It was a year ago today that Antonio Puerta lost his life playing for Sevilla against Getafe three days prior. It’s always a shock to the senses when you hear about someone losing their life playing a game. Seeing Sergio Ramos wearing a t-shirt remembering Puerta after winning Euro 2008 is still one of my most vivid memories of that tournament.
They could use the special one but still worthwhile viewing.
And City could make a move for Brazil striker Ronaldo, who is currently without a club after being released by Italian giants AC Milan. Boss Mark Hughes is also eyeing Espanyol’s £5m-rated right-back Pablo Zabaleta, as well as Sunderland’s Michael Ball. (Daily Mail)
I’m sure Ronaldo will be motivated to find his top form at Manchester City. This is another transfer that isn’t going to happen but let’s say it does, Ronaldo would only be playing for City to cash a pay cheque and he’ll hurt himself again within the first ten games.
Brazil striker Robinho is so close to completing his £28m move to Chelsea he could make his home debut against Tottenham on Sunday. (Daily Telegraph)
Best thing all things considered that Robinho moves on. Chelsea would pick up a player about to enter his prime that processes world class talent.
Chelsea winger Shaun Wright-Phillips could undergo a medical with Manchester City on Thursday as he nears a £9m return to Eastlands. (The Sun, Guardian)
If Wright-Phillips doesn’t leave Scolari just might send him an even clearer message by giving away his parking spot to the incoming Robinho.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is chasing Feyenoord’s tough-tackling Jonathan de Guzman as the ideal midfield foil for playmaker Cesc Fabregas. However, the Canadian-born 20-year-old will cost up to £12m. (The Sun)
Wenger is not going to pay £12m for a player so close to the transfer deadline. It would create the appearance of a panic buy while Wenger likes to maintain publicly that everything is fine at Arsenal.
Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate has told unsettled striker Mido he is not leaving the Riverside, despite rumours linking the Egyptian striker with moves to Wigan and German side Hamburg. (Mirror)
Scoring in all three games played including the Carling cup has that effect on coaches.
Southgate has also revived his interest in US international midfielder Michael Bradley, who plays for Dutch side Heerenveen. (Daily Mail)
They would have the inside track if Middlesbrough is ready to crack open the cheque book. Heerenveen will end up selling since Bradley’s contact is about to expire.
Spurs £12m target Roman Pavlyuchenko would not be able to play in the north London club’s Uefa Cup campaign having already played for Spartak Moscow in a third-round Champions League qualifier, a 4-1 defeat by Dynamo Kiev. (Guardian)
Tottenham should advance out of the UEFA Cup group stage with or without Pavlyuchenko. Mind you one would figure that Tottenham would win at least one out of their first two games.
West Ham boss Alan Curbishley insists he has the backing of the club’s board of directors, despite speculation about his future at Upton Park. (Various)
Where there is smoke there is fire. While it’s not a week to week thing Curbishley rope is shortening.
Tauro defeats Chivas USA in Champions League
PANAMA CITY, Panama — Panama’s Tauro defeated Major League Soccer’s Chivas USA 2-0 Tuesday night in the first leg of a CONCACAF Champions League preliminary-round series.
Revs fall to Joe Public in first leg
Joe Public FC club from Trinidad and Tobago defeated the New England Revolution, 2-1, in the first leg of a CONCACAF Champions League preliminary-round series at Marvin Lee Stadium. However, a late penalty kick from Mauricio Castro gave the Revs a crucial away goal in the two-game series, heading into the return leg on Sept. 2 at Gillette Stadium.
I understand that both MLS teams have had to play a lot of games recently with the MLS season, U.S Open and SuperLiga but New England lost to a team called Joe Public. In the coming years MLS will need to start dominating this event if it wants to be taken seriously.
Spurs Snare £12m Pavlyuchenko – Report
Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly wrapped up the signing of Roman Pavlyuchenko from Spartak Moscow…
Tottenham need some positive news and the price quoted isn’t outrageous in today’s transfer market. With the service Tottenham midfielders are capable of providing, it shouldn’t be too long before Pavlyuchenko makes a regular appearance on the score sheet.
Valencia would consider 50m euros for Villa
Valencia have put a price on David Villa, the striker who top-scored at Euro 2008. A 50 million euro bid will tempt Los Che club, according to vice-president Fernando Gomez. But it will not necessarily mean that Villa will be sold by a club that is desperate to retain his services.
Goes without saying really. At 50 million you’d have to consider that for any player not named Ronaldo or Kaka. Valencia could turn around and use that transfer fee to purchase 4-5 high quality players in the next transfer window. Even if Valencia wanted to pocket half that transfer fee 25 million euros can still get them 2-3 talented players to ease the loss of Villa.
Banega Joins Atlético On Loan
Atlético Madrid have finally secured Valencia’s Argentine midfielder Éver Banega on a one year loan deal after both clubs reached an agreement.
Banega must of rubbed the Valencia higher ups the wrong way for them to ship him away 9 months after spending 18 million euros for the former Boca Juniors players.
That time of the month where I rank the top ten countries in order of visits. Canada is now in 3rd place.
1. United States
2. Hong Kong
3. Canada
4. Australia
5. Jamaica
6. United Kingdom
7. India
8. Malaysia
9. Germany
10. Macao
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52 Uganda with 1 visitor – Thank you and hope you come back soon
Chelsea will make a final £80m bid for AC Milan’s Kaka, with the Brazil star reportedly keen on a move after the arrival of compatriot Ronaldinho at the San Siro, whose lifestyle does not meet with Kaka’s approval. (Daily Mail)
This is just stupid on so many fronts. If Kaka had an issue with Ronaldinho’s lifestyle then A.C Milan would never of made a move for him in the first place. Also I highly doubt all the Chelsea players are choirboys.
