spurs sights ever that. Mind you, he had only been on the pitch about five minutes, he still had some energy ;)

I've read that ITK stuff a few times G. It used to be a pretty free-wheeling rumour mill; not quite the case any more. Since Paul Barber's gone, we seem to have plugged the leaks. Suprising when you think 'Arry is on Talksport every minute of every livelong day.

Yeah, it is pretty arid out there on the info front now. Still fun to read tho :) (The latest update being: actually yes we did only get 1mil for Taramasalata-feet. Hey ho ;))

Fenwick

08-05-10, 10:34 AM

It'll be a test of the average Liverpool fan's moral compass (don't laugh) now that Kenny Huang's financial backers for his bid appear to be the Chinese government. Still, the 'You'll Never Wok Alone' headlines have been gold.

Red army! Red army! Red army!

I wonder if the players will now march out of the Anfield tunnel?

All the Bindipper press over the last few days has reminded me, why do fans, pundits and even players refer to Liverpool as 'Liverpool Football Club'? Crikey it's annoying. People may say it helps distinguish the club from the city, after all it's not a one club city, but still, mention it at the beginning of a report by all means, don't continue to trot the whole bloody mouthful out each and every time.

honeykid

08-05-10, 09:45 PM

The BBC website tells us that West Ham have made their fifth signing of the summer after completing a deal for New Zealand defender Winston Reid from Danish side FC Midtjylland.

Sky Sports reports that Liverpool have had a £2m bid for Middlesbrough goalkeeper Brad Jones rejected.

Robinho has told Man City he wants to stay at Santos, after his six-month loan deal at the club ended. This one goes one way and then the other. I think he'll start the season at Man City unless they can offload him somewhere. Unfortunately for both clubs, Santos don't have the money to pay him, let alone by him.

sport.co.uk carry an exclusive interview with Alex Hleb, who they say told them on Monday that he welcomed the interest of Harry Redknapp and Tottenham stating:

“I have a contract with Barcelona and I must respect that, but I heard about the link with Tottenham Hotspur and I think they are a great club. I appreciate their interest and we will see what happens in the future. “ His agent has confirmed that Sevilla are also interested.

More from sport.co.uk where, soon to be former, Juventus winger Sebastian Giovinco says he wants to go to Arsenal.

The Star say that Mario Balotelli's proposed move to Man City is off because he demanded £180,000-a-week in wages. Seeing as one of the papers said that he was going to City, even though United offered him more money, this seems unlikely... Unless that was untrue. Ah, Fleet Street. ;)

Imscouting say, via Spanish paper Mundo Deportivo, that City are looking at Forlan, if the Mario Balotelli deal falls through... Which the Star say it has. :dizzy:

The Mirror say that Liverpool think that AC Milan (and former Arsenal) midfielder Mathieu Flamini is a possible replacement for Mascherano. They also report that Roy Hodgson has confirmed he is close to making Juventus' Danish midfielder Christian Poulsen, who is a replacement for you know who. Now, whether that's the paper finding out Flamini is second choice, should Poulsen fall through or them just making it up, I don't know.

Caughtoffside say that, should Fabregas move to Barca (yep, I know) that Arsene will make a move for Arteta. *sigh* It's like it's May all over again.

They also say that Wenger is ready to make an offer for Joe Hart.

While footylatest say he's about to make a move for Federico Marchetti at Cagliari.

imscouting say that Montpellier have put a huge 28m euro (£23m) price-tag on Emir Spahic after reported interest from Arsenal.

The Mirror say that West Ham want a loan deal for Ajax striker Miralem Sulejmani and hope to conclude a deal within days.

While The Mail say Zenit St Petersburg are considering a £21m bid for Yury Zhirkov, the Chelsea defender.

They also say that Carlo Ancelotti wants to finish his summer spending by buying Shakhtar Donetsk defender Dario Srna.

caughtoffside report that United will go for Hamburg's attacking midfielder Piotr Trochowski if they fail to get Mesut Ozil from Werder Bremen.

The Mirror bring us news that Birmingham manager Alex McLeish is lining up a shock move for Juventus midfielder Mauro Camoranesi.

Whereas The Sun report that AZ Alkmaar striker Moussa Dembele has said that Birmingham want him.

The Sun also say that Stoke will get James Beattie for £1.5m

The Mirror say that Celtic want Craig Bellamy on loan again.

They also tell us that Mark Hughes wants Luke Young from Villa, but passed up the chance to buy Steve Sidwell.

Daniel Cousin will leave Hull and move to Greek side Larissa.

The Mail come to us with this story. They say that United have told Bristol City that they can have Michael Owen on loan, after telling them they can't have Danny Welbeck. Really? Hmmm...

United midfielder Tom Cleverley will go on loan to Sunderland or Bolton, according to talkSPORT, or:

He'll go on loan to Wigan, according to The Mail.

In The Mirror there's a story in which Joey Barton has grown a moustache in an attempt to help build team spirit at St James Park for the coming season. Well, it beats kicking the **** out of them or burning them with cigars, doesn't it? ;)

The Mirror says that Liverpool may look at Reading's Adam Federici after missing out on Brad Jones.

They also say that M'ON will let James Milner go and use the money to buy winger Aiden McGeady.

The Telegraph say that Fabregas has decided against a move to Barcelona this summer and will issue a formal statement to confirm it in the next 24 hours. "decided against" yeah, right.

Lastly, The Mirror tell us that City's Emmanuel Adebayor says he wants to join Juventus after City tried to sign Mario Balotelli.

Tacitus

08-06-10, 06:43 AM

All the Bindipper press over the last few days has reminded me, why do fans, pundits and even players refer to Liverpool as 'Liverpool Football Club'? Crikey it's annoying. People may say it helps distinguish the club from the city, after all it's not a one club city, but still, mention it at the beginning of a report by all means, don't continue to trot the whole bloody mouthful out each and every time.

Bindipper? How very ... quaint.

'Liverpool Football Club' is what's written on their badge I suppose. Man Utd, Arsenal, Spurs, Everton don't even have FC but, for instance, Fergie trots out the old "Manchest Niteed Fitba Club" regularly and that's not just an excuse to do a bad Govan accent.

This has piqued my interest, actually. I'm in no way bored. :D

Chelsea Football Club
Birmingham City Football Club
Blackpool Football Club

Looking at the current Prem lineup I thought that 'football club' in the badge was way more common than I thought once these three came up during an alphabetical search but it stopped with Blackpool. 4 out of 20 clubs then.

Apart from Blackpool (how many times have Chelsea won the Lancashire Senior Cup? None, that's how many) Liverpool are the only one of those four with a real history. They've also got a disproportionally high number of their ex-players and fans in the media - all the glory hunters were Liverpool fans when I was a kid. They no doubt see saying 'Liverpool Football Club' as some sort of badge of honour.

You didn't think I'd answer this seriously, did you? :D

christine

08-06-10, 11:35 AM

Fenwick

08-06-10, 12:56 PM

Tatty,

No I didn't, but I enjoyed it nonetheless!

Christine,

Haha yes! It'll be interesting to see what happens with this Chinese bid. Some economist suggested the government's interest might stem from a desire to get China more involved in global sport. Mind you, they have just spent G-d knows how much on the Olympics so I can't understand why they feel such a pressing need to add to the country's sporting image.

Anyway, I write to you both a very happy Spurs fan after we drew Young Boys in the CL qualifier. At home second leg as well, which is always an advantage. I got a text from my brother just afterwards - 'Get in Young Boys!' - that's all i'm going to pass on of the many, many unfunny jokes I have received since midday.

Tacitus

08-06-10, 01:55 PM

Maybe it's cos it's the name of the city too. The Chinese government might be thinking of buying Liverpool, we do have a good Chinatown so maybe they've got their eye on the whole place. You'd think you were in China if you're in the betting shop on the corner of our street at home sometimes!

Ohhhh, now that's got me thinking about a fabulous Chinese restaurant we used to frequent in Liverpool. I forget the name of it now but it had an all-you-can-eat buffet. :D

One of my first Fantasy League teams was called Young Boys of Michael Jackson...

honeykid

08-07-10, 12:39 AM

M'ON is resigned to losing James Milner to City. He's quoted as saying:
"We didn't play him against Valencia as there could be something happening in terms of the transfer over the weekend or Monday or Tuesday,"

As well as signing James Milner, City manager Roberto Mancini is also confident of signing Mario Balotelli:

"We are speaking with Inter and we will try to get an agreement," he added of the proposed Balotelli switch.

Carlo Ancelotti has denied that he is looking to sign Benfica left-back Fabio Coentrao as a replacement for Ashley Cole.

"It is not true, totally rubbish," said Ancelotti, who has recently stated he is not going to sell Cole.

Marca carry a story in which Dr Marc Martens, the surgeon who operated on Kaka's knee, says Kaka put his career at risk by playing for Brazil at the World Cup.

Christian Poulsen will join Liverpool soon, according his agent Jorn Bonnesen who told Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet: "It won't take more than a week before this is sorted out."

TalkSPORT have said that Spurs could hijack Stoke's £10m-move for Nice striker Loic Remy. Y'know, the Loic Remy that was going to West Ham and then, possibly, Liverpool.

insidefutbol says that Philipp Degen will be on his way from Liverpool to Stuttgart.

They also say that Marseille are thinking about making a bid for Didier Drogba and that he's one of three potential Marseille targets along with Fiorentina's Alberto Gilardino and Ajax's Luis Suarez.

While sport.co.uk say that Liverpool and United will have to wait until next summer to sign Steven Defour according to the player's agent with him likely to stay at Standard Liege this summer.

The Daily Mail reports that Real will use Karim Benzema as a makeweight for get Ashley Cole.

imscouting say that Man City are still in contact with Barcelona about the availability of Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Stories coming from the Italian sport papers suggest that AC Milan are still keen on Giovani Dos Santos, but Spurs don't want to let the player go after he impressed during the World Cup.

Still at Spurs and The Mirror say that Harry will make a bid for Scott Loach, the keeper at Watford. He made a bid in January, but it was rejected.

caughtoffside say that Arsenal want to take defender Philippe Mexes from Roma.

The Daily Mail report that United goalkeeper target Anders Lindegaard is being monitored by at least two other unnamed Premier League clubs.

caughtoffside say that Roy Hodgson wants to take Shaun Wright-Phillips and Wayne Bridge to Anfield.

The Star have quite a story, if true, about Stoke spending £23m on three players. Loic Remy (of course) striker Kenwyne Jones and Ipswich forward Jon Walters. Stoke spending £23m? Can it be true?

However, the Mirror says that the deal with Loic Remy is in danger of falling apart after a visit to the club ended in a breakdown over the fee and terms.

Whereas The Mail say that Wigan have had a £3m bid for Tuncay rejected.

Meanwhile Aston Villa are said to be interested in Klaas-Jan Huntelaar. Along with Bayern Munich and Spurs. That's from footylatest.

West Brom will take Nicky Shorey from Aston Villa for £1.5m.

footylatest also say that Lazio want Jonas Gutierrez from Newcastle. However, the player says he wants to stay for St.James Park.

christine

08-07-10, 12:15 PM

Arteta signed a new 5 year contract :)

christine

08-07-10, 05:40 PM

Having David James didn't help our Bristol City much in their home defeat against Millwall 3-0 :rolleyes:

honeykid

08-07-10, 05:49 PM

Excellent news, Christine. He's such an important player for Everton. You've just got to hope he stays injury free.

Some news first.

Bolton's Fabrice Muamba has pledged his future to the club and signing a new four-year deal.

Michael Carrick will miss the Community Shield and the Newcastle game for United. While United striker Mame Biram Diouf has moved to Blackburn on a season-long loan. So long as Big Sam stays there (if the takeover goes ahead) then I think he'll get a few games as, for those who've seen him, he looks like a Big Sam player.

OK, onto the gossip.

Lyon have said that John Mensah is to return to Sunderland on loan.

The Sun say that Arsenal have made an audaious bid for Liverpool's Pepe Reina. They're said to have offered £23m.

The Times says that City will pay an intial £15m fee for James Milner which could rise nearer to £20m.

While other papers (including The Mail) say that Stoke want Loic Remy for £10m, The Mirror say that they'll make a £12m bid for Carlton Cole.

They also say that Blackburn want Nigel Reo-Coker from Villa.

In The Mail, Fabregas admits that he's only staying at Arsenal because Wenger forced him to.

IMscouting says that Torres was waiting for an offer from Barcelona before commiting his future to Liverpool. Tell us something we don't know. That's almost as obvious as the above story.

