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[psycho_snake]

Todays gossip

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/gossip_and_transfers/6931808.stm

TRANSFER RUMOURS

Mikael Silvestre has told manager Sir Alex Ferguson he wants to leave Manchester United after being left out of the team for the Community Shield. (Sunday Express)

Barcelona are set to launch a new bid to lure Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard to the Nou Camp. (News of the World)

Sunderland manager Roy Keane will move for his ex-Manchester United team-mate Andy Cole. (People, News of the World)

Real Madrid will make a £28m double raid for Chelsea stars Michael Ballack and Arjen Robben. (Sunday Express)

Manchester City boss Sven-Goran Eriksson is to make a last-ditch bid for Liverpool keeper Scott Carson. (Daily Mail)

West Ham are ready to splash out £9m for Barcelona's former Chelsea striker Eidur Gudjohnsen. (Sunday Mirror)

Up to 10 Premier League clubs are chasing the signature of 6ft 4in, 18-year-old Argentine wonderkid Franco Di Santo - described as the new Maradona. (Sunday Mirror)

Chelsea are to use the money from the sale of Michael Ballack and Arjen Robben to buy Sevilla's Brazilian star Dani Alvez. (People)

West Ham will step up their interest in Reading left-back Nicky Shorey. (People)

Arsenal have turned down a £10m bid from Valencia for midfielder Gilberto Silva. (People)

New manager Sam Allardyce might be forced to sell striker Obafemi Martins to ease Newcastle's cash crisis. (News of the World)

Kieron Dyer's move to West Ham fell through because Newcastle were unhappy the Hammers were "boasting" the sale had gone through. (Sunday Express)

Newcastle are now demanding West Ham up their offer to £7m if they want to sign Dyer. (Sunday Express)

Rangers have tabled a £1m offer to Portsmouth for 32-year-old Serb defender Dejan Stefanovic. (People)

Big-spending Fulham are chasing Blackburn's £4m-rated striker Jason Roberts. (Sunday Mirror)

Aston Villa are close to securing the capture of Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon. (Sunday Mirror)

Everton have won the race to sign Wigan left-back Leighton Baines for £4m. (Sunday Express)

But Newcastle are still in the running for Baines, who will miss the start of the season with an injury. (People)

Sunderland are ready to bid £4m for Manchester United defender Jonny Evans. (People)

Birmingham have turned their attentions to Arsenal's Mathieu Flamini after scrapping their bid to sign Spurs midfielder Hossam Ghaly. (People)

Manchester City want to make former Everton man Manuel Fernandes their biggest signing yet at £10m. (People)

Bolton and West Ham are considering taking Real Madrid striker Antonio Cassano on loan. (People)

Sheffield Wednesday are keen to snap up Sheffield United striker Geoff Horsfield. (People)

Derby will make an offer for Kiki Musampa, who was on loan at Manchester City last season. (People)

OTHER GOSSIP

Albert Luque is hopeful of securing regular first-team football at Newcastle after the arrival of new boss Sam Allardyce. (Sunday Mirror)

Arsene Wenger has told Glenn Roeder he is in the frame for a sporting director role at Arsenal. (Sunday Express)

England will be without David Beckham and Michael Owen when they take on Germany at Wembley. (People)

Sheffield United are considering issuing West Ham and the Premier League with a compensation claim of £50m after they were relegated. (People)

AND FINALLY

Sunderland skipper Dean Whitehead believes boss Roy Keane could still pull on a shirt and play after being amazed by his fitness in training. (Sunday Express)

 

[psycho_snake]

It seems like Ballack is really leaving Chelsea oô.

A translation would be useful.

 

[Cuckooo]

I can't wait for the Comm shield in about 3 hours! anyone got any score predictions they want to share?

I'm still trying to think of what formation United might play. It would be great to see Nani start or even come on as a sub, I think he's the only new signing who's nearly fully fit so I don't see why not.

 

[Zoolaga]

I can't wait for the Comm shield in about 3 hours! anyone got any score predictions they want to share?

I'm still trying to think of what formation United might play. It would be great to see Nani start or even come on as a sub, I think he's the only new signing who's nearly fully fit so I don't see why not.

join up before its too late!

 

[psycho_snake]

I'm still trying to think of what formation United might play. It would be great to see Nani start or even come on as a sub, I think he's the only new signing who's nearly fully fit so I don't see why not.

There ws talk that we would put fletcher on the right, which would mean that o'shea would play in central mdifield. I hope that isnt ture. if nani is fit enough then we should use him, which will allow us to put fletcher in the middle instead of O'shea.

 

[Mama Smurf]

What's the return on that?

Well if I win them all I'll make £15.09 on a £35 bet.