One Brazilian who looks certain to move to Stamford Bridge is Robinho after Chelsea agreed a £28.6m deal with Real Madrid. The Spanish club are preparing to replace the striker with Valencia’s David Villa or Villareal’s Santi Cazorla. (The Guardian)
Robinho was never going to leave up to exceptions at Real Madrid. At Chelsea the demand won’t be there to be a Messi or Ronaldo.
Meanwhile Blues winger Shaun Wright-Phillips has been told to choose between a move to former club Manchester City or Everton, with Portsmouth deterred by the £10m price tag. (The Guardian)
Stay as far away from Manchester City as possible. Don’t care if you’ve played there before.
Espanyol midfielder Albert Riera moved a step closer to becoming a Liverpool player in an £8m switch, with Liverpool set to recoup that money should they qualify for the Champions League group stage. (The Times)
Mentioned this a couple of months ago and I’ll mention it again. Why does Liverpool keep on buying players that haven’t won a thing in their careers. Yes, he is talented but the next big game Riera will play in will be his first.
Aston Villa will press ahead with plans to sign James Milner for £9m from Newcastle. (Guardian)
Newcastle should try their best to keep Milner. Four points from their first two games plus Milner makes a good midfield partnership with Jonás Gutiérrez on the flanks.
First off I’ll raise my hand up and admit I’m a big Football Manager Geek. It has killed countless hours over the course of my lifetime. Well today the company that makes Football Manager set up a pre order for there new online version called…wait for this…..Football Manager Live.
Just going to link you to the Wiki page since it will explain in more detail what the game is about.
My team is called Toronto United (lame name I know) and I’m in the Keane Game World. I figure some people out there also play Football Manager so wanted to give you fine people a heads up.
The Football Manager website will be linked below.
* Of note in case anyone here is cynical like myself. No affiliate link above. I don’t get a dime if you end up being interested and signed up.
Zenit Sign Danny Alves For €30m
Zenit St Petersburg have smashed the Russian transfer record with a €30million deal for Portuguese midfielder Danny from Dynamo Moscow, but denied that the 25-year-old is a replacement for want away star Andrei Arshavin.
I’m always going to be for a Portuguese player getting a bigger piece of the pie. 30 million euros is pretty steep but that was the figure in his release clause which was the only way Dynamo Moscow were going to let him go.
The figure is excessive but the player is already used to the Russian culture and style of play which usually becomes an issue when bringing in foreign players.
Rivaldo quits AEK Athens to head to Uzbekistan
Rivaldo has rocked AEK Athens by telling the club he is leaving to take up a lucrative contract with Uzbekistan outfit FC Bunyodkor.
This shouldn’t come as a shock to anyone. Rivaldo previously left Olympiacos for bitter rivals AEK. At his age he is going to cut himself the best deal he can possible get.
Madrid Set To Up Villa Bid
Real Madrid are ready to increase their offer for Valencia forward David Villa in a desperate attempt to land the Euro 2008 Golden Boot winner.
Real are going to have pay through the teeth in order to sign Villa or any other big name transfer at this point. For big name players it’s always better to start negotiations right after the season ends since so close to the deadline the selling team would want a premium for the distraction it will cause to the other members of the team and the issues with finding a replacement.
With British record signing Andriy Shevchenko returning to former club AC Milan, Chelsea are also prepared to allow winger Shaun Wright-Phillips to re-join Manchester City for £9m, writing off an incredible £43m on the duo. (The Sun)
However, Everton and Portsmouth are also tracking Wright-Phillips. (Daily Express).
Shayb Wright-Phillips has been rumoured to move for the last 18 months. By now he should come to the realization that he’ll never be anything more than cover at Chelsea. He can either a) accept that role, collect his money and forget about playing for England come the World Cup or b) accept a move where he’ll play more but his team will not win more but now at least have a chance of cracking the England lineup.
But Chelsea’s spending spree is set to continue with Real Madrid’s Brazilian striker Robinho joining the club for a fee of between £27m (The Sun) and £31m (Daily Mirror).
What spending spree? Deco was a bargain at 8 million pounds. That leaves Jose Bosingwa has the only major signing and his transfer fee was covered by selling Steve Sidwell, Khalid Boulahrouz, and Tal Ben Haim this off season.
Tottenham striker Dimitar Berbatov could risk “rotting in the reserves” if his proposed £30m move to Manchester United fails to materialise. (Various)
Another headline that looks good but would be awful in principal. Tottenham are already struggling in part to the Berbatov mess. Keeping an unhappy player on the bench much longer will create even more distractions.
After having a £7m bid for West Ham defender Anton Ferdinand accepted, Sunderland boss Roy Keane is turning his attention to Man City’s £1m-rated full-back Michael Ball. (The Sun)
Wonder if Michael Ball ever thanked Sven Goran Erickson for giving him his one and only England cap when the Swede was in charge of City last year?
Real Betis are ready to step in to take Manchester City flop Nery Castillo on a year’s loan. (Daily Mirror)
Castillo was ill suited for life in the EPL anyway. He’ll be better off in Spain where hopefully he’ll return to his 2007 Copa America form.
Aston Villa have moved a step closer to landing Reading striker Kevin Doyle in a £7.5m deal. (Daily Star)
That is a lot of money for a striker that isn’t any better then the strikers Aston Villa currently have.