For those who care about the game that'll get in the way of the Premier League, here's the England squad.

England squad to face Hungary:

Goalkeepers: Ben Foster (Birmingham), Joe Hart (Manchester City), Paul Robinson (Blackburn)

Defenders: Wes Brown (Manchester United), Gary Cahill (Bolton), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Michael Dawson (Tottenham Hotspur), Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), John Terry (Chelsea)

Midfielders: Gareth Barry (Manchester City), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Adam Johnson (Manchester City), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), James Milner (Aston Villa), Ashley Young (Aston Villa), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal)

Forwards: Darren Bent (Sunderland), Carlton Cole (West Ham United), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Bobby Zamora (Fulham)

Lastly, here's a link to a blog regarding the takeover at Liverpool

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/davidbond/2010/08/cutting_through_the_spin_at_li.html

*Edit* We'll have to watch the Football League show tonight to see if he was at fault for any of them.

Tacitus

08-08-10, 06:45 AM

Arteta seems to be one of the dying breed of player showing loyalty to the club where he made his name. There's the bones of an excellent squad at Everton - All that's really separating them from the likes of Villa and Spurs is a dose of luck with injuries.

That England squad's a funny one. It's fine that Capello only keeps 10 of the players who flopped in SA but the 10 he keeps are basically first team regulars and they were the ones who mucked it all up in the first place.

Wilshire's apparently an outrageous talent but selecting him right now smacks a bit of desperation. He might well have a stormer and have Arsenal fans asking 'Cesc who?', you never know, but I'd like to see him getting a bit more experience with a top 4 club first.

Other than that, it's good to see Cahill get a call if only to see how comfortable he is at this level and I'm sure Gibbs, Jagielka, Brown and maybe Zamora would have been in the WC squad if not for injury doubts.

Last chance saloon for Ashley Young? Don't care how good he is for his club, he's never been anything other than rank when I've seen him in an England shirt.

EDIT - Don't laugh but Paul Robinson has just retired from International football so England will need a new #3 keeper. He had such promise a decade ago but seems to have spent it eating pies and getting the jitters.

christine

08-08-10, 10:31 AM

honeykid

08-08-10, 09:05 PM

By "come good" do you mean finish 7th? Because I think that's possible. However, if you mean finish 4th or better, then I think you're dreaming.

Wes Brown has also retired from International football.

Hernandez for goal of the season? You won't see anyone else with both a goal and an assist in the same movement. :D

Liverpool's Philipp Degen has joined Stuttgart on loan.

Mesut Ozil is still being linked with United and Fergie's still not denying anything. It does seem as if something may be in the wind. We need a replacement for Scholes (he's not going to play 38 games like he did today) and as no one saw fit to buy Sneijder 5 or 6 six ago, then this guy could be a good buy. Can we really get him with so much interest, though?

Crouch back to Liverpool? That's what Roy Hodgson wants to do, if you believe the Mail On Sunday. It does look as if he's on the way out of Spurs, so this may actually have some truth to it.

While the Sunday People say that Shaun Wright-Phillips is surplus to requirements at the Wasteland (no? Really? :roleyes:) and that Liverpool and Arsenal are interested.

Back to the Mail, who say that Nedum Onuoha has also been told he can leave.

The Sunday Mirror and Hatem Ben Arfa is wanted by Newcastle. Didn't this story appear a month or two back? I seem to remember thinking "how the mighty have fallen." back then.

caughtoffside say that Arsenal are on their way to Italy to get Juventus centre back Giorgio Chiellini and Bologna keeper Emiliano Viviano.

While the News Of The World report that Kevin Prince Boateng may knock back West Ham and Stoke to join Italian side Genoa. He's quoted as saying, "I'm relaxed, just waiting for the right team,"

The Sunday Mirror say that Hicks and Gillett would rather sell Liverpool to Syrian businessman Yahya Kirdi as opposed to Kenny Huang.

The Observer say that Wenger's thinking about extending his contract at Arsenal (which ends this season, I believe) and that, if he does, then he'll almost certainly be there for the rest of his career.

The Daily Mail says that M'ON is keeping an eye on Steven Pineaars contract dealings with Everton and will make a bid if he thinks he'll leave.

caughtoffside say that Untied are looking to pinch James Milner from Villa, before City finish the deal. Of course, that's not going to happen, but I thought I'd post it.

A couple of stories from The Mail. Firstly, they report that Blackburn are trying to get Fenerbahce's £5m-rated Spain striker Dani Guiza. I don't know how he did last season, but the season before he was on fire in La Liga.

Secondly, Spurs may sell Peter Crouch and get Loic Remy, after he issued a come-and-get-me plea to the club.

Lastly, The Daily Mirror say that Arsene Wenger will ask Man City to sell him Shay Given - after being warned off his team-mate Joe Hart.

Tacitus

08-09-10, 06:58 AM

So Wes Brown and Paul Robinson have both retired? England in turmoil!

Not since the days of Andy 'Andrew' Cole deciding to take his caps (and his one goal) home has the football world been so rocked.

Step forwrad Dean Windass, your time is now.

Tacitus

08-09-10, 10:25 AM

Man, Patrice Evra's great. He's easily the most quotable modern footballer.

Witness this gem about Lilian Thuram and the new France coaching set-up:

"He sullied my name without knowing what happened. Lilian thinks he's the new coach, president of the FFF and president of France. Walking around with books on slavery in glasses and a hat does not turn you into Malcolm X"

Quality. :D

Tacitus

08-09-10, 03:04 PM

Fenwick

08-09-10, 04:46 PM

Sorry to triple post but MO'N leaving the Villa? Wow. :eek:

My first thoughts were family problems because of the way he left Celtic and took a sabbatical to care for his wife who was battling cancer. I remember him being interviewed when he took the Villa job saying that it was a difficult decision to come back to football because she still wasn't well.

Now I'm hearing that it's a big fall-out with the chairman over the proposed Milner sale and the amount of the proceeds he would get to spend on the squad.

If he'd done this a few weeks ago he'd be Liverpool manager now. Wonder if he'll end up at Old Trafford as Fergie's Number 2/wine waiter with the plan of taking over next season?

O'Neill always walks alone. He has resigned from all five of his senior clubs. Not someone to be messed around clearly.

There were rumbles on Radio 5 that he had left 'cos Lerner sanctioned the sale of Ashley Young to Spurs. Perhaps that is a little out there, but whatever the case, Villa are much the weaker for it. My Uncle has a ST up there and told me that some were growing impatient at O'Neill's Carew/Heskey-reliant brand of football and lack of a 'Plan B'. Still, given that the manager market is as enticing as the player one, it is difficult to see where they go from here, especially when we're so close to the start of the season.

christine

08-09-10, 04:50 PM

By "come good" do you mean finish 7th? Because I think that's possible. However, if you mean finish 4th or better, then I think you're dreaming.

oi stop trampling on my dreams!

Tacitus

08-09-10, 05:49 PM

O'Neill always walks alone. He has resigned from all five of his senior clubs. Not someone to be messed around clearly.

There were rumbles on Radio 5 that he had left 'cos Lerner sanctioned the sale of Ashley Young to Spurs. Perhaps that is a little out there, but whatever the case, Villa are much the weaker for it. My Uncle has a ST up there and told me that some were growing impatient at O'Neill's Carew/Heskey-reliant brand of football and lack of a 'Plan B'. Still, given that the manager market is as enticing as the player one, it is difficult to see where they go from here, especially when we're so close to the start of the season.

I lived in Birmingham for 6 years and have a lot of Villa fans as close friends. Once they got over the initial resentment of the awful timing of the resignation, depression set in. I suppose the one criticism that O'Neill has had is his style of play but I'd love to see him with the chance of some serious spending money or an already talented squad, just to see if he can adapt. He's a fantastic man manager, though.

It's weird that I was bigging up Lerner a few posts ago and now Villa seem to have fallen foul of the classic boardroom/manager friction. I still say he's a better man at the helm than Deadly Doug, though. Ellis and O'Leary left the club teetering on being shocking.

Don't think at this stage of his career that MO'N will fancy bringing on a smaller club like his Leicester days. The big clubs have either changed coaches recently or have immovable objects in place who'll only move on when they're good and ready. Man City might be an option depending on how they start the season, as will Newcastle and possibly Sunderland.

Newcasatle would be interesting. ;)

honeykid

08-09-10, 08:40 PM

When my friend told me he'd left this evening (he was online) and the first thing I asked him was "Has Ashley Young been sold?" I was surprised at the timing of his resignation, but not that it happened.

Towards the end of last season there were rumours that it was O'Neil's last and that he wouldn't renew his contract (which is why he was my pick for the Liverpool job. I think I mentioned that in this thread somewhere) and last week (or the week before) he said that he'd resign if he found out that attempts to sell Ashley Young had been made behind his back, which is why it was the first question I asked. Obviously things haven't been going well between the manager and the owner, but I think something definate must've happened for him to leave this late in the close season. Young on his way or not being given funds to replace Milner must be the two favourites.

Sorry, Christine, but dream trampling is what I do. :p :) If it helps, Spurs won't finish 4th either. Neither will Aston Villa (and wouldn't have before O'Neil left) and neither, I'm pleased to say, will Man City. The top 4 will be the 'big 4', not last years top 4, the usual top 4. Chelsea, United, Arsenal and Liverpool. In that order.

O'Neil at Newcastle? That could be the perfect combination... Until they get too big for their boots again and sack him. :p

honeykid

08-09-10, 09:05 PM

OK, transfer gossip. I know it's a double post, but it's only us in here and I wanted to seperate the 'gossip' post from the M'ON stuff.

The Hatem Ben Arfa to Newcastle deal looks set to be done, with a one deal loan deal close to being agreed. (Agence France-Presse)

sport.co.uk report that Serdar Tasci of Stuttgart says he'd quit the club if Arsene Wenger made an offer.

More Ozil to United news, with The Guardian saying that United could get him for £13.5m as he's in the last year of his contract.

caughtoffside say that Roy Hodgson wants Alex Hleb.

More "Cesc won't be at Arsenal muc longer" stuff on imscouting.

The Mail says that M'ON leaving means that Ashley Young's on his way to Spurs.

They also say that Liverpool have switched their attention from Peter Crouch to Carlton Cole and are preparing to make a £12m bid.

Another big lump on the move according to The Mirror, who say that Kenwyne Jones will be a record £9m signing at Stoke.

caughtoffside reckon that Emmanuel Adebayor is the target of a £22m bid from Spurs.

OK, if Loic Remy doesn't come to the Premier League, I may never post a rumour on this site again... OK, that probably won't happen, but still. Today's new entrant in the "Will Loic Remy Play For Us" is Everton, who are said to be ready to pay £13m for him. West Ham will make a play for Yakubu, should that happen.

Shay Given says he'll quit Man City if Joe Hart becomes the #1 at the club.

Eidur Gudjohnsen is said to be on his way to Fulham, after turning down Birmingham.

talkSPORT are say that West Ham are close to signing Ajax striker Miralem Sulejmani on a loan deal.

They also report that Marlon Harewood's move to Blackpool could be off because of his wage demands.

caughtoffside say that Arsenal want PSG's centre-back Mamadou Sakho. I don't know what he's like, but he's really good on Football Manager 2010. ;)

However, the same site also says that Arsenal are following Gary Cahill, Brede Hangeland, Matthew Upson and Phil Jagielka.

The Sun tells us that Liam Lawrence expects to move to Celtic after Aiden McGeady signs for Spartak Moscow this week.

The Daily Mail reports that The Sahara Group, a of the proposed buyers for Liverpool, has pulled out of the bidding process.

While The Mirror tells us that players texted each other images of champagne bottles to celebrate manager Martin O'Neill's exit.

Lastly, The Sun tells us that USA manager, Bob Bradley, has emerged as an early favourite to take over from Martin O'Neill. While yahoo says that Bradley has added fuel to rumours that he is joining Villa by saying he would one day like to work in Europe.

Tacitus

08-10-10, 07:05 AM

What I'm reading about O'Neill is still focussing on lack of transfer funds rather than Young leaving. I wouldn't be surprised at all if Young puts in a transfer request now, however.

Shay Given to leave Citeh? "Arsenal are a fantastic club" says the likeable Donegal man...

What he forgot to add was "...a fantastic club which has either crap or unproven goalkeepers and probably the only one I can move to which won't look like a move downwards."

The general wisdom about Shay is that he's a great keeper who has been unlucky to have been behind crap defences for most of his career. What if, on the other hand, he's a great shot-stopper but completely useless at marshalling his back four?

If he were to open a restaurant, what would it be called?

