With Manchester United's Champions League hopes smashed and dashed by a convincing Barcelona side, the papers are speculating on changes being made at the club. The Sun and Mirror both say that regular squad players such as Nani, Anderson and Kuszczak will be on their way out of Old Trafford, though the changes will be nothing like as dramatic as when Mark Hughes, Kanchelskis and Paul Ince left some years back.
Cristiano Ronaldo has been linked with Real Madrid once more - this time by Florentino Perez, who hopes that his new Galactico project will entice Ronny across. Ronaldo himself has refused to rule out the rumours - saying that he is tired, thinking about the Portuguese national side, and unsure of his future. Until Ronaldo decides to stay or go, Franck Ribery will continue to be mentioned as his replacement.
With Portsmouth joining Manchester City & Chelsea in the 'richest clubs in the world' category, more top-class players could be playing in the Premier League next season, though the south-coast side, like Abramovich's Chelsea, need to find a worthy head-coach before blowing their millions. Sven has been mentioned, along with Riijkaard, van Basten and Ancelotti.
Steve Bruce could be heading to Sunderland, with Elliot Short willing to give Roy Keane's former team-mate more cash, and the assurances that he won't have to sell his best players - in contrast to his time at Wigan.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Strach to Sunderland and other news
Is Gordon Strachan off to Sunderland?
Fresh from relinquishing control at one of the biggest clubs in the SPL, Gordon Strachan is on the managerial market at exactly the right time to capitalise on the relegation and promotion changes.
Sunderland's Ricky Sbragia has done just enough to keep the Rokerites up in the Premier League, but isn't going to be trusted to spend the £20m budget that will be created when Elliot Short takes full ownership of the club from Drumaville. Strachan has been proven to have a good track record in buying accomplished players, as well as having the tactical nous and man-management skills to lead a successful club. He would be exactly the kind of manager chairman Niall Quinn is looking for too - someone to attract talent to the club because of his name in world football.
With Newcastle United and Middlesbrough both possibly looking for someone to take over after failed campaigns, Strachan could be ending up in the North-East regardless of whether Sunderland offer him the role.
Newcastle fans can be bouyed by the fact the scorer of the goal that sent them down has decided he wants to continue at Newcastle. His wages may become a stumbling block, but at least to the fans Damien Duff is making all the right noises.
Other news from the papers centres around the Champions League Final, with the players of either side pushing their best-paid team-mate as being the very best in the world. Xavi and Iniesta insist that Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo aren't even comparable, with Messi beign in 'a league of his own'. Sir Alex suggested Ronaldo had the better physique, whilst Evra had said that he wouldn't swap Ronaldo for anyone, even though he's supposed to be tapping up French team-mate Franck Ribery to replace him for United next season.
Burnley won the 'Biggest game in football' - the Championship Playoffs - which should see Owen Coyle handed a large chunk of the £50m made from projected TV revenues in order to try and avoid the plight of West Brom, who went up last season only to drop straight back down on Sunday.
Fresh from relinquishing control at one of the biggest clubs in the SPL, Gordon Strachan is on the managerial market at exactly the right time to capitalise on the relegation and promotion changes.
Sunderland's Ricky Sbragia has done just enough to keep the Rokerites up in the Premier League, but isn't going to be trusted to spend the £20m budget that will be created when Elliot Short takes full ownership of the club from Drumaville. Strachan has been proven to have a good track record in buying accomplished players, as well as having the tactical nous and man-management skills to lead a successful club. He would be exactly the kind of manager chairman Niall Quinn is looking for too - someone to attract talent to the club because of his name in world football.
With Newcastle United and Middlesbrough both possibly looking for someone to take over after failed campaigns, Strachan could be ending up in the North-East regardless of whether Sunderland offer him the role.
Newcastle fans can be bouyed by the fact the scorer of the goal that sent them down has decided he wants to continue at Newcastle. His wages may become a stumbling block, but at least to the fans Damien Duff is making all the right noises.
