Inter Milan and Panathinaikos have both cashed a pretty nice cheque as these two storied clubs have agreed to play at the Rogers centre on 3rd with tickets ranging from $40 to $255.
Panathinaikos might as well set up shop in Toronto as this will be there 2nd or 3rd time playing here in the last year. Rafa Benitez might have some fond memories of Toronto as he took Liverpool to Toronto during his first year in charge to take on Porto. That season famously ended with him winning the Champions League.
Thumbs down to the fake turf however and before anyone asks why is this game being played at the Rogers Centre instead of BMO field. Two reasons Rogers Centre will be able to hold the 25-30k people who will pay to see this game and more importantly the Rogers Centre comes rent free as they just get a cut from any merchandise/food sold during the game.
The World Cup break is a perfect time to announce a new singing with Manchester City putting pen to paper on a five year deal with David Silva. Sadly the transfer fee hasn’t been released yet which would of been nice to know.
The Valencia duo of David Villa and David Silva have finally broken up after many years of rumours. Not covinced Dabid Silva will be a hit in English football. I am convinced he will suffer an injury at somepoint this season. Also think Silva will show the likes of Shaun Wright-Phillips how a wide player should play. No denying Silva is a World Class talent.
Real Madrid want to conclude their summer transfer business by capturing Chelsea defender Ashley Cole and Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard. Daily Mail
Cause if I’m running a major European club I’d be looking to buy top English players after their World Cup performance.
Manchester City have insisted striker Carlos Tevez is staying at Eastlands, despite reports that Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho is keen to recruit the Argentine. the Sun
Too bad Manchester City can’t make a Robinho and Tevez partnership work.
German side Wolfsburg have stunned City by demanding £50m for striker Edin Dzeko. The Bosnian is reportedly keen to move to Eastlands. Daily Mail
The Bosnian is keen to get paid. What is Wolfsburg going to say? They don’t want to sell him.
City are also keen to recruit Los Angeles Galaxy forward Landon Donovan, who had a successful spell on loan at Everton last season and was impressive for the United States at the World Cup in South Africa. Daily Mirror
Stephen Ireland is heading closer and closer to the exit door.
Aston Villa are maintaining their interest in Arsenal striker Eduardo, who is keen to move from the Emirates, while the club has also asked Jeju United to be kept informed on the availability of South Korea international defender Cho Yong-Hyung. Daily Mail
I’ll remember Eduardo for two things. None of them good. His dive against Celtic and his leg break. Eduardo didn’t quite replace Herny for Arsenal.
Manchester United look set to lure Panathinaikos midfielder Sotiris Ninis to Old Trafford in a deal believed to be worth £9.6m. Daily Mirror
Ninis hasn’t put it all together yet but it won’t be too long before he leaves for a bigger European club.
The Red Devils could also make a move for Inter Milan midfielder Esteban Cambiasso, who could become surplus to requirements at the San Siro if Nerazzurri boss Rafa Benitez succeeds in signing Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano. caughtoffside.com
There is not a club in the world that should consider Cambiasso surplus to requirements.
Many non Benfica fans have slagged Nuno Gomes over the last ten years. Granted he never did quite live up to the promise of his great run at Euro 2000 but I’ll always hold his goal again Spain in Euro 2004 near and dear. This goal really isn’t given enough credit back unless from maybe Figo’s rocket against England in Euro 2000, Gomes goal was the most important goal scored in the last ten years of Portuguese football. Check that add Bruno Alves last minute winner against Albania to the list. Portugal doesn’t make it to this World Cup is Alves doesn’t score.
Back to Gomes, coming off a first round exit in World Cup a lot was expected of Portugal at Euro 2004 as it was being played at home. If Portugal don’t win that game they go crashing out in the first round and are they crowned a generation of losers that this current England team wears so well. Don’t even want to image what would happen to Portuguese football if Nuno Gomes didn’t score against Spain that day. Luiz Felipe Scolari would of been gone, the World Cup 2006 run never happens that much is a given. Now let’s hope someone fills the shoes of Nuno Gomes and fill the back of the net against Spain today.
Yes, it’s for the Cola not the drug but here is Diego Maradona doing the exact same commercial that Joe Greene did for Coca Cola a couple of years prior.
Also love the commercial where Maradona is having a nightmare as he is dreaming about playing for Brazil.
Just love the clip where Gabriel Heinze backs into the Cameraman then decides to play tough guy. Enjoy it while you can as I’m sure FIFA will take it down at any moment.
Manchester United could make a move for Raul after the 32-year-old striker admitted he is likely to leave Real Madrid after 17 years at the Bernabeu. imScouting
Does Michael Owen need company on the bench? Can’t understand why Raul or Manchester United would want to get into bed together.
Wolves boss Mick McCarthy hopes to have Michael Mancienne on loan from Chelsea again next season. The 22-year-old made 33 appearances last season as Wolves finished a respectable 15th in the Premier League. (Birmingham Mail)
Michael Mancienne is a nice example of a talented young player who is being blocked currently from cracking the Chelsea starting lineup.
Real Madrid have beaten Manchester City to the signing of Brazil right-back Maicon, the 28-year-old having played for new Real boss Jose Mourinho at Inter Milan last season. the Sun
You don’t have to be an inside to know that Maicon would only leave Inter Milan for Real Madrid.