'Chez Given', of course! :D

honeykid

08-10-10, 06:32 PM

Yep, the O'Neil story does seem to be more about not recieving funds from the Milner deal, rather than Young or anyone else leaving. I can't say I'm surprised. I've said that Lerner's not prepared to do what it takes to move up into the top 4 (not that I blame him) though I do think that not to spend anything is tough on a manager.

Ricardo Carvalho will soon be making the move from Chelsea to Real for a fee of £6.7m.

Ben Foster's the most recent player to pull out of the England squad to face Hungary. He's out with a back injury.

Craig Bellamy says he could quit football if he fails to make Manchester City's 25-man squad for this season and revealed that he's rejected a move to Wolfsburg. Unfortunately he also says, "I might finish, full stop. Or look at every option. This game is ruthless."

News this morning was that Barcelona were set to sign Mesut Ozil from Werder Bremen on a four-year deal worth around £8.3m. However, this has since been denied by Werder Bremen.

Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti has said that the club won't buy Javier Mascherano "at the moment" because of transfer restrictions. "If we do not sell, we do not buy," he said.

The Sun reported this morning that a 'tug of war' is developing for Mesut Ozil, with Chelsea, Manchester United and Barcelona all battling for him. On a potential move to Barca, Ozil said: "It is my dream to play for them." Of course, he said something similar about United last week.

The Mirror says that Christian Poulsen is set to secure a three-year deal.

IMScouting carries quotes from Mario Balotelli's agent, Mino Raiola said: "Newspapers clean glass very well…I use them for my car." He also said that he's still trying to seal a deal to get his player to Man City.

The Telegraph have a sly story about the Villa vacancy. They say that one of the men Villa are thinking about approaching is Mark Hughes. Yep, that's Mark Hughes "the new Fulham boss who's yet to manage the club in a competitve game and has only been there for about a week", Mark Hughes.

honeykid

08-12-10, 01:55 AM

A short one for now, as I really need to get to bed.

Blackpool have signed five new players, ahead of Saturday. Marlon Harewood, young Untied defender Craig Cathcart, has joined for an undisclosed fee. French trio Ludovic Sylvestre, 26, Elliot Grandin, 22, and Malaury Martin, 21 complete the five.

West Ham have agreed loan terms for Ajax striker, Miralem Sulejmani.

Kenwyne Jones has signed for Stoke for a club record £8m.

Craig Bellamy's time at Man City looks to be over, after he was omitted from their Europa League squad. Stephen Ireland was also left out. However, Roque Santa Cruz and Robinho were included. Mancini only named 23 of the allowed 25, leading to speculation that the deals for Mario Balotelli and James Milner should be completed soon.

United have signed another striker. Portuguese striker, Bebe, has been signed from Vitória de Guimarães for an undisclosed fee, subject to a medical. Bebe only signed for VdeG last month, but it's thought that Fergie triggered a buy out clause in his contract, said to be £7m.

Sven Goran-Ericsson is said to be so eager to manage Aston Villa that he's prepared to lower his salary demands. Of course, this could just be the papers turning on the Silver One. That said, he does like a few quid, doesn't he. ;)

caughtoffside are reporting that Untied are keen on 17 year old Anderlecht striker, Romelu Lukaku, for around £9m. However, seeing as we've just bought Bebe (medical withstanding) I can't see this at all. He'd be the 9th striker.

Harry Redknapp is said to have made Loic Remy his #1 target. You know the rest. However, I've also read rumours that he's on his way to Sevilla.

Liverpool and Everton are said to be interested in Peter Crouch, after West Ham refused a player swap for Scott Parker. I've also read that Liverpool aren't interested, and with Everton not having the money, I don't see this at all.

Somebody get ready to start the merry-go-round. Manuel Almunia is on his way to Villa, so long as Mark Schwarzer goes to Arsenal, as Brad Friedel will then move to Fulham.

caughtoffside with another (surely) bonkers story. This one see Liverpool buying Stephen Warnock and Stiliyan Petrov for a combined fee of £14. Even if it happens, £14m?!?! I know Fergie says that market's inflated but, at that rate, I'm worth about £500,000 and I haven't kicked a ball in anger since I was 12.

They also say that Jo's off to West Ham if the club sell Carlton Cole.

Fenwick

08-12-10, 07:22 AM

Deary me, this transfer window is depressing. Everyone we're linked with sucks more than a black hole in a red light district and we haven't even got shot of Robbie Keane or 2 metre Peter yet. I thought the CL place would give us the grounds to push on and cement it but we look like death warmed up in comparison to Woy's Red Scouse meanwhile Everton get their players back and keep the good ones, and City, well, throw their oil billions around like BP.

To be honest though, I feel no different than I do at the start of any season. I already have eebie-jeebies about Saturday, not to mention Tuesday's Young Boys game, which'll hopefully be worth the 15-odd hour round trip me and my party will take to get there.

Tacitus

08-12-10, 08:38 AM

I definitely fear for Spurs in their quest to retain top 4 status this season (are we allowed to call it 'this season' yet?), and this is in no way down to my abject dislike of Redknapp.

If Man City don't grab at least 4th then all hell will break loose at Eastlands and Mancini will probably be subjected to the same sort of fate as the poor old North Korean coach.

Like HK, I can see last year's top three being in the same positions again come May although you can't really say that any of them have become significantly stronger. The funny ones, as ever, are l'Arse - As strong as ever going forward but now even more suspect at the back. If Wenger can pull a tough centre back and a keeper (he seems to rate that Polish kid, though) out of his fundament they might even challenge for top spot.

If not they'll probably be challenging by Christmas before dropping to a few points above 4th.

Man Utd seem to have signed a gem in little Cinquecento. My ex wife had one of those, by the way. Great little engine.

The car, not the wife. Erm. Yes.

Golgot

08-12-10, 09:05 AM

Deary me, this transfer window is depressing. Everyone we're linked with sucks more than a black hole in a red light district...

I definitely fear for Spurs in their quest to retain top 4 status this season...

Reliable gossip 'Phantom of the Lane' (http://www.spurscommunity.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=63291) makes a good point about Spurs' transfer and stability issues...

...we have managed to secure the futures of Luka, Bale and Lennon- who we have all received bids for, and very substantial ones at that.

I like this line of thought. Makes the transfer dearth seem less trying. Hitting Champions League (hopefully) level has helped us keep our best players. And with some of our nearest rivals for 4th unsettled, looking to lose key players, or far from gelled, having a relatively unchanged team is no bad thing :) (Especially one with a fair bit of class to spare on the bench too ;))

But yeah, hitting 4th again is still a big ask. And there's no doubt we could be better in certain areas. And the prospect of a resurgent Liverpool under Woy isn't a pretty one. But hey, let's all just enjoy Sh*tty exploding in a bonfire of vanities, as they almost certainly will ;)

Tacitus

08-12-10, 10:12 AM

I think if Liverpool finish 5th this season it'll be seen as vindication for Woy's awwival. He was brought in to steady the ship and play with the limited funds available.

If the Americans manage to sell, however, then January will be very interesting.

Anyone bother with the England match last night? I caught a bit of it in between cutting my toenails and varnishing the dog. Capello can do nothing right, it seems, and even the broadsheets are sniffing blood.

Thing is, he listened to the criticisms and changed formation. Silk purses and sow's ears are difficult bedfellows.

Gibbs looks a cracking little player, by the way, and Young finally showed flashes of the player he can be for Villa.

Golgot

08-12-10, 10:23 AM

Saw the highlights. Pretty refreshing to see the young lads get a run out. Pretty workmanlike opposition tho, Gera permitting. And mainly relying on Hollywood moments (& Rooney not getting himself sent off when boiling over at his water-carrier role). Still, pretty cool Hollywood moments :)

Young did look spritely, but I never get the right-footed left-winger thing. There were a couple of times where he got in good positions but couldn't deliver. (For some reason left-footed right-wingers confuse me less - Johnson didn't get any crosses in that I remember, but he cut in and shot well at one point. Perhaps it's coz lefty's are often known for having a good shooting boot, and unpredicability on their side, that they get to 'wing' it ;) [sorry])

Tacitus

08-12-10, 10:35 AM

I think both of those guys would really thrive playing (in the nominal winger positions) in a front three where cutting inside would have immediate benefits but I can't see the formation being changed right now to include such relative newcomers.

As out-and-out wide men at international level I doubt if the 'running really fast then cutting inside' tactic will work but Johnson seems to have a few more tricks in his locker and is surely a better long term prospect, whether on the left or the right.

honeykid

08-12-10, 11:06 AM

Capello won't make the Euro's IMO. Fleet Street have it in for him and they won't rest until they get rid of him. Obviously, they'll want 'Arry or Big Sam for the job, but Roy may just take a punt at it, even if he does well at Liverpool.

I didn't pay close attention to last night's game, but it looks like they played the way the 'players' wanted to at the World Cup. I don't know how close they came in the first half, but Gerrard's two goals were good, especially the second, even if it did show his lack of confidence with his left. ;)

Liverpool have completed the signing of Christian Poulsen for £4.5m. There's also £1m in clauses.

West Ham are asking Liverpool for £20m for Carlton Cole, according to The Sun.

They also say that Chelsea have pipped United to the signing of 14 year old Burkina Faso prospect, Bertrand Traore.

The Mirror say that Milner to Man City deal is on hold because Stephen Ireland is waiting to see if Spurs make a late bid.

The Daily Mail report that Everton had scouts in the crowd as Loic Remy made his France debut against Norway. They also say that Aston Villa, Sunderland, Chelsea and Spurs also had scouts there. No word, of course, if they were all there for Remy.

The Mail also drag up the Roque Santa Cruz to Fulham story.

The Daily Star report that Joachim Loew has told Mesut Ozil to reject Manchester United in favour of Spanish giants Barcelona. "You have to remember that playing for Barcelona is very special for a footballer," said Loew.

The Daily Record say that James Beattie is on his way to Rangers in a £1.5m deal.

IMscouting reckon that Luis Fabiano is close to leaving Seville for Marseille.

talkSPORT report that Jeremie Aliadiere could be on his way to West Ham after being given a trial by Avram Grant.

Phil Jagielka has told the radio station that he's happy at Everton and won't be moving to Arsenal.

The Guardian say that Villa caretaker boss Kevin MacDonald could be in charge for anything upto a few weeks, as the club try to find the right man for the job.

christine

08-12-10, 12:37 PM

Jeez. Steve Coppell has resigned as manager of Bristol City after only 2 games, and apparently there's rumours David James wants to buy out of his contract too :facepalm:

Tacitus

08-12-10, 12:53 PM

Aye, James has said that he wouldn't have signed if Coppell hadn't been in charge.

Coppell's pretty clearly a guy who doesn't sit easily with the pressures of the job. Part of me feels sorry for him but the rest of me thinks how daft chairmen are to offer him positions. He's like a baldy Keegan with a bit more talent as a coach but none of the friends in the media. ;)

christine

08-12-10, 01:19 PM

lol hmm but why would you take on a job like that when you know damn well what it's all about. I hope they haven't actually paid him anything.

Tacitus

08-12-10, 02:00 PM

Coppell seems to be a complicated guy and I'm sure he went into the job with the best of intentions.

We've all turned up for a first day at work and realised that we've made a huge mistake, haven't we? I know I have. ;)

I think I lasted 3 months before jacking it in.

honeykid

08-12-10, 09:15 PM

He's like a baldy Keegan with a bit more talent as a coach but none of the friends in the media. ;)

I think that's probably the best description of Coppell, the manager, that I've ever read.

Here's some early gossip from tomorrows papers.

Stephen Ireland is 'holding his club to ransom' and demanding a £2m loyalty payment, before he moves to Aston Villa as part of the Milner deal. That's in the Daily Mirror.

They also say that City are ahead of Chelsea in the 'race' for David Luiz at Benfica. But I've heard that Chelsea aren't really in the 'race', but with Carvalho moving, I guess there could be something in it. Personally, I doubt it unless they've no confidence in either John Terry or Alex.

caughtoffside say that Arsenal are thinking about a move for Brazilian winger Michel Bastos.

The Guardian say that Scott Parker is close to signing a much improved deal which will keep him at the club.

The Mirror are claiming that David James' arrival at Bristol City may've been a contributing factor to Coppell quitting.

Sunderland's Anton Ferdinand is said to be going on a season's loan to Palermo, while Rennes striker Asamoah Gyan is coming in for £8m

After admitting that he was having trouble getting motivated for this season after getting knocked out of the World Cup, Tevez is now saying he's disillusioned with life in England and looks forward to going back to Argentina.

