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[Ghost]

We signed freddy on a 4 year deal. Price could rise to 3 mill (depending on appearances presumably).


Much better deal that we would have gotten for Dyer, hope he's still hungry though.

 

[psycho_snake]

Sounds like a good deal for west ham. He's getting old, but I think he can offer a lot. I'd say its definately a much better deal that getting dyer. Ljunberg is cheaper, better and a lot less injury prone.



Its been a good game for united. The final score was 6-0. The goalscoreres were Giggs, Rooney, Nani, O'shea, Ronaldo and Eagles. All of them were pretty good goals, eagles scored an indreible half volley from long range. Smith should have easily scored two goals. Both of them were tap ins. For the first chance eagles did an amazing cross to smith in the box. Smith could have volleyed it, but he decided to control it and his control was quite bad, so it gave tghe defence some time to get back and put him off. The second chance he had tons of space and messed it up. He might have thought he was offside, but if he knew he wasnt it was a poor effort.

Eagles impressed me during this tour. 2 goals in three games and he's been making good passes and helping out the team. Its going to be tough for him to get any games next season. Giggs and Ronqaldo will be the main wingers, but if one of them cant play, then its either going to be nani, park, eagles and possibly anderson who will play, so there's a hell of a lot of competition for him.

 

[Cornballer]

So long, Freddie. Thanks for the years of good service.

 

[navanman]

Seems Scholes may have picked up a serious knee injury playing on that crap pitch. Out for a month minimum, undergoing knee surgery tomorrow.

Big blow for the start of the season.

 

[Osorio]

LA Galaxy have a section of English-style fans called the LA Riot Squad who sing terrace songs. (Independent)

Whaaa!? Every team has a section of English-style fans. Not only that but LARS has been around for years.

 

[h0pper]

Ljungberg left. I honestly didn't think he would but it's not really of much concern to me. He's getting old and I think his days in English football are dwindling.

 

[Cornballer]

The shortlist for the Golden Ball award from the FIFA U20's. Good to see a couple Americans on there.

Goalkeepers
Christopher TOSELLI (CHI)
Sergio ROMERO (ARG)

Defenders
Federico FAZIO (ARG)
Gerard PIQUE (ESP)
Hans MARTINEZ (CHI)
LUIZAO (BRA)
Matias CAHAIS (ARG)
Omar ESPARZA (MEX)
Sebastian PROEDL (AUS)

Midfielders
Arturo VIDAL (CHI)
Bruno GAMA (POR)
Ever BANEGA (ARG)
Mathias CARDACCIO (URU)
Marek SUCHY (CZE)
Maximiliano MORALEZ (ARG)
Michael BRADLEY (USA)
Oladapo OLUFEMI (NGA)
Sebastian MWANSA (ZAM)

Attackers
ADRIAN LOPEZ (ESP)
ALEXANDRE PATO (BRA)
Alexis SANCHEZ (CHI)
Dawid JANCZYK (POL)
DIEGO CAPEL (ESP)
Freddy ADU (USA)
Giovanni DOS SANTOS (MEX)
Mathias VIDANGOSSY (CHI)
Sergio AGUERO (ARG)

 

[Mama Smurf]

I wouldn't be surprised if West Ham bid for Dyer anyway even though they have Ljungberg, if he's available. Their central midfield starting partnership is fine, but beyond Noble and Parker the quality drops quite a bit. Dyer can play from the centre well, and West Ham did go after Barton so I figure are still interested in central midfielders.

Oh and does anyone have a link to highlights of the United match?

 

[Zoolaga]

Oh and does anyone have a link to highlights of the United match?

Here are the goals

 

[Mama Smurf]

Thanks.

I'm kind of glad that Scholes will miss the start of the season, gives us more chance to see the new boys. United have so many options in their midfield though that Ferguson won't be forced to play them if he doesn't feel they've adapted yet, unfortunately.

 

[Ryck]

Here are the goals

Thanks for the links all pretty good goals. Eagles is looking really good.

 

[Mama Smurf]

How long until Nani gets rid of that haircut? He looks like Michael Jackson 20 years ago.

