Liverpool John Arne Riise, is not happy that Fabio Aurelio keeps getting picked ahead of him, and wants out of Anfield. No word on where he might go, but a certain Midlands club have long been rumoured to be interested.
Arsenal are close to wrapping up a £5million deal for 'Serbian midfield ace Zdravko Kuzmanovic, who is currently playing for Fiorentina, and apparently Arsenal 'representatives are understood to have flown out already to meet officials of the Italian club to thrash out a deal'.
The Daily Mirror reports that Man City are reportedly preparing a hugely optimistic move for Barcelona whipper-snapper Gio Dos Santos.
Chelsea will probably be in the market for a striker in the summer, what with Drogba and Shevchenko on their way, and Claudio Pizarro being a bit rubbish. Well, The Sun claim they know exactly who that striker will be - that's right, Hajduk Split striker Nikola Kalinic. He is twenty, has a pretty impressive goalscoring record for Hajduk, and will set Chelsea back around £7.8million.
Manchester City striker Emile Mpenza has rejected loan moves to Leicester and Cardiff...Derby are prepared to take a £2million hit to ditch record signing Robert Earnshaw in the summer.
Aston Villa are set to make a £3million move for Crystal Palace's young winger Sean Scannell.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Premier League Title Chase
What the teams have to do and guard against for glory....
by Don Howe
ARSENAL
Mathieu Flamini exemplifies everything that is good about my old club. Not only has young French midfielder fulfilled he role of midfield anchormen with intelligence and tenacity, he also urged to get forward by manager Arsene Wenger.
Flamini's endeavours this season have tpified the way Wenger approaches football that he combines a demanding work ethic with a strong desire to see his players express themselves in attack. Aresenl might not boast as many match-winning individuals on the books as Old Trafford, but the way they work for each other and play off each other is splendid.
Flaminin is an unsung hero. He complements the more attack Cesc Fabregas perfectly by sitting back when the Spaniard heads forward, but he judiciously joins the attack when the opportunity arises.
His efforts against Newcastle a fornight ago showed what an asset he has become setting up a goal for Adebayor and scoring one himself. It obviously helps the midfield that they have the best pair of Premier League ahead of them in Adebayor and Eduardo.
MANCHESTER UNITED
When they're not on song collectively United have a terrific advantage in that they have several individuals capable of winning matches on their own in the shape of Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes.
They possess the flair and ingenuity to sway matches United's way when their team is flat because players like Ronaldo can rise above mundane performances - a great asset that Arsenal and Chelsea can't really match.
It's great that Sir Alex Ferguson has maintained the club's proud tradition of attractive, passing football, but he must be aware that his defence could be more resilient. United are very capable defensively, and in Rio Ferdinand they have appear an excellent centre-half, but they still appear vulnerable at set-plays- due to a mixture of lapses in concentration and the failure to attack the ball in these situations. It is an area of weakness they will have to work on in the training ground or it will end up costing United their Premier League crown.
CHELSEA
by Don Howe
ARSENAL
Mathieu Flamini exemplifies everything that is good about my old club. Not only has young French midfielder fulfilled he role of midfield anchormen with intelligence and tenacity, he also urged to get forward by manager Arsene Wenger.
Flamini's endeavours this season have tpified the way Wenger approaches football that he combines a demanding work ethic with a strong desire to see his players express themselves in attack. Aresenl might not boast as many match-winning individuals on the books as Old Trafford, but the way they work for each other and play off each other is splendid.
Flaminin is an unsung hero. He complements the more attack Cesc Fabregas perfectly by sitting back when the Spaniard heads forward, but he judiciously joins the attack when the opportunity arises.
His efforts against Newcastle a fornight ago showed what an asset he has become setting up a goal for Adebayor and scoring one himself. It obviously helps the midfield that they have the best pair of Premier League ahead of them in Adebayor and Eduardo.
MANCHESTER UNITED
When they're not on song collectively United have a terrific advantage in that they have several individuals capable of winning matches on their own in the shape of Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes.
They possess the flair and ingenuity to sway matches United's way when their team is flat because players like Ronaldo can rise above mundane performances - a great asset that Arsenal and Chelsea can't really match.
It's great that Sir Alex Ferguson has maintained the club's proud tradition of attractive, passing football, but he must be aware that his defence could be more resilient. United are very capable defensively, and in Rio Ferdinand they have appear an excellent centre-half, but they still appear vulnerable at set-plays- due to a mixture of lapses in concentration and the failure to attack the ball in these situations. It is an area of weakness they will have to work on in the training ground or it will end up costing United their Premier League crown.
CHELSEA
Jose Mourinho may be long gone but he certainly hasn't been forgotten by the players at Stamford Bridge. The Portuguese coach was shown the door beacuse the people upstairs wanted the club to head into a more attractive direction where goals are plentiful. Against Liverpool, when things didn't click, Chelsea reverted to their old defensive ways instead of preservering . It showed that they remain locked into Mourinho's style.
Chelsea remain very efficient defensively ut they are still finding it difficult to score goals, which explains why they bought Nicolas Anelka. Against Liverpool there was the tendency to lose sight of the basic objectives which are, of course, to score goals and win matches. I wonder whether this desire to play eye-catching football will scupper Chelsea's chances of regaining the title.
Shaun Wright-Phililips remains a key player for thie hopes, having become more of an attacking threat inside and outside the penalty box. - Telegraph Group Ltd, London.
Chelsea remain very efficient defensively ut they are still finding it difficult to score goals, which explains why they bought Nicolas Anelka. Against Liverpool there was the tendency to lose sight of the basic objectives which are, of course, to score goals and win matches. I wonder whether this desire to play eye-catching football will scupper Chelsea's chances of regaining the title.
Shaun Wright-Phililips remains a key player for thie hopes, having become more of an attacking threat inside and outside the penalty box. - Telegraph Group Ltd, London.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Premier League transfer rumours.
Rangers are believed to be interested in Manchester City striker Georgios Samaras.
Aston Villa central defender Gary Cahill finally looks poised to complete a move to Bolton.
Spurs have also agreed a £9.3m fee for Juventus midfielder Tiago, but may lose out to Atletico Madrid.
Middlesbrough are in talks with Brazil striker Afonso Alves after agreeing a fee in excess of £12m with his club Heerenveen.
Bolton manager Gary Megson also wants to sign Barcelona's former Chelsea striker Eidur Gudjohnsen.
Aston Villa will sign Tottenham misfit Wayne Routledge, but will lose defender Olof Mellberg to Juventus at the end of the season.
Aston Villa central defender Gary Cahill finally looks poised to complete a move to Bolton.
Spurs have also agreed a £9.3m fee for Juventus midfielder Tiago, but may lose out to Atletico Madrid.
Middlesbrough are in talks with Brazil striker Afonso Alves after agreeing a fee in excess of £12m with his club Heerenveen.
Bolton manager Gary Megson also wants to sign Barcelona's former Chelsea striker Eidur Gudjohnsen.
Aston Villa will sign Tottenham misfit Wayne Routledge, but will lose defender Olof Mellberg to Juventus at the end of the season.