Lastly, in The Mirror, Santos have accused Chelsea of "harrassment" in the pursuit of striker Neymar and have said that they'll report them to FIFA if they continue.

Tacitus

08-13-10, 05:53 AM

Holding Citeh to ransom for £2mil is a bit like someone kidnapping me and demanding one of those '5 for a pound' cigarette lighters.

Pre-owned.

EDIT - I've just thought of this! I wonder if Man Utd really haven't a bean to spend or if Fergie is being so contrary that he's determined to do a very specific Wenger, so to speak? The more City spend, the less he's going to and still will finish above them in the table.

It's probably bollocks and the mountains of debt that the Glazers have saddled the club with is finally coming back to bite them in the arse but it's a nice idea. ;)

christine

08-14-10, 03:31 PM

Tim Howard made a good start to the season :rolleyes:

Brodinski

08-14-10, 07:22 PM

And yet another forward joins Man Sh!tty. There's also talk in here about Ireland and Bellamy.

City boss Mancini seals Balotelli deal

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini completed the signing of Italian striker Mario Balotelli from Inter Milan on Friday.

Balotelli agreed a five-year contract with the Premier League club after flying into Manchester for a medical earlier in the day.

The 20-year-old was a long-term transfer target for Mancini, who worked with the player during his spell in charge at Inter, and it is believed he has cost City around 24 million pounds (29 million euros).

He is City's fifth big-money signing since the end of last season, taking their spending to over 100 million pounds (121 million euros) after the arrivals of Jerome Boateng, David Silva, Yaya Toure and Aleksandar Kolarov.

"I think that Mario is one of the best players of his age in Europe and I am very happy to be working with him again," Mancini told City's website.
"His style of play will suit the Premier League and City fans will enjoy watching him."

Balotelli will not be available to play in Saturday's season opener at Tottenham, but Mancini is confident he has all the qualities needed to be a success. "He is still so young there is a big chance for him to improve. He is a strong and exciting player," Mancini added.

Balotelli hinted that he was sad to leave Italy.

"I'm sorry to leave Inter and Italy, because I would have preferred to continue my professional growth in my own country," he told his personal website.

Balotelli, who has Ghanaian parents, had endured a stormy spell at Inter.
He fell out with former manager Jose Mourinho last season and was left out of the squad for a European tie against Chelsea.

He also angered fans of the European champions by allowing himself to be photographed in the shirt of their arch rivals AC Milan and was racially abused by Juventus fans during a match in 2009.

Despite all the controversy, Balotelli remains an incredibly gifted player, with pace, power and the ability to score spectacular goals.

While Balotelli has arrived at Eastlands in time for the new season, another of Mancini's targets, Aston Villa midfielder James Milner, may not get his wish to join City until next week at the earliest.

Mancini's club have been negotiating with Villa over England international Milner for several weeks and the Italian said: "We need another two or three days for this situation. We need everyone to be happy."

It is believed City are ready to sell midfielder Stephen Ireland to Villa as part of the deal but the Republic of Ireland international is still discussing a pay-off before agreeing to leave.

Mancini also admitted Wales striker Craig Bellamy's time at Eastlands is over after accusing him of false statements to the media.

Bellamy has been fined after claiming Mancini was trying to force him out of Eastlands and had stopped speaking to him.

He will not be included in City's 25-man squad for the coming season, with Fulham and Scottish club Celtic ready to fight it out for his services.

"I have to choose 25. The rest must find another team. Craig is out of the list," Mancini said.

"Bellamy can talk but it is not important because it is false. Last year Craig played all the games with me. This year I have chosen other players. I am the manager. I make this choice."

Tacitus

08-15-10, 12:08 PM

How fantastic would this be? (http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8652_6314050,00.html)

I can just imagine little Diego, after beating Birmingham City, stripping naked at the Holte End and attempting to copulate with an Alex McLiesh doll while blowing raspberries to the tune of My Old Man... :D

Golgot

08-15-10, 12:21 PM

Please stop imagining that! :D

But yes that would be class :) Although I could imagine the nippier Villa teamsters legging it to avoid his passionate post-game embraces... leaving only a lumbering Carew to receive his full attentions ;)

---

PS I would just like to note that watching Spurs in the first half vs Pay-Chitty was a joy, goals or no goals :) That first 11, with a bit of second-half stamina back in em, are gonna be fun to watch come what may :)

Tacitus

08-15-10, 01:01 PM

Please stop imagining that! :D

What would he do the first time Villa are denied a win/draw because of a dodgy offside or penalty? Household pets in the Greater Birmingham area have been warned...

They'll be bottom of the table by Christmas, mind, not least because Diego takes his 'no right back' thing with Argentina a bit too far and replaces Luke Young and Habib Beye (Oh, Habib Beye!) in the squad with popular singer Shakira and Proposition Joe from The Wire.

Prop Joe is still quicker over 10yds than Steven Carr, however.

honeykid

08-17-10, 10:57 PM

Just a few things.

Firstly, I didn't watch the game, but WTF happen Spurs? I know that 'lesser' teams (or any team that the media only mention when they play a British team) can cause an upset, but 3-0 in half an hour's a little more than that.

Mesut Ozil has moved to Real Madrid.

The French Football Federation has gone medieval on the French rebels. Anelka's been given an 18 match ban? :eek: Evra got a five match ban, Ribery a three match ban and Jeremy Toulalan a one-game ban. As the rest of the team missed the first game of Blanc's charge, they've served their bans.

Everton may be opening their chequebook to sign Sporting Lisbon's Marat Izmailov. The midfielder will cost in the region of £4m.

As I'm sure you know, Craig Bellamy's moved to Cardiff on loan for the season. According the Robbie Savage there were offers from Premier clubs who, to quote the man, "may well finish about City." and he also ventured an opinion that "United could well do with a player like Craig." (or words to that affect, I can't remember them verbatum)

Just one rumour for the moment, just because it's so ridiculous I'd love it to be true. Crystal Palace are trying their best to get Edgar Davids to join. Yep, that's the Dutch 37 year old who hasn't had a club for 2 years. Edgar Davids turning out at Selhurst Park? I'd almost pay to see that.

honeykid

08-18-10, 09:29 PM

Well, one of the Arsenal players has gone pop already. Nasri is out for around a month.

Liverpool have bought keeper Brad Jones from Middlesborough for £2.3m.

Everyone celebrate! The Milner deal has been done. YAY! £26m and Stephen Ireland is said to be the final cost him.

Dorian Dervite is to move from Spurs to Villareal.

Fulham have signed AZ Alkmaar forward Moussa Dembele, for a rumoured £5m, on a three-year deal.

talkSPORT have dragged up the Romelu Lukaku to Chelsea story. Ajax being the other club in contention for the teenagers signature.

They also report that Spurs are going to have another crack at getting Luis Fabiano, with £15m being the rumoured fugure. Though, even if successful, talkSPORT say that his £90,000-a-week wages may prove a stumbling block.

Caught Offside say that Liverpool are looking at Roque Santa Cruz and Wayne Bridge.

They also think that United may not have yet finished spending. Deportivo La Coruna's Mexican winger Andres Guardado is, they say, the target and £12m the bid.

sport.co.uk report that CSKA Moscow forward Keisuke Honda has issued a come-and-get-me-plea to Premier League clubs interested in signing him.

While the Press Association say that Roberto Di Matteo, of West Brom, has confirmed they have agreed terms with Lokomotiv Moscow forward Peter Odemwingie.

Tacitus

08-18-10, 09:59 PM

Everyone celebrate! The Milner deal has been done. YAY! £26m and Stephen Ireland is said to be the final cost him.

That's just madness, innit? On his day Ireland is as good if not better than an on-form Milner. I saw stats somewhere for the last couple of years showing Ireland contributing slightly more in terms of goals and assists, too.

He's not as versatile, granted, and, it has to be said, a bit weird. Villa have got a deal to rival Anelka from Arsenal to Real Madrid, there.

I like Milner so don't automatically hope he fails but I do hope that Ireland has a stormer of a season.

ballstouweboll24

08-18-10, 10:15 PM

Ireland will have a stormer he's a quality footballer. Milner has made a huge gaffe going to city (not financially obviously) but look at the likes of Scott Parker, once a promising england prospect signed for Chelsea and well we know the rest. Lescott also (have to say as an Everton fan I find it hilarious now ha ha ha ha ha)

What's Milner's motivation for leaving? Champions League football? Not in it.

Premier League title? Sorry three maybe four teams with a better chance.

Im gonna throw an idea into the hat and say.... MONEY!!!

honeykid

08-18-10, 10:30 PM

I've got to say, as a United fan, that for the last couple of seasons I'd have liked to see Ireland leaving the Wasteland and coming to United. I've never felt that way about Milner. Sans the versitility, I think that Ireland beats Milner in every category.

I wonder if we could put together a team of mercenaries. I mean ones ala Scott Parker, Steve Sidwell, not the current Man City team. :D

Tacitus

08-19-10, 06:24 AM

I'll need to think on this one.

Cashley (and Wayne Bridge when Cashley signed and he was content to spend his prime years sitting on the bench - moving to Citeh was actually a more noble move) and Pascal Chimbonda spring to mind immediately and I've always wondered if it was Anelka who was the mercenary or his brothers...

Paddy Kenny would take the goalkeeper slot.

Of course, they all pale in comparison to the master of them all: The 'Mad' Mike Hoare of modern footballers, Mr Winston Bogarde. ;)

Golgot

08-19-10, 08:59 AM

Firstly, I didn't watch the game, but WTF happen Spurs? I know that 'lesser' teams (or any team that the media only mention when they play a British team) can cause an upset, but 3-0 in half an hour's a little more than that.

Classic spurs eh? ;)

Summary of excuses:

First goal on 4mins was rebound flukery, setting the tone.

'Second string' guys didn't play well. Dos Santos & Palacios were pretty awful (one runs but won't pass, the other is off pace) leaving midfield fractured and overrun. Bassong lost concentration for third goal.

The Young'Uns are 5 games into their season.

It was all slippy and astroturfy like ;)

I don't know what to make of the pitch issues. Certainly Daws looked unbalanced for the 2nd goal where normally he would scythed the guy. The fact that both Defoe and Mods went off with strains suggests they weren't that comfortable out there.

Still, at least we showed a bit of fight-back spirit, and it keeps things interesting :) And if our 'first team' side can't win it by more than one goal at home (and avoid conceding another 2 goals) then we don't deserve Champions League anyway...

ballstouweboll24

08-19-10, 09:22 AM

Some more additions to Mercenaries FC

Francis Jeffers
Andrei Kanchelskis
Joleon Lescott

Manager

Steve Bruce
Harry Redknapp

Golgot

08-19-10, 09:30 AM

Hey Harry has turned up to training every day at Spurs. And on his days off he just goes fishing for the England job. Everyone needs a hobby ;)

Tacitus

08-19-10, 09:40 AM

honeykid

08-19-10, 02:20 PM

Some more additions to Mercenaries FC

Francis Jeffers
Andrei Kanchelskis

Which moves are you refering to? I wouldn't call Jeffers a mercenary for the Everton to Arsenal move or the move from Arsenal to wherever he went. I can't see/remember the Kanchelskis one at all. :shrug:

I love that Harry was blaming the pitch after saying that it looked fine and that he wouldn't use it as an excuse. Plastic pitch is always an excuse. If they'd won 4-0 it'd be an excuse for not scoring 5 or 6. :D

goal.com report that Fulham keeper Mark Schwarzer may be allowed to move to Arsenal if Carlos Vela and cash come the other way. No mention of an amount of cash needed.

While the Daily Express says that Shay Given is to leave City after finding out that Joe Hart will start the Euro games for the club. They say that he's now thinking about loan moves to Arsenal or Fulham.

The Independent says that Chelsea may give up on Santos striker Neymar after Santos made him the highest paid player at the club. No problem, you'd think, but the paper also says that the club won't accept anything less than £29m for the teenager.

In The Guardian they have Roy Hodgson telling Mascherano that unless Inter pay £25m, he's going nowhere.

However, the Mail say that he'll be sold to fund other purchases, and that he'll be left off the team sheet for tonight's Euro game, so he won't be cup tied.

Beckham to Blackburn? That's the story in the Mail, as they have the new Blackburn owner-in-waiting, Ahsan Ali Syed, is quoted as saying: "I was 26 when I started following the Premier League. I liked Blackburn back then and also used to follow Manchester United's fortunes because of David Beckham. If my finances allow and his intentions are positive then I would love to take Beckham."