 

[Cornballer]

How long until Nani gets rid of that haircut? He looks like Michael Jackson 20 years ago.

There really should be stats and charts on how long it takes for new Premiership players to correct their haircuts. It happens sooner or later for everyone. It'd be an amusing thing to bet on. :lol

 

[enishi]

Looks like Nani can get into the team earlier than I think. He did quite well tonight. Eagles impressed me not only by his great goal, but his attitude in the match. Smith on the other hand did rather bad... He will probably follow Richardson to leave before Sept if he cannot improve his form...

Of course the Shenzhen Team cannot compare to Urawa Reds nor FC Seoul. It was 11th in Chinese Super League last season (total 15 teams). We can expect to have an easier match on Friday since Guangzhou Pharmaceutical is even a lower league team (Chinese Jia League).

 

[Cornballer]

Sounds like the Adu to Benfica transfer is about to go through. MLS is asking 7.5 million (US dollars) and Benfica will probably pay it.

 

[Osorio]

Salt Lake is the last team that needs to lose players. At least they beat Everton easily.

 

[Cornballer]

They'll get a new allocation, and hopefully it's someone that works out better for them. I think it's a good move for Adu to play somewhere he doesn't have to carry the team and can play w/ some better players.

 

[Osorio]

Well I thought Salt Lake got rid of Ballouchy so that Adu can take control of the midfield but whatever. Hopefully they get Okocha and somebody else.

 

[Cornballer]

Good point. Ballouchy and Adu played the same position, but now they're lacking a playmaker. Okocha sounds like a good bet.

 

[Karakand]

Mother[fornicator]. Chelsea has been training at my university for the past 2 weeks and the fee they paid (225 thousand USD) was used to overhaul part of our most important athletic facility (the basketball arena). KEEP YOUR BLOOD MONEY ABRAMOVICH.

Whaaa!? Every team has a section of English-style fans. Not only that but LARS has been around for years.

I guess when your clubs are all 3 trillion years old not following another league for 8 or 9 years doesn't seem like that big a deal.

 

[Mama Smurf]

I think I've said this before, but Chelsea came to train at my high school once. Various teams did it every so often, it was quite a good school with good facilities, I think it was for Bolton games.

I wonder how much they paid for the right to have hundreds of kids swarm their training session when we just couldn't hold back any longer.

 

[Mama Smurf]

I just saw this on a site:

With 19 days to go before the start of the Premiership season

and got excited. It seems a lot closer when written that way than when I think of it as almost 3 weeks off.

 

[Cornballer]

There's also still voting going on for goal of the tournament at the U20's.

 

[Osorio]

I guess when your clubs are all 3 trillion years old not following another league for 8 or 9 years doesn't seem like that big a deal.

I just don't like that they thought just because we're America we don't have ANY passionate football fans.

Here's a list of groups in this country:

Midnight Riders
Empire Supporters Club
La Turbina
L.A. Riot Squad
Galaxians
Class VI
Centennial Firm
The Loyalists
Section 8 (consists of too many groups to name)
Barra Brava
Screaming Eagles
La Norte
Red Patch Boys
U-Sector
The Cauldron
Raging Bull Nation
Kearny Army
Local 103
La Legion 1906
Rogue Cavaliers Brigade
Inferno
Texian Army
El Batallon
The Casbah

I think that list is incomplete too. So I hope the English media realizes that people can bring the noise in this country too.

 

[Cornballer]

All your gold are belong to Agüero.

El Kun scoops top awards
(FIFA.com) Sunday 22 July 2007

As well as being voted best player at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007, Argentinian striker Sergio Agüero also took home the adidas Golden Shoe as the tournament's top scorer.