Other news from the papers centres around the Champions League Final, with the players of either side pushing their best-paid team-mate as being the very best in the world. Xavi and Iniesta insist that Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo aren't even comparable, with Messi beign in 'a league of his own'. Sir Alex suggested Ronaldo had the better physique, whilst Evra had said that he wouldn't swap Ronaldo for anyone, even though he's supposed to be tapping up French team-mate Franck Ribery to replace him for United next season.
Burnley won the 'Biggest game in football' - the Championship Playoffs - which should see Owen Coyle handed a large chunk of the £50m made from projected TV revenues in order to try and avoid the plight of West Brom, who went up last season only to drop straight back down on Sunday.
Friday, May 22, 2009
The Football News
It's the Friday before Sky Sports vastly over-hyped 'Relegation Sunday', and there is just two days left in the Premier League for one of Hull, Newcastle United or Sunderland. With all three staring into a pit of financial doom should they be the unlucky ones sent down, every man and his dog is calling for fair play on the last day of the season, which basicaly eans that they want to see Hull beaten by Manchester United.
Whilst Sir Alex has supposedly become riled by the Press asking him about his team for Sunday's game, the likes of Alan Shearer and Ricky Sbragia are calling on a top-strength team to face the Tigers, which obviously isn't going to happen with the Champions League Final just days away.
Whilst Cristiano Ronaldo, Rooney, Berbatov et al will be fit, ready and rested for Rome on Wednesday, two of Barcelona's key men may be missing out - Thierry Henry and Andres Iniesta (who scored the vital last-gasp winning goal at Stamford Bridge to send barca through) are both sruggling for fitness, and are looking increasingly unlikely to make it. Good news for United fans, who can also count on the support of Liverpool's Steven Gerrard to help them win - he knows United's England contingent quite well and wants them to bring home the Cup!
Hull are also in the news today because naughty Arsenal boy Cesc Fabregas has been let off for his spitting incident. Even though Brian Horton said it happened, the FA board say there isn't enough evidence to charge the young Spaniard, and have let him off the hook. He is free to roam whereever he wants to in his leather jacket in the future.
Other News: Frank Lampard won the Chelsea Player of the Year Award, Everton have signed up bargain-buy Phil Jagielka on a long-term contract, and Arsenal have hinted at bringing Fulham's Brede Hangeland to the club.
Whilst Sir Alex has supposedly become riled by the Press asking him about his team for Sunday's game, the likes of Alan Shearer and Ricky Sbragia are calling on a top-strength team to face the Tigers, which obviously isn't going to happen with the Champions League Final just days away.
Whilst Cristiano Ronaldo, Rooney, Berbatov et al will be fit, ready and rested for Rome on Wednesday, two of Barcelona's key men may be missing out - Thierry Henry and Andres Iniesta (who scored the vital last-gasp winning goal at Stamford Bridge to send barca through) are both sruggling for fitness, and are looking increasingly unlikely to make it. Good news for United fans, who can also count on the support of Liverpool's Steven Gerrard to help them win - he knows United's England contingent quite well and wants them to bring home the Cup!
Hull are also in the news today because naughty Arsenal boy Cesc Fabregas has been let off for his spitting incident. Even though Brian Horton said it happened, the FA board say there isn't enough evidence to charge the young Spaniard, and have let him off the hook. He is free to roam whereever he wants to in his leather jacket in the future.
Other News: Frank Lampard won the Chelsea Player of the Year Award, Everton have signed up bargain-buy Phil Jagielka on a long-term contract, and Arsenal have hinted at bringing Fulham's Brede Hangeland to the club.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Football Round Up
Arsene Wenger looks set to cut his ties to Real Madrid - as expected, given that he is a man of honour who has yet to walk out on a contract. His 'babies' project might just come into its own next season, provided that Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie stay, so he will reject all of Madrid's overtures.
Real have managed to secure one signing, that of Wigan Athletic's Antonio Valencia, with a reported fee of £20m setting up Latics boss Steve Bruce for a busy summer of wheeler-dealing. According to the Mirror, Valencia has told his friends that he would rather stay where he has settled in the North-West, but as yet there has been no bid from preferred-destination Manchester United.