The Daily Mirror report that defender Sebastien Squillaci, of Sevilla, may soon be on his way to Arsenal, after Sevilla withdrew him from a CL qualifier.

Young Man City winger, Vladimir Weiss, has moved to Rangers on a season long loan, according to the Daily Record.

honeykid

08-19-10, 02:29 PM

Mo Johnston anyone? Former Celtic hero announces that he's gonna sign with them again before mysteriously turning up at Ibrox?

Don't think anybody beats Bogarde, though. All the others at least turned up and played football occasionally...

I don't blame Winston. They bought him, they paid him, then didn't want to play him anymore and wanted to sell him. He was on £40,000 a week (how little does that sound now? Especially at Chelsea) and none of the clubs that wanted him would/could pay him that and all the clubs were, in his opinion, a step down from Chelsea. He turned up for and trained everyday, but was never picked. Personally, I see that differently from moving to a 'lesser' club for more money.

Now, if you want to call him a mercenary for moving from Barcelona to Chelsea, you might have a case, so long as Barcelona didn't want to sell him.

Tacitus

08-19-10, 06:47 PM

Whatever way you look at it, he was still a mercenary. The man had no pride - He was a decent (not great but above average) player who squandered his prime years by deliberately doing nothing. I'm sure his national manager loved him too - not sure how many caps he picked up after his 'retirement' but he was a useful squad player for Holland in his day.

Again, no pride.

It's not as if his wages would have gone from £40,000 a week to £250 is it? And I'm sure that Chelsea weren't above subsidising his wages for a season or two - If he'd wanted a move, that is.

If I was in his position I honestly don't know what I'd have done but, then again, if someone had called me a mercenary I'd have smiled and counted my Porsches.

honeykid

08-19-10, 07:32 PM

Yeah, you have to remember that, for as much as it's a dream job for many of us, there's a good number of players who really don't like football and, after they retired, never even watch a game. If he hadn't wanted to be on tv/a presenter, I doubt very much that Gary Lineker would be around football very much, if at all. He just happened to retire at a time when his football career (and his inparticular) could be parlayed into something else/more.

We'll have to disagree on the Winston Bogarde thing, though. Mercenaries move for money, not stay, IMO.

Tacitus

08-19-10, 07:47 PM

Damn Gary Lineker wanting to be on TV, that's what I say! :D

Just been listening to the latest Guardian podcast where two things struck me, three if you count their character assassination of Redknapp.

Firstly, they're saying that the Milner deal was £16mil plus Ireland, who City valued at £10mil. While not as crazy as first reported it's still grossly undervaluing the baldy granny-murderer...

They also mentioned how weird the Man Utd/Bebe deal was. 4 goals in 30 for a 3rd division team last season, they could have got him on a free a few months ago and Fergie has never seen him play. They came to the conclusion that it was rather fishy. Hmmm. ;)

honeykid

08-19-10, 08:07 PM

Just been listening to the latest Guardian podcast where two things struck me, three if you count their character assassination of Redknapp.

Firstly, they're saying that the Milner deal was £16mil plus Ireland, who City valued at £10mil. While not as crazy as first reported it's still grossly undervaluing the baldy granny-murderer...

They also mentioned how weird the Man Utd/Bebe deal was. 4 goals in 30 for a 3rd division team last season, they could have got him on a free a few months ago and Fergie has never seen him play. They came to the conclusion that it was rather fishy. Hmmm. ;)

I've heard that it's £18m up front and the rest is clauses, plus Ireland. So it appears that the figure is about right.

I also don't quite 'get' the Bebe deal either. All I've seen/read is that Carlos Queiroz phoned Fergie and and told him to buy him no matter what. That's all I know, other than it's reported that United triggered his buy out clause of £7m. Not only has Fergie not seen him play, Fergie himself admitted that the first time he saw him was when he turned up at Carrington. The only explaination I've seen for it all was that Real were sniffing around, so United moved quickly.

Whether that's true or not, I don't know, but they've done it before, when they bought Ronaldo, which was why they paid so much. It was twice what Real were offering.

I guess we'll see once he starts to play games.

Tacitus

08-20-10, 05:54 AM

Fergie had seen Ronaldo play, hadn't he? Against Utd too, if memory serves.

Personally I just don't get it. It's been clear for 12 months that the place they need to strengthen is midfield - How many strikers do you need if you only play 4-4-2 domestically against weaker sides? A few million more and they could have had Ozil (presuming he wanted to come etc etc) and all the sweating over an ageing Scholes would have ended.

Hang on, I'm gonna sneeze.... MANUCHO! Ahhh, that's better. ;)

The mental image of someone sweating over Paul Scholes must have caused it...

honeykid

08-20-10, 09:07 AM

LOL... :rotfl:

Yes, Fergie had seen him play against United. The story was that the players pestered Fergie to buy him, and that plus the Real interest is what motivated the deal happening a year or two earlier than Fergie had planned.

As I said, I can't explain it and nothing I've heard does it.

More worrying news for United fans

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/8931026.stm

Liverpool may be loaning Alberto Aquilani out to Juve for the season. It certainly appears that he'll spend this season in Italy on loan.

Now, after predicting all summer that William Gallas is going to end up at PSG, it seems that the football Gods have shown just how stupid I am. He's having a medical, this morning, at White Hart Lane!! :eek: If all goes well, he'll sign a one year deal. It's understood that Gallas has agreed to take a pay cut to join, though there's no mention of how much.

Voetbal International are saying that Dirk Kuyt could be the next to leave Anfield and that, like Mascherano, Inter is a likely destination. His agent, Rob Jansen, claims there is "real interest" from Inter adding: "There is also the possibility that a player from Inter could be included in the deal."

Another 'defender to Arsenal' story now. caughtoffside say that Wenger will turn to Michael Ciani, if his bid to get Sebastien Squillaci fails.

The Express have quotes from Rafael van der Vaart on a move to United, after being told he's for sale. The Dutchman said: "If you are leaving Real Madrid, there is only one club that is not a step down - and that's Manchester United."

While, The Mail say that Harry's not done spending yet and will offer £6m Steven Pienaar, who's new contract still hasn't been signed, as well as securing the services of Read Madrid midfielder Lassana Diarra on a loan deal.

Meanwhile, on talkSPORT, they report that Birmingham are going to make a £6m move for Tottenham defender Alan Hutton.

Carlton Cole is staying at West Ham and is happy to do so, say talkSPORT.

The Star says that another Arsenal reject is on his way to Spurs, with the news that the club are after Alex Hleb. Seville are also said to be interested and, as it's The Star, are probably going to go there.

Blackburn have been given clearance to talk to Jonathan Greening with a view to signing him on loan from Fulham.

The Mirror say that Matt Taylor is wanted by both West Ham and Blackburn.

The Independent brings the sad news that Chelsea's 21-year-old defender Sam Hutchinson has been forced to retire because of a chronic knee injury.

honeykid

08-21-10, 10:41 PM

In The Mirror, Hodgson says that neither Javier Mascherano or Dirk Kuyt will be joining Inter.

Alberto Aquilani will join Juventus on a one-year loan, so long as he passes his medical on Monday.

talkSPORT report that Arsenal will make a mobvie for Ajax's Maarten Stekelenburg if he's unable to get Mark Schwarzer from Fulham.

The Mirror now say that Stoke's Asmir Begovic will be Mark Hughes' intended target if Mark Schwarzer moves to Arsenal.

The Daily Mail say that West Ham are lining up at £2m bid for Luke Young. They also have the club looking at a £2.5m deal for Celtic's Marc-Antoine Fortune.

More from talkSPORT, whi say that United are close to signing 16-year-old Ajax winger Gyliano van Velzen.

The Guardian reports that Birmingham City are set to make an improved offer for Charles N'Zogbia, thought to be in the region of about £8.5-£9m.

To The Sun, where Arsene Wenger admits a move for Manchester City goalkeeper Shay Given is increasingly unlikely because of his wage demands, although Fulham's Mark Schwarzer is still on his radar.

The Mail say that Spurs will have to buy Lassana Diarra, after Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho said he will not allow the midfielder to go out on loan. £8.5m is the figure mentioned.

The Star have Mourinho planning a £20m bid for Didier Drogba. I know, but I thought I'd post it anyway.

IMScouting say that Roma are looking at City's Shay Given.

Tacitus

08-22-10, 06:44 AM

Fabio, your problems are over! :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HV0WNO1c_4I&feature=channel

Y'know when a lot of sports video games have guidance by top stars to make them as lifelike as possible?

Anyone know what Carlton Palmer, Andy Sinton, Brian Deane and Chris Kirkland were doing at the time of this video?

honeykid

08-22-10, 11:23 PM

Seville have said that their defender, Sebastien Squillaci, will undergo a medical at Arsenal on Monday. They rate him at £6.5m.

The Guardian report that United maybe the subject of an official complaint from Ajax, after their move for Gyliano van Velzen, a Dutch under-16 international.

caughtoffside say that Spurs are preparing a £12.3m bid for Benin international Sessegnon.

The Daily Mail have the same story, but add that West Ham are also interested.

Also in The Mail, they reckon that Dirk Kuyt will be staying at Liverpool, but Mascherano will go to Barca.

Another caughtoffside story. Inter's Victor Obinna is due at West Ham on Monday for talks, according to the site.

The site also claim that Arsenal will spend £22m on the Ajax pair of Maarten Stekelenburg and centre-back Jan Vertonghen .

The Mirror say that David Trezeguet is a target for Roy Hodgson. I thought Trezeguet had only signed a new contract a couple of weeks ago.

Lots of gossip in the Sunday papers.

Marca reckon that Chelsea are going to make a £33m bid for Sergio Ramos and pay him £8m a season.

The News Of The World reckon that Arsenal will buy the young, highly rated, French striker Emmanuel Riviere. So, young talented Frenchmen to Arsenal shocker there. :rolleyes:

The Mail On Sunday had an interesting story in which AC Milan buy Zlatan Ibrahimovic, which in turn gives Barcelona the extra money needed to buy Cesc Fabregas. Could there be a last day of the transfer window drama? :drevil:

The Sunday People say that Real Madrid are eyeing up a move for Gael Clichy.

The Sunday Telegraph say that Emmanuel Adebayor wants to stay at the Wastelands, even though Real want him.

While the Express say that Emmanuel Adebayor is on his way to Real, which will mean that United can buy Karim Benzema.

caughtoffside report that Gianluigi Buffon may be on his way to United next summer for £15m.

kickoff.com say that Spurs have S. Africa's defender Bongani Khumalo on trial.

The NOTW say that Roy Hodgson will take Carlos Salcido of PSV, if he can't get Paul Konchesky.

The Mail On Sunday say that West Ham want Bayern keeper Michael Rensing as competition for Rob Green.

The People say that Steve Bruce has told Anton Ferdinand he can leave the club, which has prompted interest from Serie A team, Bari.

The NOTW say that Bruce will get Asamoah Gyan from Rennes as a replacement for Kenwyne Jones.

Martin O'Neil to Nottingham Forrest? That's what the Sunday Mirror say.

The People say that the FA is looking at MON for the England job, if England struggle in the first games of their Euro qualifiers.

The Sunday Telegraph say that Kenny Huang decided to withdraw from the race to buy Liverpool because of his increasing disillusionment with chairman Martin Broughton and the club's board over the timescale and pace of the deal.

Brodinski

08-23-10, 06:52 AM

The site also claim that Arsenal will spend £22m on the Ajax pair of Maarten Stekelenburg and centre-back Jan Vertonghen .

Don't know about Stekelenburg, but Vertonghen is 100% certain staying with Ajax. It's been reported in several Belgian papers that he is determined to win a big prize with Ajax before leaving the team. He has however commented that he would love to play for Arsenal in the future, as he will be re-united with his former teammate and fellow Belgian Thomas Vermaelen there.

The Mail On Sunday had an interesting story in which AC Milan buy Zlatan Ibrahimovic, which in turn gives Barcelona the extra money needed to buy Cesc Fabregas. Could there be a last day of the transfer window drama? :drevil:

Cesc is staying! *diabolic laughter*

honeykid

08-23-10, 11:37 PM

I agree about Cesc. I think that drama's over for another summer. But as long as the window's open and there's money going into Barca, there's always a chance.

Liverpool have told Barcelona that they want £24.5m for Javier Mascherano, according to goal.com. The site says this comes after the club rejected an offer of £18.8m plus Alexander Hleb.

The Daily Mail say that Chelsea have now turned their attentions to Inter's Nicolas Burdisso, after deciding that Benfica's David Luiz is too expensive at £27m.