 

[Mama Smurf]

What the hell has happened to Sky Sports News? :lol

The graphics layout is better but the presenting room with the "staff" in the background is always a bad idea. Also, I swear they're using a piece of music from the Matrix movies as their new theme before/after adverts.

My favourite's on at the moment, the blonde. She's a Blackburn fan....she is Kenny Dalglish's daughter afterall.

 

[h0pper]

Should be a good match. Looking forward to seeing it.

 

[Frenck]

Translation of that Ballack article:

"Michael Ballack's transfer from Chelsea to Real Madrid is coming closer and closer. The captain of the german national side would even drop half his salary in order to play for the "galactics" according to spanish daily tabloid "As". He wouldn't earn 8 million euros a year anymore, "just" 4 million."

Another source says that he has a firm place in the starting lineup at Real while Chelsea will only use him as a sub in the Premier League.

 

[Shinobi]

I'm starting to think that despite the popular opinion Gallas would actually make a very good captain. Despite what the fans think the players seem to have a lot of respect for him and seem to be friendly with him and he does have the ability to command people around the pitch. At the very least it isn't a bad option.

I think Toure or Silva deserve it more on merit, but honestly, Gallas is easily the best captain prototype the team has...a man who is fiery, in your face, and commands attention and respect. I think Toure can be that way to a certain extent, while Silva seems a bit too nice for the role. But they're all worthy candidates...and truth be told, I think the whole captaincy thing is a bit overrated anyway.

The word with Ballack is that he's taking a significant pay cut in order to join Real Madrid. If I'm Chelsea I take that deal running.

 

[Mama Smurf]

I think these are the teams, but I can't be sure 'cos nowhere has put up full teams yet despite it being talked about on skysports:

-----------------------Cech---------------------

Johnson----Ben Haim----Carvalho----A Cole

---------Mikel------Lampard-----Essien-------

Wright-Phillips-------------------------Malouda

-----------------------J Cole---------------------

///////////////////////////////////////////////////

-------------------Van der Sar------------------

Brown-----Ferdinand-----Vidic-------Silvestre

Ronaldo-----O'Shea-----Carrick----------Evra

--------------Rooney------Giggs----------------

So erm...just what we expected :/

 

[Lakitu]

Evra...right midfield. Huh? No Heinze either. And no Drogba either... :s

 

[Mama Smurf]

Your other right.

 

[Lakitu]

*Bash*

 

[psycho_snake]

I wouldnt mind evra playing on the wing. He's good when comes forward to help the attack from left back, so playing in left midfield shouldn't be too difficult for him, but I dont see it happening. I think fergie will choose fletcher and ronaldo to play on the wings and keep evra at left back.

 

[Mama Smurf]

Sorry, Chelsea team is wrong, it's even more bizarre. I'll fix it in a minute.

EDIT: Fixed above. And subs:

Cudicini, Sidwell, Pizarro, Sinclair, Diarra, Worley, Hilario

Kuszczak, Nani, Pique, Fletcher, Bardsley, Martin, Eagles

What a ringing endorsement for Pizarro: Drogba, Shevchenko and Kalou out, he sits on the bench anyway.

 

[psycho_snake]

The next thing we'll see on mama's team sheet is drogba at right back and makelele in goal.

Why is there no drogba or shevchenk on the bench? Are they both injured?

 

[Mama Smurf]

Mourinho says Pizarro has only recently started training, so will play in the second half instead.

I wonder how the United defence will handle facing 3 wingers up front. I mean...who do you mark?

 

[psycho_snake]

Chelsea wont be playing any crosses with that team. They don't have anyone upfront who is good in the air. Ballack is their one midfielder who is good in the air and he's not on either

 

[psycho_snake]

Apparantly Terry will be out for four weeks due to damaged medial ligaments in his knee. Its not such a big blow because they've got decent cover. They could either use ben haim or alex instead of him.

 

[Mama Smurf]

Apparantly Terry will be out for four weeks due to damaged medial ligaments in his knee. Its not such a big blow because they've got decent cover. They could either use ben haim or alex instead of him.

You guys are determined to ruin my attempts to keep things quiet and mess up people's fantasy teams, aren't you?

The issue for Chelsea is, who will be fit to face Liverpool 2 weeks today? They have a good enough squad to lose big players against the likes of Birmingham, or even Portsmouth, but against Liverpool any loss could be the difference between 3 points and 0.

 

[Ronok]

Urgh, the only sopcast channel that's going to be showing the man u - chelsea game and actually works is the one without sound. :'( Maybe I have to put on some music in the background or something.

 

[psycho_snake]

You guys are determined to ruin my attempts to keep things quiet and mess up people's fantasy teams, aren't you?

