EPL Gossip Monday March 28th
Neymar didn’t do his stock any harm yesterday with his masterclass against Scotland. The story after the game however were reports of racial abuse being directed at Neymar. I do love the press that it gets and I do support how seriously the matter of rasicm gets dealt with. The sad truth however is in many parts of the world this is all too common place. When rasicm happens to big names like Roberto Carlos over in Russia last week it makes the press but in places like Spain, Italy and Russia I’d be more shocked if a game goes on without someone making a rasict comment. I’m not the greatest supporter of English football but one thing I must say when it comes to rasicm English fans get it. The crowd experience 99.9% of the time is bang on with the crowds being passionate without acting like a bunch of morons.
On to today’s rumours
Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho says he was “hours” away from taking the England manager’s job in 2007 before the appointment of Fabio Capello. A last-minute change of heart persuaded the Portuguese to stay in club management. L’Equipe
Mourinho feeds the press like old people feed pigeons.
Brazilian hot-shot Neymar, 19, who scored twice in a friendly against Scotland on Sunday, says he would prefer to move to Italy rather than England when he quits Santos to move to Europe.
Full story: Inside Futbol
Wonder if Chelsea is kicking themselves at not being able to lure Neymar to England last summer?
Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish will try to sign Blackpool’s Charlie Adam, Aston Villa’s Ashley Young and Barcelona’s Jeffren for a combined £32m in a summer spending spree. Caught Offside
Or less then Andy Carroll.
Blackburn Rovers are in talks to sign Hamburg’s former Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy on a free transfer. Daily Mirror
More like Blackburn Rovers picked up the phone and called van Nistelrooy’s agents. I doubt the agent jumped out of his seat when the call was made.
England manager Fabio Capello has risked the wrath of fans by declaring he plans to send out a team of reserves against Ghana at Wembley. Daily Mail
Which is exactly what he should do in a friendly. You really think most of the England starting 11 are going to run through a wall against Ghana in a friendly? At least the reserves will be trying to impress.
Football Association director of communications Adrian Bevington says Tuesday’s friendly is not meaningless and instead presents a chance for England to assess players at international level.
Full story: talkSPORT
Of course it’s not meaningless it’s a couple of extra million in the FA bank account.
March 28th, 2011 at 9:54 am
Seeing as Ghana have themselves left a few big names off the teamsheet (Michael Essien and Asamoah Gyan among others), I see nothing wrong with England using this game to test new players, which is what Ghana is obviously doing.