In the voting for the best player, which was carried out by the tournament's accredited journalists, Aguero came in well ahead of fellow Argentinian Maximiliano Moralez and Mexico's Giovanni Dos Santos. In the goal-scoring charts, he finished in front of Spain's Adrian Lopez and his team-mate Moralez.

adidas Golden Ball and adidas Golden Shoe: Sergio Aguero (Argentina) - 6 goals, 4 assists, 167 points
Argentina's number 10 was very much the star of the tournament in Canada. The captain of the Albiceleste impressed not only with his goals and his overall technique but also with his work rate, catching the eye of both the fans and the media representatives who traditionally elect the tournament's best player. Though relatively small at a mere 1.70m, Agüero stood tall for the South Americans, with his impressive performances and above all his goals setting him apart from the rest. During the group stages, he scored twice against Panama as well as notching the "goal of the day" to give his side a 1-0 win over Korea DPR. His opening strike in the Round of 16 victory against Poland was a thing of beauty as he waltzed through the opposition defence and let fly with his left foot to make it 2-1. That score soon became 3-1, as Agüero grabbed his fifth goal of the tournament, while his sixth strike was perhaps the most important, drawing Argentina level with the Czech Republic in the Final.

Aguero, who plies his trade with Spanish outfit Atletico Madrid, is following in the footsteps of his compatriot Lionel Messi, who also scooped both awards at the tournament in The Netherlands two years ago.

adidas Silver Ball and adidas Bronze Shoe: Maximiliano Moralez (Argentina) - 4 goals, 3 assists, 71 points
Maxi Moralez is another diminutive Argentinian (1.60m) who towered above the rest in Canada. Together with team-mate Aguero, midfielder Moralez was one of the shining lights of the title-winning Argentine squad. His speed and above all his eye for a slide-rule pass made him one of the tournament's top players, and he also chipped in with four goals and three assists.

adidas Bronze Ball: Giovanni Dos Santos (Mexico), 64 points
The 18-year-old striker was one of the key players in a Mexico team which made if through to the last eight of the tournament, scoring three goals in the process. His strike against Gambia in Mexico's opening match was a classic volley into the top corner, and this, along with his style of play, led to many comparisons with Brazilian superstar Ronaldinho, who is a team-mate of Dos Santos' at Barcelona.

adidas Golden Shoe: Sergio Agüero - 6 goals, 4 assists

adidas Silver Shoe, Adrian Lopez (Spain) - 5 goals, 0 assists
Lopez's crowning glory came in the 4-3 group stage victory over Jordan, as the Spanish striker scored a match-winning hat-trick. The 19-year-old always seemed to be in the right place at the right time and notched a number of important goals. In Spain's opening match against Uruguay, he played a defining role in his team's come-back from a two-goal deficit to earn a 2-2 draw, while in the Round of 16 against Brazil, the Deportivo la Coruna forward scored an all-important goal to make it 4-2 during extra time.

adidas Bronze Shoe: Maximiliano Moralez (Argentina) - 4 goals, 3 assists

FIFA Fair Play Award: Japan

 

[cae]

The Golden Ball should have been awarded to Maxi Moralez or Banega. They were better all-around players than Agüero.

 

[Outdoor Miner]

Coming off the nice buzz Blanco's performance Sunday provided, I now read that we have signed Paolo Wanchope. This guy is a way better signing than Salas whose deal fell through. About as nice a signing as one could hope for at the non-DP level.

Then there's news we get Rolfe back on Aug 4th.

So in 2 weeks time our attacking half could look like

----------Rolfe--------Wanchope--------
-----------------Blanco-------------------
--Mapp-------------------------Guerrero

Barrett and Carr sit on the bench where they belong.

What exciting times after having to trudge through the worst couple of months in Fire history.

 

[psycho_snake]

Thanks.

I'm kind of glad that Scholes will miss the start of the season, gives us more chance to see the new boys. United have so many options in their midfield though that Ferguson won't be forced to play them if he doesn't feel they've adapted yet, unfortunately.

Even though we've got loads of options, I'm still quite worried about loising scholes. He was so important to us last season. However we should be fine. We've still got hargreaves, fletcher, carrick and anderson who can play in midfield. Fergie could also bring giggs into the middle and put nani on the wing too. I think we'll see carrick and hargreaves start the games when scholes is out. Luckily its not too serious. Fergie said he's only going to be out for a month or so.

 

[Karakand]

Looks like I'm the Bucket Bitch.

P.S. CastiLOL Future!

P.S.S. Damn you Thak MCFC isn't a platform for your jingoistic nationalism!!!