Of course. we're ganging up against you.

 

[Ronok]

Is it just me or did the world of myp2p come crashing down around us?

 

[navanman]

Boring boring match, the BBC website is more exciting.

Chelsea have made a tactical error here. They're wearing suits on the bench and it is all too much for John Terry, who ducks down the tunnel to take his jacket off and reveals a sweat-soaked shirt. Manchester United have played a blinder on the bench. Sir Alex Ferguson's in T-shirt and shorts.

 

[Ronok]

Boring boring match, the BBC website is more exciting.

That's good, I'm still struggling to connect at all to any streams.... I downloaded PPMate to try that and still nothing. v.v;;

 

[psycho_snake]

Giggs made up for his earlier miss. 1-0 to United woohoo!

 

[Zapages]

Giggs made up for his earlier miss. 1-0 to United woohoo!

what are you talking about??? Its still 0-0... I'm watching it live....

 

[Falch]

Nice goal.

 

[Batongen]

I'm watching it on ESPN with TVAnts.

 

[Zapages]

now gigs has scored.... Am I watching it delayed on FSC???

 

[navanman]

Nice left foot finish by Giggs. Cech had no chance.

 

[FuturusX]

Like a hot Knife through butter....UTD score 1-0, nice

 

[Falch]

I'm watching AC Milan - Lokomotiv Moscow and Chelsea - Man United side by side. I'm comtemplating which commentary I want to listen to: ze German that is commentating AC Milan - Lokomotiv or those English commentators who don't seem to shut the f*ck up.

 

[psycho_snake]

What the **** is up with our defence. Rio let malouda get past him and now they've equalised right before half time.

 

[Falch]

Beautiful goal by Malouda.

 

[Batongen]

Oh ffs Benitez why couldn't you tie up Malouda!?

 

[Ronok]

Well there goes my score prediction.

 

[psycho_snake]

now gigs has scored.... Am I watching it delayed on FSC???

No, I can read the future, thats how I knew we were 1-0 up before you

 

[FuturusX]

Shocking defending from Rio, Clown time.

 

[Mama Smurf]

The first 20 minutes were awful. I was actually angry that these two teams were doing it to us again.

Then Giggs had that chance which Cech (or possibly Cole) cleared, and the game came to life. It was entertaining the rest of the time, thank god.

Two great goals, one about team play, the other about individual effort. Hope Malouda didn't hurt himself, I want to see what he does when Chelsea have a striker on the pitch, the lack of which has obviously hurt them this match so far.

I hope Rooney got booked at the end there for some sort of dissent, because the challenge on the goalkeeper was nothing.

 

[Cuckooo]

Been so much better than the FA Cup final.

I think for the second half Alex should change a few things, those being moving Evra to left back, put Giggs out on the left then bring Nani on to play just in behind Rooney. (Taking Silvestre off).

I really don't know which way it's going to go in the second half, it's been so close at times.

 

[psycho_snake]

Well there goes my score prediction.

if it stays like this then i get full points, but I don't want it to stay like this. I'm so pissed off that thy equaliased. We should have been able to keep the lead until half time. Now that they've equalised it makes things a little bit more difficult. I can see us scoring again, we've been playing decently. The problem is if our defece can keep a lead. They were sloppy against inter and now its been by defending by rio thats let us down again

 

[painey]

cant believe what has happened to sky sports news.. its turned into bloody ESPN!

Good match right now, started off dull but its just so good to see proper football, could be on for a winning bet too

Anyone doing The Sun dream team? My friend has convinced me to join up but its bloody hard picking a balanced team

 

[psycho_snake]

I hope Rooney got booked at the end there for some sort of dissent, because the challenge on the goalkeeper was nothing.

yeah if he did get booked for that challenge on the goalie its a joke. It wasnt even a challenge, ben haim shoved him, rooney lost his balance and landed on cech as he was gathering the ball.

 

[psycho_snake]

Shocking defending from Rio, Clown time.

Rio does have this horrible habit of defending like a muppet from time to time. He should have been able to cope with malouda and stopped him from having a shot. I've got to give credit to malouda thugh, that was a very good finish.

 

[FuturusX]

Rio does have this horrible habit of defending like a muppet from time to time. He should have been able to cope with malouda and stopped him from having a shot. I've got to give credit to malouda thugh, that was a very good finish.

Yeah, fine finish outside of the boot, lovely. Malouda could be a good signing for them very skillful with bags of pace.

 

[FuturusX]

Lampard decided not to show up today. Let's see if he has a change of heart in the second half.

 

[Maverick]

Wright-Phillips is woeful.

Mikel looks great though.

 

[Ronok]

I've finally got onto a stream and it's really quite boring..... :-/