Also in the Mail, Sunderland are now looking at Carlton Cole after they were apparently told no go for Asamoah Gyan from Rennes. Seeing as West Ham are said to be asking £20m now for Cole and the player has reportedly said he's happy at WH, I can't see this happening at all.

In the Telegraph, they say that Robinho is set to meet officials from Fenerbahce in Manchester on Tuesday in an attempt to seal a move from Manchester City before the 31 August transfer deadline.

AC Milan said that they're trying to sign Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but admit that the chances of landing him look remote. "We will try but it's difficult," said chief executive Adriano Galliani.

Tony Pulis has said that he won't be making any move for Peter Crouch because he just costs too much.

insidefutbol.com say that Mascherano has agreed terms with Barcelona, but the clubs are yet to agree a price.

IMscouting said yesterday that Liverpool would enter further talks with Inter Milan over the sale of Dirk Kuyt to Inter. Liverpool have already rejected an offer thought to be in the region of £7.5m plus Nigerian striker Victor Obinna.

Golgot

08-24-10, 08:49 AM

Spurs ITK are falling over themselves to claim Fabiano is coming to Spurs (some say dependent on CL, some say even if we mess it up). That'd be very much a signing of intent if we could pull it off. With some Gallic Gallas Gutsiness in the backline, and the new Sandro lad adding some bite to midfield (with perhaps some Parker style 'leadership' to boot, if ITKs are to be believed), that's beginning to look like a much more satisfactory window for the Spuds :) (Would also mean we've interspersed a Brazilian spine with our English one. All singing all dancing i tells ya ;))

Tacitus

08-24-10, 09:40 AM

I think Gallas only moved because he wanted someone to talk to, considering the trail of disharmony he left at his last two clubs.

He's still a class player, I think, as long as he's partnered with the right kind of centre back and as long as he stays fit. He'll probably play the games where King is rested, do you think?

Golgot

08-24-10, 10:10 AM

Yeah I'm imagining something along those lines. Experience to go alongside Daws I suspect, who's got better at bossing the line but is still a better player with some older shoulders alongside him. Kaboul seems to have a more level head these days, but if anything I think we're grooming him to be a pacey option at right back. Bassong seems to be the worry - he's just too skittish/short of attention at the moment without someone keeping him in line.

On the Gallic temperament we'll see how it goes. I can imagine him having set-toos with young Benni Ekotto (who could have an argument with his own hair-do frankly ;)). Spurs could still do with a touch more 'leadership' for tough moments, and he might do the trick. That's if he doesn't have a mighty strop on anyone in the crowd ;)

honeykid

08-26-10, 07:45 AM

Fulham have agreed to sign PSV Eindhoven's Mexico international left-back Carlos Salcido for, a reported, £1.6m.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic could return to Italy with AC Milan - according to Rossoneri vice-president Adriano Galliani. Both Barca and Zlatan are said to be keen on a move Galliani told AC Milan's official website:

"Negotiations will continue on Thursday. At noon I have an appointment with the president of Barcelona. Let's see.

"The negotiations are very complex but the relationship with Sandro Rosell is really good and he is very nice.

"Barca are willing to sell or loan the player, he is willing to come to Milan but we are talking about a mountain of money in the middle of a crisis."

Birmingham have confirmed they have made an improved bid for Charles N'Zogbia. Alex McLeish did not reveal the size of the offer, with the club already having had an £8m bid rejected for the 24-year-old Frenchman.

"We have made another bid for Charles and we wait to see if it's successful or not," said the Scottish boss.

"We're awaiting Wigan's response. At the same time we're in the hands of the gods in terms of the other offers."

Liverpool's Italian midfielder Alberto Aquilani has returned home to join Juventus on a one-year loan move.

Roy Hodgson expects to know before Sunday whether midfielder Javier Mascherano will leave the club. Hodgson has not ruled out selecting the Argentina captain for Sunday's Premier League match against West Brom.

"I am seriously hoping that in the next couple of days it will be sorted out one way or another," he said. "Although I have no idea which way that will be."

Hodgson added: "I wouldn't want to say he has played his last game for Liverpool.

The Daily Mail say that Bayern Munich's Martin Demichelis has turned down a £10m move to Chelsea, saying he wants to join Spanish side Sevilla.

The Mail also say that Owen Coyle wants to take Tom Cleverley to Bolton.

The Times say that City are still hoping to offload Robinho somewhere before the transfer window closes, after he turned down a move to Fenerbache.

The Mirror reports that West Ham, Liverpool, West Brom and Aston Villa are all interested in taking David Trezaguet from Juventus.

The Sun say that West Ham expect to sign Inter's Victory Obinna later today.

More from The Mail where they tell us that Stoke are set to sign Portsmouth's Marc Wilson for £3m, plus striker Dave Kitson, 30, after edging out West Bromwich Albion for the 23-year-old defender's signature.

The Daily Star say that Wolves will, once again, take Michael Mancienne on loan from Chelsea for the season.

There's a lot in the Mail today and here's another one. Newcastle want Manchester City's defender Dedryck Boyata and striker Roque Santa Cruz and are hoping to nick in before the window closes.

The Mail, once again, says that Sven-Goran Eriksson is eyeing the Ukraine manager's job as his next position.

Golgot

08-26-10, 08:56 AM

Phew, time to stop sweating for a bit ;)

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/48871000/jpg/_48871916_crouch466x282_getty.jpg

I'm turning into such a snob now tho. Palacios was a hero when he turned up. Taught us how to tackle and everything. Now I get annoyed that he hasn't mastered the art of passing ;)

Tacitus

08-26-10, 09:27 AM

What a nasty little cheat Jermain Defoe is, eh? Oh yeah, he's not French. :D

Golgot

08-26-10, 09:32 AM

He, um, stumbled, and, erm, had the decency to look guilty ;)

Tacitus

08-26-10, 09:34 AM

What a hero then!

Not getting at you, golg, just the silence in the tabloid press. :)

EDIT - Defoe's hand job denies Young Boys pleasure?

Golgot

08-26-10, 09:41 AM

Heh, it wasn't quite of Henry proportions, altho it did come at a nice time. I think that's why it's just getting 'appeared to be hand ball' comments ;) (Lovely finish in the end tho too :))

Ultimately they only had one shot on target and that, so I reckon it was our game with or without an arm of imp ;)

EDIT- Stop that now! :D

MUCH LATER EDIT: Whoops - Spurs just scored the Champions in the group stage :D

The Special Ones
Wordup Bremen
Spuds
FC 11

BONUS EDIT:

With any luck The Benighted One will sign Kuyt and generally de-specialise them by the time we get there ;)

honeykid

08-26-10, 08:22 PM

EDIT - Defoe's hand job denies Young Boys pleasure?

That is quality, Tacitus. You should be working for a tabloid. :up:

Tacitus

08-27-10, 06:39 AM

Sadly it's nowhere near as good as "Young Boys Wankdorf erection relief" when they got the go ahead for stadium improvements. ;D

I think that The Wankdorf is no longer called The Wankdorf, sadly.

ballstouweboll24

08-27-10, 11:11 AM

"Young Boys Wankdorf Erection relief" Ha ha ha that's quality

Just saw on Sky Sports news that Liverpool have agreed a fee for Mascherano.

Hodgson obviously didn't want to lose him but he is beng smart in putting an end to any turmoil within the squad especially after a poor start. If only we could do the same at Everton with Pienaar, he wants more money Moyes is saying no and if he doesn't want to play for Everton then he has to go.

Heard a rumour at the match on wednesday that Spurs have offered Crouch for Pienaar, not sure we can afford his wages though and I would prefer to get Tom Huddlestone instead but seeing as though I'm wishful thinkling I might as well hope for Iniesta and Messi as well ;)

christine

08-27-10, 04:49 PM

oh my goodness another Evertonian! welcome :)

honeykid

08-28-10, 12:07 PM

So the Euro Cup holders beat the CL holder, as they often do. In other words, Atletico Madrid beat Inter 2-0 last night.

Hatem Ben Arfa has joined Newcastle on a season long loan from Marseille.

The Portuguese papers say that Raul Meireles is in Liverpool to complete a £9m-£10.7m transfer, while The DAily Mail talking Konchesky to Liverpool again. They say it's a done deal for £4m.

The Daily Star reckon that Spurs are thinking about making an £18m bid for Ashley Young, while they also say that Villa will reject any move for the player.

goal.com say that Liverpool have made a bid for Lassana Diarra as a replacement for Mascherano... Should he ever actually leave.

The Sun are talking Spurs, too. Luis Fabiano will cost £25m according to them, which pretty much puts him out of Spurs clutches. The Times are talking the same story, but add that Robbie Keane could go to Celtic. Would Fabiano have to do some pretty sweet backtracking if he signs? After what he said about Spurs not being a step up, sideways step, if he moved to Spurs he may as well stay at Seville, etc.

Opposing those saying that Raul Meireles is going to Liverpool, The Mirror says it's Gokhan Inler that Hodgson has his eye on to replace Mascherano.

The Express say that Blackburn have signed Benjani on a one year deal.

In The Mail is the news that Blackpool are looking at signing Luke Varney on a season long deal from Derby.

City are now after Stoke keeper, Asmir Begovic which, they say, will let Shay Given join Fulham. Therefore implying that Schwatzer will join Arsenal and Almunia? Who knows? It was Villa, but that was when they were linking Friedel to Fulham.

Richard Wright is being looked at by Blackpool, after failing with a bid for Birmingham's Maik Taylor.

Lots of papers talking about Charles N'Zogbia move from Wigan to Birmingham breaking down because the player wanted £50,000 a week.

The Sun say that Capello is talking to Mikel Arteta and hopes to convince him to play for England.

The Express say that Mark Hughes wants Shay Given and Roque Santa-Cruz.

The Mail have Sunderland interested in Stoke's Turkish striker Tuncay, for reason I can't fathom.

A few of others that've been talked about over the last few days.

Emmanuel Adebayor wants to leave before the end of the transfer window. In today's papers he's been told to stop engineering a move and fight for his place.

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar to Spurs on loan with an option to buy for £12m at the end of it.

Arsenal have/are asking about Mickael Landreau at Lille.

Lastly, two interesting articles.

This one from The Guardian about suspicions that City are stockpiling players.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/aug/27/premier-league-ban-player-loans

There's also a little bit about the possibility of some FIFA executives being corrupt. NO! Never! :rolleyes:

And this one about new United signing Bebe.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1306492/United-fans-wonder-Sir-Alex-Ferguson-signed-7-4m-dud-Bebe.html#ixzz0xmhDpgwE

AC Milan and Barcelona have agreed a deal for Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Tacitus

08-28-10, 01:07 PM

I think Tuncay's a decent player who made a terrible decision in the team he joined (and the team in signing him in the first place) and has been practically frozen out by the hulking target men Stoke employ to get on the end of Delap's throws.

He'll do a lot better with a team who plays the ball along the floor but, sadly, Sunderland (I think Bruce's days as being a manager with potential are now over, eh?) are going to be as good as he can hope for at this point in his stalled career.

honeykid

08-28-10, 02:30 PM

Exactly. He's wrong for the teams he plays for, which is why I can't fathom why they'd want him at Sunderland or why he'd want to go there. With the exception of the obvious, of course.

Tacitus

08-28-10, 03:06 PM

Well, I'd think that Sunderland are more of a footballing side than Stoke, for starters. Then again, most teams are more of a footballing side than Stoke. :D

I just wonder if he'll be dirt cheap and the only reason Bruce is interested is that Sunderland's owners have finally put the kibosh on him spunking their money up the wall?

Poor old Tuncay must be cursing the fact that he's not in the same class as his Football Manager version of a few years ago. He always used to get a transfer to Liverpool. ;)

Talking of FM, will you be buying FM2011, HK?

honeykid

08-29-10, 01:11 PM

Talking of FM, will you be buying FM2011, HK?

Probably not, Tacitus.

Firstly, I've got a nice game going, atm. Secondly, there's not really been that much change from last season in terms of personell and, therefore thirdly, I don't really think it's worth the 'upgrade'.

Of course, come the end of October any or all of those things may change but, for now, I'd doubt I'll be getting it.

Tacitus

08-29-10, 01:35 PM

I doubt if I'll rush out and buy it on release because it'll be £15 in a few months, like always. Of course, one day I'll walk into Tescos to get some sprouts and it'll be there. Looking at me. ;)

Steve Bruce, eh? Top manager, as I've always said. He obviously reads this thread. :up:

honeykid

08-29-10, 01:51 PM

Looks like Paul Konchesky's move to Liverpool may be only a day or two away at most, after he was seen at Anfield today.