Chelsea's dreams of teaming up Carlo Ancelotti and Emmanuel Adebayor may be dented by news that AC Milan's rivals Roma want the former midfield-general to be the head coach in the capital. Adebayor seems inextricably linked to Carlo, with Tuttosport (amongst others) repeatedly linking him to the club where Ancelotti will end up - Adebayor seems to have a loyalty to Carlos, perhaps because they had practically finalised negotiations at the start of last season.
Ancelotti could conceivably end up back at Juventus (who just sacked Claudio Ranieri), where he would link up with Fabio Cannavaro who has confimed he'll be joining the Old Lady on a Bosman-free at the end ofthe season. Shame he didn't end up at home-town Napoli.
Middlesbrough's big plans of getting out of the financial mire took a blow when Stewart Downing picked up an injury that will see him out of action for 6 months. The £18m fee to Spurs was going to keep Boro solvent for another few months following their drop to the Championship, but seems to have been soured now. The full extent of his injury will be discovered later today.
It looks like Carlos Tevez is going to be one of the first players in years to cross the United-Liverpool divide, with a £50m deal having been agreed, with some sources suggesting that Carlos will personally take home as much as 40% of the reported £20m transfer fee!
Finally, the fact that Wayne Rooney went for a Chinese with his wife seems to have made it into most of the red-tops, with photos of them in Manchester's China Town tacked up alongside tenuous Chinese puns that only tabloids can come up with (e.g Pregnant Coleen took her own dumpling back home with her). Surely we can do better than that?
Tags: Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, Cesc Fabregas, Wigan, Antonio Valencia, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Chelsea, Emmanuel Adebayor, Carlo Ancelotti, Fabio Cannavaro, Juventus, Roma, Wayne Rooney, Middlesbrough, Stewart Downing, Carlos Tevez, Liverpool
Real have managed to secure one signing, that of Wigan Athletic's Antonio Valencia, with a reported fee of £20m setting up Latics boss Steve Bruce for a busy summer of wheeler-dealing. According to the Mirror, Valencia has told his friends that he would rather stay where he has settled in the North-West, but as yet there has been no bid from preferred-destination Manchester United.
Chelsea's dreams of teaming up Carlo Ancelotti and Emmanuel Adebayor may be dented by news that AC Milan's rivals Roma want the former midfield-general to be the head coach in the capital. Adebayor seems inextricably linked to Carlo, with Tuttosport (amongst others) repeatedly linking him to the club where Ancelotti will end up - Adebayor seems to have a loyalty to Carlos, perhaps because they had practically finalised negotiations at the start of last season.
Ancelotti could conceivably end up back at Juventus (who just sacked Claudio Ranieri), where he would link up with Fabio Cannavaro who has confimed he'll be joining the Old Lady on a Bosman-free at the end ofthe season. Shame he didn't end up at home-town Napoli.
Middlesbrough's big plans of getting out of the financial mire took a blow when Stewart Downing picked up an injury that will see him out of action for 6 months. The £18m fee to Spurs was going to keep Boro solvent for another few months following their drop to the Championship, but seems to have been soured now. The full extent of his injury will be discovered later today.
It looks like Carlos Tevez is going to be one of the first players in years to cross the United-Liverpool divide, with a £50m deal having been agreed, with some sources suggesting that Carlos will personally take home as much as 40% of the reported £20m transfer fee!
Finally, the fact that Wayne Rooney went for a Chinese with his wife seems to have made it into most of the red-tops, with photos of them in Manchester's China Town tacked up alongside tenuous Chinese puns that only tabloids can come up with (e.g Pregnant Coleen took her own dumpling back home with her). Surely we can do better than that?
Tags: Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, Cesc Fabregas, Wigan, Antonio Valencia, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Chelsea, Emmanuel Adebayor, Carlo Ancelotti, Fabio Cannavaro, Juventus, Roma, Wayne Rooney, Middlesbrough, Stewart Downing, Carlos Tevez, Liverpool
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Football Round Up
Welcome to the first of our round-ups of the football news. We'll try and give you all the football details you'll need to know, and hope you keep coming back for more! So what news of Tuesday 19th 2009?