West Ham boss Avram Grant has cooled his interest in free agent Juan Roman Riquelme. The 32-year-old former Barcelona, Villarreal and Boca Juniors midfielder would demand a £50,000-a-week deal.
Full story: Daily Mirror
Juan Roman Riquelme would be a sight to see in England football. With that being side can’t see him playing for West Ham and even if he does can only see him having the same type of impact Deco has had with Chelsea.
Everton manager David Moyes is keen to sign Landon Donovan on a permanent deal after the United States forward had a loan spell at Goodison Park last season. (Daily Express)
Interesting to read the story on how Landon Donovan left behind a future baby momma during his brief loan spell with Everton. Guess that’s one reason to go back.
Lazio are ready and willing to offer £8m to land Portsmouth duo Nadir Belhadj and Kevin-Prince Boateng. Daily Mail
Boateng goal against the United States sure didn’t hurt his stock any.
Fabio Capello will only remain as England manager if he has the unequivocal support of the Football Association following Sunday’s 4-1 defeat by Germany. Daily Telegraph
No coach will ever get unequivocal support for any great period of time with the English FA. There will always be a handful of people waiting to stab the coach in the back.
- The above Torres dived bugged me all weekend. If this was an Italian or Portuguese player everyone would be up in arms telling Fifa to enforce the rules on diving. Fernando Torres being considered a good guy merely gets a peep for what he did. In my opinion what Fernando Torres did is even worst than Herny’s handball against Ireland. While I’ll never know for sure I’ll side with the fact when Herny first touched the ball with his hand it was purely instinct. I don’t believe once the ball was crossed Herny was thinking of stopping it with his hand before crossing it over for a goal. Fernando Torres on the other hand was clearly thinking about drawing a foul and getting Marco Estrada sent off. As I said on Friday this is a case of a desperate player who hasn’t done anything in the World Cup trying to help his team in anyway he can.
- Landon Donovan was bang on when he said this United States team was naive. This was the best chance the US will have for along time to get into the Semi’s. (still think Uruguay would of beaten them in the Quarterfinals mind you.) Time and time again the United States players lost focus and that leads to goals.
The chorus from the song Just by Radiohead pretty much sums up how I feel about this United States team
- Humming you do it to yourself you do and that’s what really hurts.
- Hopefully I won’t be saying that about Portugal tomorrow.
- And no I’m not one of those people who think Radiohead is a gift from god.
- I’d have no clue what to make out of Bob Bradley but I do feel he won’t be back coaching the national team. On one hand I know the States will never reach the pinnacle of football with Bob Bradley in charge, on the other unlike the 1998, and 2006 World Cup teams you can’t say the United States lack effort and passion out there. Effort and passion is one thing, playing smart is another and starting the likes of Ricardo Clark and Robbie Findley when they have proven the World Cup is too big of a stage for them will most likely end up being Bradley’s downfall.
- Mentioned this on Twitter yesterday but unless it hurts Fifa will it counts, the pocketbook they are in no rush to introduce video replay’s. In some ways have a feeling Fifa loves the attention the missed calls this weekend has generated.
- I have a soft spot for Sven Goran Eriksson. He seems like the type to always gets himself mixed into drama yet comes out smelling like a rose. Loved how he made three million for coaching three games. Sven will bounce back and when he does I’m sure it’s going to come with a nice pay package.
- Sven’s England teams lacked a certain something which doomed them but this current England World Cup team was lacking in all areas. By no means am I saying Sven’s time as England manager was a success but his teams did bow out in the final eight in hard fought games against Brazil and Portugal. This Fabio Capello team was just awful. Capello will take some heat for this but in the end it’s on the players who promised so much and produced so little. Again hindsight is 20/20 but have a feeling Capello regrets not clearing out many of these England players. (Looking at you John Terry) Capello should of had David Beckham on the team to handle the media and take the glare away from Wayne Rooney but aside from those two every big name player should of been shown the door. The England under21′s did make the European final last summer so it’s not like there isn’t talent to work with. You already know what you are going to get with this current group of England players. One of the many problems with English football is the young players who defeated the England u21′s last year gained a lot of playing time last year for their club sides. In England there are too many young players who don’t get the playing time they need with top English clubs.
- Yes Frank Lampard got robbed of a goal and no one knows what could happen if it was 2-2 but this was the same England team which went down 2-0 so it’s just as likely Germany was would scored two more in that situation. England didn’t lose because of that blown call.
- Two World Cup, no goals by Wayne Rooney. Was trying to think of a comparison when Bill Simmons nailed it by comparing Rooney to former Chargers now New York Jets running back LaDainian Tomlinson. When the teams are soft each can rack up the stats but when the pressure is on and a big moment is needed in a big game both come up empty.
- Granted it was a penatly offside call that went against Mexico but you got to keep your head in the game. Mexico in the end gave the game to Argentina once they went up 2-0.
- Told you these Argentina players will play for Diego Maradona. Too many of these players Maradona is their idol plus he wants to play attacking football which players love. Of course they are going to bust a lung for him and it’s showing.