AC Milan and Barcelona have agreed a season long loan for Zlatan Ibrahimovic, with a option to buy him for £19.7m (24m Euros)

Well it's Sunday, so it's Transfer Gossip Sunday. With the transfer window closing on Tuesday, there's a lot of gossip.

The News Of The World reckon that Roy Hodgson will make one last try for Carlton Cole. They also say that Paul Konchesky is nearly a Liverpool player. However, their interest in PSV Eindhoven forward Ola Toivonen looks to be over because they want £13m.

The Sunday Express say that Hodgson will make an attempt to loan Bayern Munich's Mario Gomez.

The People are talking Jack Rodwell to United for £20m. I'd be stunned if this happened.

The Mail On Sunday are saying that West Ham may cash in on Scott Parker. They reckon that Spurs are at the front of the queue and that £8m could do the trick. Can't see this happening myself and not for that cash, either.

Back to the NOTW where they tell us that Spurs still want Klaas-Jan Huntelaar on loan, but will look at Giuseppe Rossi if they can't get him.

Still with the NOTW where they say that Spurs have enquired about Rio Ferdinand, but were told not to bother.

The Mail On Sunday say that Robbie Keane's on his way to Villa or Newcastle.

To The Sunday People where they tell us that Franco di Santo is on his way to Wigan for £2m from Chelsea.

The Sunday Mirror reckon that Reading's Adam Federici has been identified by Fulham as a replacement for Mark Schwarzer who, of course, is going to Arsenal.

Still with the Mirror, who tell us that Jermaine Jenas' moves to Villa and Inter have broken down so he's staying at WHL. Does anyone think that there's ever been anything in the Jenas to Inter rumours? For the last 3 years we've been told that he's on his way to Italy (usually Inter) and, of course, it's never happened. Fleet Street bollocks, I reckon, but I just wondered if there was anything in it beyond Mouriho saying he's a good player.

IMScouting says that West Ham have almost secured the signature of AFC Valenciennes left-back Siaka Tiene.

Robert Pires is a free agent, so he's being linked to the Premier League. West Ham, Wigan and Bolton are all said to be interested. Of course, this was predicted at the start of the summer, too, probably with the same clubs mentioned, so I wouldn't put too much faith in this.

NOTW say that Craig Bellamy will stay at Cardiff if they get promoted to the Premier League.

Arsenal forward Nacer Barazite says his proposed loan move to Rangers isnt' dead yet and he still hopes to beat the transfer deadline.

The People say that Gerard Houllier could take over at Aston Villa if they don't keep Kevin MacDonald on as manager.

However, The Mirror says that Jurgen Klinsmann is the man Villa want.

In the People Javier Mascherano denies that he went on strike to force through his move to Barcelona.

Tacitus

08-30-10, 04:34 AM

AC Milan and Barcelona have agreed a season long loan for Zlatan Ibrahimovic, with a option to buy him for £19.7m (24m Euros)

I'm trying to work out how much Barcelona will have lost on The World's Most Overrated Player should Milan take them up on their offer? I reckon, with the cost of Eto'o taken into the equation, he cost Barca £50mil. No wonder they're skint.

Always thought it was a mad transfer, especially because I think that Eto'o is markedly the better player of the two.

honeykid

08-30-10, 08:45 AM

According to the BBC, he cost £35m plus Eto. So I reckon that's, at least, £55m-£60m and then there's the obligartory signing-on fee, what's that? Another £2.5m-£3m? That's a loss, if he goes for the agreed fee, of around £35m. That's a big hit for a deal that never looked right to most of us and a club that had trouble paying their wage bill this summer.

One day to go until the window closes. How many of these will occur?

The Sun say United will tempt Everton with Carrick plus £10m for Jack Rodwell.

The Express have Spurs making a last bid of £15m for Ashley Young. This time, though, they're willing to throw in one (or maybe more) of these three, Robbie Keane, Jermaine Jenas and Alan Hutton.

Caughtoffside have United keeping track of Lee Cattermole. :eek:

Back to The Sun, where they say West Ham have rejected a £7m bid from Liverpool for Carlton Cole. However, The Sun also say that Brescia Andrea Caracciolo has been identified as a replacement should he go.

Another Sun story, who unlike other papers, say that AC Milan won't loan out Huntelaar to Spurs but will sell him to them for £11m.

IMScouting reckon that Spurs are talking to Inter about Sulley Muntari.

The Times say that Wigan will offer Bolton £3m for Ali-al Habsi.

Yet more from The Sun who have West Brom offering £3m to Villa for Steve Sidwell.

Back to IMScouting who say that Barcelona will make one more move in the transfer market. They say it's Man City's Robinho or Valencia's Juan Mata.

Juve want Arsenal's Armand Traore on loan. That's in The Sun.

The Mirror are saying that Newcastle want to make a £8m swoop for Dutch striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel. Had to include this one, look at his name. Wolfswinkel? Fabulous. :D

More talk of Asamoah Gyan to Sunderland in The Mirror. £15m is the tag.

More in The Mirror it seems that Stoke are looking at adding a few. They say they'll make a £7m bid for Jermaine Jenas, and they also have Tony Pulis keen on Portsmouth skipper Marc Wilson, Wigan striker Hugo Rodallega and Middlesbrough defender David Wheater.

Whilst The Mail have Pulis wanting to take Eidur Gudjohnsen on loan.

In The Mirror they say that Blackpool have made a bid for Barnsley's forward Adam Hammill. The paper also has Bolton looking at Rodrigo Moreno, the Benfica youngster, on loan.

Golgot

08-30-10, 11:21 AM

Harry's feeling the transfer heat...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJBsI7RAuvk

honeykid

08-30-10, 09:10 PM

So what do you guys think about Moyes to Everton? Is it going to happen? Unlike the transfer window, it could go on beyond today. I can't see it myself, I can't see the point, especially if he is in the frame for the United job.

Tacitus

08-31-10, 08:00 AM

Redknapp was in a pissy little mood in his MOTD interview too. More use of the words 'I' and 'me' than the average Sam Allardyce monologue, and that's saying something.

Wondered how long it'd be this season before he mentioned where the underperforming but proven top six side Spurs were in the league when he took over. ;)

The Moyes thing is a strange one, no doubt. If he does go it'll be a move sideways (or even slightly downwards) unless Lerner has promised loads of cash, which I doubt. Maybe there's friction with the Everton board? Hard to imagine, I know.

Still, the bookies aren't in the habit of naming someone as one of the two favourites for a job unless they've had some kind of info - whether it be a club insider or Moyes' representatives - which is why it's hard to totally dismiss their other favourite, Mark Hughes.

EDIT - I'd still put Jose as favourite for the Man Utd job. Real aren't in the habit of keeping even successful managers for too long and the man himself has been making sly digs at most of the top English clubs' bosses recently, except Fergie.

honeykid

08-31-10, 10:56 AM

I see Jose at United. I know there's people at Old Trafford who want another long term dynasty, but I don't see that happening again. Certainly not anytime soon and, more than that, I think it'd be incredibly difficult for the person who follows Fergie to be expected to stick around for 10 or 20 years with continued success. I think Jose is exactly the right man for the job. Of course, it may depend on the money available at United when the offer comes. However, from what I've heard about the way Jose acts when he's at Old Trafford, I think he'd love to be the man to take over from Fergie. I think that challenge alone might be enough to entice him to the club.

Here's what's happening so far on transfer deadline day.

Robinho is having a medical at AC Milan.

Spurs have signed Croatian goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa on loan from Spartak Moscow.

Depending on where you look, Hleb has already signed a loan deal at Birmingham or will in the next couple of hours.

Great rumour that Rafa has asked Inter for one more big signing. They've agreed and he's asked for, yep, you guessed it, Cesc Fabregas. :laugh:

Salif Diao's back at Stoke, signing a 2 year deal.

Charles N'Zogbia is being linked to Sunderland. Not a big surprise considering how the deal at Birmingham fell apart.

Some say that Eidur Gudjohnsen is at Stoke to sign. However, other reports have him in London and signing for Fulham.

Besiktas want Robbie Keane on loan, but Harry wants another go at Scott Parker and wants to use him as part of the deal.

Armand Traore has gone on loan to Juve for 500,000 Euros.

Sky Sports have Ryan Babel going to Spurs to try and make a deal.

If there's a Ryan shaped hole at Liverpool, it could be more than filled by Fernando Llorente, if the rumours he's on his way to Liverpool are correct.

Seems there might be something in the Mario Gomez to Anfield rumours. His agent is quoted as saying "When a club like Liverpool enquires, their interest cannot be pushed off the table,"

Gilardino, Llorente, Iaquinta and Carlton Cole are all being rumoured to actually be at Anfield. What kind of tactical revolution is Roy planning? Maybe he's been looking at old dvds of Ozzie Ardiles' time at Spurs. :D

Huge surprise. After a couple of weeks of constant rumours in the papers, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar has joined... Schalke. Not Spurs. Schalke. Great work Fleet street. :rolleyes:

David Trezeguet's gone to Spanish side Hercules.

Rennes still waiting to hear if Gyan has joined Sunderland or not.

Harry still wants Pienaar.

The one that's really catching my eye at the moment is Drenthe to Stoke or Fulham.

OK, that'll do for now.

honeykid

08-31-10, 11:45 AM

Daniel Gabbidon is tweeting that Ryan Babel may be joining them at West Ham.

Looks like Eidur Gudjohnsen is going to Stoke, as that's where the chopper's landed. :D

Paul Konchesky has signed at Liverpool with Lauri Dalla Valle and Alex Kacaniklic going the other way.

Tom Cleverley's gone to Wigan on loan.

Looks like Schwarzer's going to stay at Fulham.

Of all the 'potential' Liverpool forwards, Carlton Cole seems to be the one that's happening. Which will be a huge surprise to... Um... No one.

Fenwick

08-31-10, 05:37 PM

honeykid

08-31-10, 07:22 PM

Not really too exciting a day and nothing that captured my imagination (not as much as the rumours, anyway) but Van Der Vaart for £8m, if it's allowed to go through (which I expect it will) is a great signing. Even better when you see that he was an £18m signing for Bayern the day before.

The BBC website has put together the 'big' signings of the last day.

Jean Beausejour [Club America - Birmingham] Undisclosed
Marcus Bent [Birmingham - Wolves] Loan
DJ Campbell [Leicester - Blackpool] Undisclosed
Tom Cleverley [Manchester United - Wigan] Loan
Franco Di Santo [Chelsea - Wigan] Undisclosed
Eidur Gudjohnsen [Monaco - Stoke] Loan
Asamoah Gyan [Rennes - Sunderland] £13m
Alexander Hleb [Barcelona - Birmingham] Loan
Emiliano Insua [Liverpool - Galatasaray] Loan
Paul Konchesky [Fulham - Liverpool] Player exchange
Robinho [Manchester City - AC Milan] Undisclosed
Gylfi Sigurdsson [Reading - Hoffenheim] £6m
Joseph Yobo [Everton - Fenerbahce] Loan

I'd also add Martin Jiranek's move to Birmingham as a pretty good signing. Not sure if he's quite quick enough, but he's been a decent player over the years.

My favourite rumour of the day was Ronaldiho to Sunderland if Gyan didn't sign. Who knows, maybe he would've. Edgar Davids plays for Crystal Palace now. :eek:

The Next Big Thing

08-31-10, 07:38 PM

Harry's feeling the transfer heat...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJBsI7RAuvk

hahah This is Gold.

Harrys a man I wouldn't want to say the wrong thing too :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRZTna7tRHk&feature=player_embedded

Tacitus

09-01-10, 06:11 AM

Thanks for all the updates HK.

I don't usually get too caught up in this transfer stuff but I must admit, i'm relishing the prospect of Van der Vaart in a Spurs shirt. It'll be intersting to see if we beat the deadline and tied this one up. Perhaps Harry is a wheeler-dealer after all...

I'm relishing the prospect of Van der Vaart's rather fragrant wife, Sophie. ;)

Good timing, too, seeing as Mrs Aquilani has departed.

EDIT - Can't believe the biggest news in this rather dull transfer window has been missed! Cliftonville's 19 year old striker Liam Boyce joining Werder Bremen, of course. :D

An unusual deal in that the kid was highly thought of but no English or Scottish clubs seemed too interested. He was due to sign for a German 2nd division side but that fell through and Werder stepped in.

Golgot

09-01-10, 10:50 AM

Talking of local pluck, liking the Swindon Advertiser's approach to Southampton's photo phuckery...