TRANSFER RUMOURS

Manchester City have agreed a £10m deal with Olympiakos for Mexico striker Nery Castillo. (Daily Mirror)

City also want Bayern Munich striker Roque Santa Cruz, but face competition from Blackburn, Porto and Galatasaray. (Daily Mirror)

And at least two players from the Thailand national team are set to join Manchester City. (Daily Star)

Kieron Dyer will stay at Newcastle - for now - because of Joey Barton's injury. (The Sun)

West Ham, Manchester City and Tottenham are set to formalise their interest in Kieron Dyer this week. (The Times)

Everton are one of several English clubs chasing Rosenberg striker Daniel Braaten. (Daily Telegraph)

Watford have told Fulham and Portsmouth they will have to pay £5m if they want forward Hameur Bouazza. (The Sun)

Juventus are set to bid £3m for Arsenal defender Phillipe Senderos. (Mirror)

Bolton are in talks about signing Werder Bremen's Sweden winger Christian Wilhelmsson. (Mirror)

Leicester are set to sign MK Dons striker Izale McLeod. (Daily Mirror)

Ex-Charlton midfielder Zheng Zhi says Newcastle and Birmingham want to sign him on loan from Chinese side Shandong Lueng. (Daily Star)

Blackburn striker Jason Roberts has pledged his future to the club and says team-mate Benni McCarthy is also staying at Ewood Park. (Various)

Hull have launched a £600,000 bid for Sunderland striker Stern John. (Star)

Chelsea midfielder Claude Makelele has turned down offers from Villarreal, PSG, Olympiakos and the MLS to stay at Stamford Bridge. (The Guardian)

Nantes have told Manchester City they want £2.7m for midfielder Emerse Fae, who is also wanted by Reading. (Times)

Wigan and Mallorca both want Toulouse winger Fode Mansare. (The Times)


OTHER GOSSIP

Liverpool expect Gabriel Heinze to challenge his contract with Manchester United in the High Court within the next fortnight. (Daily Mirror)

Arsenal shareholder Danny Fiszman says the Gunners' board are determined to resist any takeover attempt. (Various)

Kanu has agreed a new contract that will keep him at Portsmouth. (The Sun)

Reading defender Nicky Shorey will sign a new contract with the Royals this week. (Daily Star)

Andrei Shevchenko will have a place in a three-pronged Chelsea attack next season alongside Didier Drogba and Claudio Pizarro. (Daily Telegraph)

Steve Naismith's agent says Kilmarnock's refusal to accept a bid for him from Rangers has made the striker ill with worry. (Daily Record)

Rangers trialist Joseph Lapira broke down with a calf injury minutes into his first training session with the Ibrox club. (Daily Record)

Livingston will offer a contract to former Hibs full-back Craig James this week. (Daily Record)


AND FINALLY

Leighton Baines' £6m move from Wigan to Sunderland is being held up as his wife is due to give birth to their second child. (Daily Mirror)

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has promised to be "more mellow" this season. (Guardian)

Celtic star Shunsuke Nakamura says special germanium baths to soften his skin have helped his play. (Record)

 

[Mama Smurf]

I hear Man City want Chiellini and Blasi from Juventus too. While the latter is also an Italy international, I think it's Chiellini who would be the better buy. Like I've said, there's no real problem with City's defence, aside from centre back cover, but if there is a first team weakness it's at left back, and that's where Chiellini plays. Even better, he can also cover centre back, just like Richards can from right back.

Those signings would also free up Sun Jihai to play on the wing (as Ball and Mills can cover the full backs), which isn't ideal but he can do it, and given that City have **** all wingers at the moment, necessary.

Seems like the Man City revolution is moving along nicely. I'd still be worried if I was a City fan though, at the complete lack of even links to wingers.

 

[Ghost]

Fifa On Tevez Saga:

They've recommened the Court of Arbitration for Sport instead...which is pretty much the only other option now.

 

[MrPing1000]

Fifa have no balls.

 

[Mama Smurf]

Here's my solution: Man Utd buy Tevez, and give half the fee to MSI, half the fee to West Ham. Because this falls in between indicating MSI still own the rights to the player and he's all West Ham's, West Ham start the season docked 6 points (which shouldn't be any concern for relegation, but might screw them over for getting into Europe come the end of the year) and Sheffield United get £15m off the Premier League.