The bulk of the backpages highlighted the fact that a member of the (far right-wing) BNP party had somehow managed to get into the official launch party of England's bid to host the 2018 World Cup, alongside David beckham and Wayne Rooney. It's an error that won't be made again, but at the end of the day he was one of just four GLA politicians who bothered to turn up, and it wasn't like he stole the show with some racist or whatever comments - as far as we know he was well-behaved!
With Manchester United already having pipped Liverpool and Chelsea to the Premier League title, the focus falls to the relegation battle. Sunderland had it all in their own hands when Kenwynne Jones sent them a goal ahead. But John Utaka, a Phil Bardsley own goal and Armand Traore's late finish meant that Portsmouth sent the Rokerites went thome empty-handed, and with a nervy 'Relegation Sunday' ahead of them.
On the transfer front, Manchester City have started to be linked with each and every footballer in Europe - the latest being former Man United star(ish) Diego Forlan, currently at Atletico.
Madrid seems to be a hotbed of gossip, with Florentino Perez's imminent Presidency ensuring that Galactico after Galactico is linked to the club. Today its Wigan Athletic's Antonio Valencia, supposedly for £22m. Good though the Ecudorian is, we don't think he'll be used as the main thrust of Perez's campaign, at least not whilst Cristiano Ronaldo is still in the mix!
With Arsene Wenger also being linked to Real Madrid, Arsenal look set on having a difficult summer - having to find some midfield battlers in the Darren Fletcher mould as well as a new boss, who needs to be good with kids.
Chelsea are also on the look out for a new manager, with prime target Carlo Ancelotti being begged by Kaka, Maldini et al to stay on at the San Siro. If Carletto does arrive at Stamford Bridge, expect to see the back of Didier Drogba (probably to Jose's Inter) and Nicolas Anelka, with Carlos Tevez and Emmanuel Adebayor lining up in blue next season instead.
Now tell the players what you think - head to www.contacttheplayers.com
The bulk of the backpages highlighted the fact that a member of the (far right-wing) BNP party had somehow managed to get into the official launch party of England's bid to host the 2018 World Cup, alongside David beckham and Wayne Rooney. It's an error that won't be made again, but at the end of the day he was one of just four GLA politicians who bothered to turn up, and it wasn't like he stole the show with some racist or whatever comments - as far as we know he was well-behaved!
With Manchester United already having pipped Liverpool and Chelsea to the Premier League title, the focus falls to the relegation battle. Sunderland had it all in their own hands when Kenwynne Jones sent them a goal ahead. But John Utaka, a Phil Bardsley own goal and Armand Traore's late finish meant that Portsmouth sent the Rokerites went thome empty-handed, and with a nervy 'Relegation Sunday' ahead of them.
On the transfer front, Manchester City have started to be linked with each and every footballer in Europe - the latest being former Man United star(ish) Diego Forlan, currently at Atletico.
Madrid seems to be a hotbed of gossip, with Florentino Perez's imminent Presidency ensuring that Galactico after Galactico is linked to the club. Today its Wigan Athletic's Antonio Valencia, supposedly for £22m. Good though the Ecudorian is, we don't think he'll be used as the main thrust of Perez's campaign, at least not whilst Cristiano Ronaldo is still in the mix!
With Arsene Wenger also being linked to Real Madrid, Arsenal look set on having a difficult summer - having to find some midfield battlers in the Darren Fletcher mould as well as a new boss, who needs to be good with kids.
Chelsea are also on the look out for a new manager, with prime target Carlo Ancelotti being begged by Kaka, Maldini et al to stay on at the San Siro. If Carletto does arrive at Stamford Bridge, expect to see the back of Didier Drogba (probably to Jose's Inter) and Nicolas Anelka, with Carlos Tevez and Emmanuel Adebayor lining up in blue next season instead.
Now tell the players what you think - head to www.contacttheplayers.com
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