"Keeper David Lucas pulls off a fine first half save to keep out Rickie Lambert's free-kick" (http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/sportlatest/8364512.How_we_beat_the_Saints_photo_ban/)

http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/resources/images/1409665/?type=display

---

And damn this transfer window. It's still going on! (I'll be happy with all the bedevilment if Spurs end up with the Vart tho, no doubt :))

EDIT: Sweet!

"Van der Vaart deal confirmed" (http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/articles/van-der-vaart-deal-confirmed-010910.html)

The Next Big Thing

09-02-10, 09:55 AM

lol when the new rules were layed down about 25 man squads and homegrown talent everyones heads turned to Arsenal as if to say "what the F**K are you guys gona do now".

Ironically we have so many players under 21 we've listed a squad of 76 players.

This article : http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/3121539/Arsenal-and-Man-City-helped-turn-the-Prems-brave-new-dawn-into-a-farce.html

is more or less saying that Arsenal have turned the new rules into a farse, but what were they supposed to do, 'not list the talent from the best academy in the world'? The silly rules were set and we've adhered to them. The sun is a bunch of stuck up racists snobs that care only for the success of the english national team, but ironically are so blind to what were doing and what were building to see were doing more than the other big 3-4-5 what ever these days.

Wallcott, Wilshere, Gibbs, Lansberry, Cruise, Eastmond, Hoyte, Randall, Em-thomas, Watt, Lansberry, Frimpong ect, Belive me, the Gunnners have the next generation of England first teamers in there reserves, there not listed in our squad because they don't have to be, they're under 21.

Gerrrr I hate the sun.

Tacitus

09-02-10, 10:18 AM

Club with proven youth policy happens to have loads of young players. Hardly a great headline, is it? ;)

The Sun are just looking for another easy excuse as to why their brave lads such as Lamps, Stevie G, Wazza and England's Lion Big Brave JT constantly fail at international level. They'd hoped that the 25 man squad rule would rid the Prem of all those pesky foreigners taking up the squad places of super-talented young Englishmen but had failed to realise that young players are exempt so clubs can continue largely as before.

christine

09-11-10, 06:01 PM

Did you enjoy or last two goals Hunnybunny?

honeykid

09-13-10, 01:39 AM

No. No I did not. :mad:

STUPID LATE GOALS!!! That's 4 points already. I thought that Chelsea would win the league, but I didn't expect us to give them a headstart.

Tacitus

09-13-10, 06:52 AM

Everton would be a top four side if they had a striker worthy of the name.

Man Utd would be a top four side if they had someone to partner Vidic. Rio's bound to be back soon so then they can concentrate on the midfield.

Now that Essien's back, Chelsea look even stronger than last season.

It's not going wonderfully for Woy.

What on earth is a 'natural goalscorer'? I used to hear that old toot all the time when Robbie Fowler was still alive and Vela's goal for l'Arse on Saturday reminded me that Wenger once said that he was the best natural goalscorer at the club. You're either a good finisher (ie: Drogba etc) or you're not (ie: Heskey etc).

Is Drogba a natural goalscorer or just a world class striker? Can you be the latter without being the former?

Maybe this mythical natural goalscorer is just a goalhanger like Lineker? If so, the modern game has left them behind. ;)

Tacitus

09-15-10, 06:26 AM

I wonder when the Spurs board will begin to think about appointing a manager who's used to operating at the level to which the club now aspires? ;)

honeykid

09-15-10, 12:20 PM

:rotfl:

I know that he made too many changes, but at the start of the game did anyone really think United wouldn't score? I've gotta agree with Fergie, I thought that we'd probably end up scraping a one or two goal win. It wouldn't be pretty, we wouldn't play at our best, but I thought that team should've beaten Rangers. Truth is, they just didn't play well enough.

Anyone else here see Messi's second goal? Absolute genius. How about Tino Costa's first for Valencia? His free-kick was pretty good too.

Tacitus

09-25-10, 09:00 AM

Hooray!

Herr Stefan McClaren, that accent changing superspy masquerading as a football manager, is at it again! Now with added German. ;D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnBD-nWLEpc

honeykid

09-26-10, 05:43 PM

Some things that've occured to me since the start of the season, as well as this weekend.

Taking Drogba off wasn't a bad decision. If you decide that he's not going to score, then changing the point of attack is the intelligent thing to do. It's obvious he was being effectively marked out of the game by City and Chelsea weren't able to physically dominate, so the manager tried something different. Makes perfect sense to me.

What does Gerrard have to do to get sent off? Between his 'tackling' and Carragher's ability to use his hands in the Penalty area with giving away a penalty, it's surprising that Liverpool actually lose games.

Something that's been bugging me for a while. When was the last post-match interview in which Steve Bruce didn't blame the ref? I've even heard him blame the ref when they've won! Though, he had many points yesterday and was right about all of them. :D

They're known as Lucky Liverpool, but have they ever been luckier than Saturday?

Another question I've been meaning to ask for a while now. Do you remember when Arshavin was good?

Will Keiron Dyer ever play a full 90 minutes again?

When is Motty retiring? Is there a more annoying commentator? He's the Alan Shearer of commentary.

If it hadn't been against West Ham, do you think Harry would've mentioned that Spurs were bottom of the table when he joined the club? :D

What have they done to with the opening titles to MotD?

Can we just have the games and dump MotD2, now? Although I don't like him, I didn't think that Colin Murray would be a huge difference overall, but it's become Radio 1'd. I know, I'm just getting old, but still... ****ing annoying. I just record it now and FF through everything else.

Did Big Sam spend the summer playing Football Manager 2010 as Real Madrid? Because I also think that I could win the double every year if I was manager there, but that's because I usually do... On FM'10. Also, judging by his goal celebration yesterday, does he harbour secret desires to be a Rodeo Cowboy? It looked like he'd been practising.

If it's not Arsenal v United in the League Cup final, will anyone watch?

Whilst Wenger doesn't like to spend big for players and has a value for a player in his mind and won't pay over it, surely not paying the extra £500,000 for Schwatzer was ridiculous even by his standards. Has he thrown away a legitimate shot at the title for the sake of half a million quid? Fabregas won't be there next season, so he may have to start all over again.

Golgot

09-30-10, 09:52 AM

Ahhh, lovely liddle first ever Spurs win in the Champions League. (Annoyingly, I was listening to it surreptitiously during a LOVELY MEAL WITH MY FAMILY ;))

The third pen was definitely harsh, and helped us ride out the game. Everything else looks/sounds like we deserved it tho :)

PS enjoyed this interview (http://www.sport.co.uk/features/Football/1308/Sportcouk_meetsTeddy_Sheringham.aspx) with Teddy Sheringham. (It's the one where he says Ferguson isn't that great a tactician).

On a recent edition of Fighting Talk the question was posed: If you could have any body part from a sportsman in history, who would it be? The Fast Show’s Simon Day came out with the most perfect answer, “I’d have the extra yard in Teddy Sheringham’s head.”

---EDIT---

Hooray!

Herr Stefan McClaren, that accent changing superspy masquerading as a football manager, is at it again! Now with added German. ;D

If he keeps this up he'll have learnt about 8 accents by the time he retires ;)

christine

10-06-10, 02:01 PM

It's going to be an interesting Merseyside derby on Sunday !

honeykid

10-07-10, 06:55 AM

It certainly is. It's usually a game worth seeing, but this weekend could be a very intense affair.

As much as I hate them, this news about the buyout should be excellent news for Liverpool FC (as they love to call themselves.)

Tacitus

10-07-10, 07:35 AM

honeykid

10-07-10, 07:39 AM

I can't watch it. It's so awful that even the few clips I saw of it yesterday made me want to nuke the place.

To paraphrase the Great One: Scousers?.... Bloody hell! :D

Tacitus

10-07-10, 07:44 AM

I love Liverpool (the city and the people) but the fans of LFC must be among the thinnest-skinned supporters in the land.

EDIT - It looks like Hicks hasn't given up yet, either. ;)

Golgot

10-07-10, 10:48 AM

Not sure which colour you're painted Tatty, but reckon you might like this... :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzAZTdyOXcA

(Actually, everyone should enjoy this. 'Messi eat your heart out' is right ;))

Tacitus

10-07-10, 10:57 AM

Heh, I've been a Glens fan since I was a kid. :up:

Didn't go to that match but the proviso I have is that Irish League goalkeepers are, in the main, awful and let in the tamest looking shots. Dunno if many keepers could have got to Burrows' shot, though. ;)

Tacitus

10-08-10, 09:18 AM

As a postscript to that interminable Liverpool takeover, has everyone seen this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RO55BazkiZ4

I must admit to giggling my way through it. Ian McCulloch's let himself go, eh? Good to see John Power on there, as sober looking as ever. Shared a few bevvies with that bloke in my time. ;)

Ok, this is rather fruity but it's a wonderful response to that awful Liverpool video. The ghost of Chris Morris haunts this man, I bet. ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJXyPeBKSHg

Tacitus

10-09-10, 06:18 AM

Nice little 0-0 draw with Italy last night. ;)

Healy missed a sitter though - Would he have scored it if he were playing regularly for a Championship side and not metaphorically sitting on his arse in Sunderland's reserves? When you've turned 30 you need to be playing regularly and Healy's international goal drought has conicided perfectly with his lack of club action.

Basically he's NI's Michael Owen now, banging on about what he wants to do internationally but seemingly not motivated to take a step down in club terms to play himself back into form.

christine

10-10-10, 12:03 PM

Ok, this is rather fruity but it's a wonderful response to that awful Liverpool video. The ghost of Chris Morris haunts this man, I bet. ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJXyPeBKSHg

hahaa

oh you Liverpudlians My heart is bleeding for you ...you can always be trusted to get things in the right priority :D

You'll fall on your feet, you always bloody do :sick:

Golgot

12-20-10, 10:16 AM

What with the wrong type of snow falling, this is the most football I saw this weekend...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26Ju8-AzH6I

(Watch til 40secs in, worth it I promise ;))

Tacitus

12-20-10, 11:10 AM

Ha! I was gonna post that a few days ago in the YouTube thread but forgot. ;D

Completely bloody amazing support, especially for a kids' game. In fact I originally thought there was some digital trickery going on there but it looks genuine.

Golgot

12-20-10, 11:36 AM

Yeah, people have suggested 'flash mob' etc as well but looks like genuine die-hard support to me ;) (They've got a crazy array of chants / stamps / flare-twirlings as they progress. Even got a 'conductor' and everything ! I'm guessing they're almost there to practice as much as anything. Or to terrorise the young guns into staying loyal for life :D)

Golgot

12-30-10, 12:06 PM

Some ridiculous celebrations from 2010...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKSGN2_BQMg&start=872

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tz4lG4K_Gso&start=131

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tz4lG4K_Gso&start=350

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tz4lG4K_Gso&start=752

honeykid

01-31-11, 01:17 PM

OK, it's transfer deadline day and the rumour mill is going mental.

Will Torres move to Chelsea? Will Carroll move to Liverpool? Will Adams go to United or Liverpool... Or stay at Blackpool?

The Torres deal sounds like it's all but done. Guillem Balague has said that the deal is close, but is not yet done. £50m is the price he's heard from his Chelsea sources. The BBC are reporting something similar, but say the problem is negotiating the structure of the image rights in his personal terms. Eurosport are saying the deal is a straight cash deal.

BBC also say that there seems to be no truth in the rumours that Adams is going to United. The rumours started earlier today when a lot of money went on him going to United.

Forget Torres, though, for me the rumour of the day and, should it happen, the deal of the day is Carroll to Liverpool. Can they really have offered £40m? Could Newcastle really have knocked it back if they had? I'd take £20m for him and think I'd robbed the buyer blind. Stanley Victor Collymore reckons the fee is a flat £35m plus add-ons. Sky are claiming it's more than that.
*EDIT* The talk as of now says that Liverpool has agreed £35m for Carroll and we're to expect developments this weekend. Bit odd, but as he's injured that may have something to do with it.

Spurs are now said to be talking to Athletico Madrid about signing Forlan after not being able to get Aguero. It's also been said that they're looking at Rossi as a £30m 'back-up'. Didn't he sign a new deal last week?

Tuncay has completed his permanent move from Stoke to Wolfsburg.

Ashley Young's going nowhere according to Houllier.

Obafemi Martins has joined Birmingham on loan for the rest of the season. Sebastian Larsson looks to be staying until the summer, too.

Andy Reid has joined Blackpool, with James Beattie said to be on his way from Rangers, too.

OK, I think that's it for now.