Legal? Not really. But it's such a stupid affair with so many parties involved that I think some sort of middle ground like the above is the only way to sort it any time soon.

 

[Ghost]

Here's my solution: Man Utd buy Tevez, and give half the fee to MSI, half the fee to West Ham. Because this falls in between indicating MSI still own the rights to the player and he's all West Ham's, West Ham start the season docked 6 points (which shouldn't be any concern for relegation, but might screw them over for getting into Europe come the end of the year) and Sheffield United get £15m off the Premier League.

Legal? Not really. But it's such a stupid affair with so many parties involved that I think some sort of middle ground like the above is the only way to sort it any time soon.

er...no.



Everything Eggy is doing now with keeping this whole farce going is all part of the agreement he made with the PL when he cancelled the third party agreement, he has to maintain that his ownership of the player is the only one valid or or risk more punishment. Im pretty sure he's just praying for a governing body to tell him to release Tevez at this point. I think we'll escape further punishment as long as he sticks to his guns because he's done nothing but act as instructed by the premier league.

Seems that the CAS will make a ruling under British law, as I've pointed out, West Ham have honest doubts over the legality of MSIs ownership of Tevez under British law. So the result is by no means assured. Tevez will leave West Ham though, this court case might just end up deciding whether he leaves now or in January. I doubt he'll play for us again regardless.

 

[Mama Smurf]

But if it goes to court, surely MSI will have to give proof that they still hold rights to Tevez and didn't agree to tear up that bit of the contract. I mean, they might be worried that legally they can't own him under British law, but either they take the chance and argue their case, or they don't present the evidence they own him and they're 100% screwed, so obviously they'll go for the former.

Now if MSI can prove they didn't tear up the contract, West Ham are screwed, regardless of whether it's judged MSI could have legally owned Tevez or not over here. The fact of the matter is, West Ham believed that they did own him when signed, otherwise that clause wouldn't even have existed, and knowingly went ahead and broke the Premiership rules. We already know that bit, that's been punished by the fine, but if they then lied about tearing up the contract, Sheffield United have a whole new case.

 

[Mama Smurf]

Though do all parties have to go to the CAS if one lot go along? I mean, I saw a quote saying West Ham were happy to go do that if all parties agreed to. That suggest it's not a summons, it's just a place where all parties agree that they'll go with the decision, or not go at all.

If that's true, there's no reason MSI will go, unless they think that's their best place to win. Otherwise they'll just take it to the High Court where West ham will have to go, if they prefer that.

 

[Ghost]

The CAS dispute will just be between Tevez and West Ham, Man U are no longer involved.


If the contract wasn't enforcable (ie legal) in the first place it doesn't matter if they tore it up or not.




Not that theres any confusion on the termination of the 3rd party agreement front, West Ham terminated the agreement, MSI didnt agree to the termination, but have failed to challenge West Hams non-compliance in law.

 

[Mama Smurf]

But if it wasn't enforcable by European law, why does Tevez become a free agent? Why doesn't he just go back to MSI, who will have to sell him outside of Europe, where companies owning players is much more common?

 

[Osorio]

Bolton are in talks about signing Werder Bremen's Sweden winger Christian Wilhelmsson. (Mirror)

I think the bid is already accepted, and it seems like a low 2 million. Isn't he in Anderlecht though?

 

[Ghost]

But if it wasn't enforcable by European law, why does Tevez become a free agent? Why doesn't he just go back to MSI, who will have to sell him outside of Europe, where companies owning players is much more common?

He doesnt become a free agent, West Ham own his registration. The controversy is over the 3rd party agreement that forces West Ham to terminate his registration at MSIs request. That's borderline illegal under some kind of trade law (apparently), if that's not legal, MSI cant make West Ham release Tevez. If it is legal then Tevez will be a free agent (with a big iranian sized ball and chain attached to his foot)


The ownership of his 'economic rights' is a totally seperate issue. Though the FA are looking to have it dealt with at the same time.

 

[Mama Smurf]

Right, you've been saying free agent and confusing me. When you say free agent, I thought you meant free from anybody, but can go where he wants. What you actually meant was he's free from his contract with West Ham, but still owned by MSI.

So United will have to stump up the cash (whether a small amount for a loan or a large amount for the player) either way, it just depends whether it goes to West Ham or MSI?

Can't MSI sue West Ham for damages if it turns out that clause was illegal? I mean, they gave Tevez to West Ham for free with the understanding that that clause wasn't illegal. Both West Ham and MSI went along with this, but for some reason if it was illegal MSI has lost tens of millions, while West Ham have come out with a great player for a year and whatever fee they get from United.

That just...really doesn't seem fair.

And there's still the issue of what happens in the Sheffield United case if MSI prove they didn't agree to tear up that part of the clause and it turns out it wasn't illegal. Not only would West Ham lose Tevez for nothing, but that whole case which only got them a fine would have been based on a lie.

 

[Shinobi]

Just wanted to mention that for any viewers in Canada, The Score will be showing the Asia Cup games this week, including the double header today starting at 6pm EST (Fulham vs Portsmouth, Liverpool vs Hong Kong XI).

 

[Mama Smurf]

They've already played those games, so I guess it's a delayed broadcast.

So don't go checking websites, or possibly even this topic, until after you've seen the game.

 

[Osorio]

The brand new Superliga competition starts today. It will be shown exclusively on Telefutura in the States, and on Fox Sports World Canada up in the north. The competition kicks off with FC Dallas vs. Chivas de Guadalajara at 9 EST and the Beckham-less Galaxy vs. Pachuca at 11 EST. I hope some great, competitive football is played because the CONCACAF Champions Cup really blows as a North American "Champions League". Here's to hoping for the beginning of something great.

 

[Fowler]

Just back from the Asia Cup games. Good fun, decent atmosphere. The first game was rubbish though.

 

[Mama Smurf]

Apparently Deco was left out of Barca's 11 v 11 training session recently, without having an injury or anything, suggesting he might be sold. He says he wants to stay, but if they don't want him then he'll go.

I'd like to see him in the Premiership, but I can't see it happening. The top 4 really don't need central midfielders, and I can't see him joining a team outside of the CL (Juventus being a possible exception, as they'll probably be back within a year). The closest is Arsenal, who could do with another attacking central midfielder (saw them linked with Appiah recently, don't know if it's true), but Deco's not going to go somewhere to sit on the bench watching Fabregas, and it's certainly not gonna be the other way round. Spurs would probably bid if he's available, and he'd be the perfect buy for them, but like I say, I just can't see him going to a non-CL team.

He'll probably go to another Spanish club or one of the Italian giants, or possibly back to Porto if he has fond memories of his time there.

 

[enishi]

Just wanted to mention that for any viewers in Canada, The Score will be showing the Asia Cup games this week, including the double header today starting at 6pm EST (Fulham vs Portsmouth, Liverpool vs SCAA).

Just a correction, it should be SCAA (local treble in Hong Kong League last season).

 

[Mama Smurf]

MSI have issued West Ham with a High Court writ. I love that word. Don't know what it means, but makes me sound smart.

 

[Maverick]

I know there's no room for him, but I think Deco could be great for Chelsea. With Lampard and Essien in midfield, with Makalele as backup, there's not much creativity coming from midfield.

Malouda from what I've seen of him seems more of a speed-burner. Robben is much the same and could easily be sold.

I like Sidwell but he's unproven and I don't know how much he creates, and Ballack...well, I don't know what we'll get from Ballack.

This leaves Joe Cole as the only real creative force in the middle of the field, IMHO.


Essien is a bull. Lampard is a scorer (well, hopefully.) Makalele is solid, but old. If I were playing Football Manager for Chelsea, I'd have sold Ballack and tried to bring in Deco to partner with Lampard, with Essien in behind them in DMF and Cole and Malouda on the wings. Drogba up front with Sheva and Pizarro as cover.

I know it's a stretch, but how incredible does that team fit together?

P.S. I was very disappointed to see this thread on Page 2, so I had to post something.

 

[Mama Smurf]

Sidwell is very creative, I think that was why he was bought, to add something different.