Football Close Season Thread
 

Seeing as there's only a game or two left.

David Beckham could be on his way back to England with AC Milan manager Carlo Ancelotti hoping to take the midfielder with him in a switch to Chelsea.

Just What Chelsea need, another player well past 30. Let the rebuilding begin Carlo

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Ancelotti becomes boss

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...ea/8076779.stm

Celtic approach Swansea's Martinez

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...ty/8076867.stm

Got to say if I were a fan of either club, I'd be feeling completely ambivilent to either appointment.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Martinez is one of the most respected non-premiership managers in the game. What's he's acheived at Swansea in such a short space of time is amazing. We'll be sorry to see him go. We can't compete with Celtic, they have the potential for regular European football. I'm just hoping Huw Jenkins can offer him something big to stay but it doesn't look good, Roberto's wife is scottish and they're getting married this summer.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

And he has done is spending peanuts + he played in Scotland, still he'll have a job convincing them he is the right man for the job.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

His wife's Scottish, and he's getting married in the summer? Isn't that kind of naughty ;)

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

I don't think so. Many people consider Scottish Premier football to be on the level with English Championship (not saying I agree). With a good budget I think he'd impress.

---------- Post added at 13:37 ---------- Previous post was at 13:36 ----------

lol ok Nuggles you knew what I meant.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Certainly did, but it was funny. Kinda bigamy to admit it really :)

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

I actually think it would be a brave appointment and hope it works out as to many lower league managers have the paths to top jobs blocked by the same old tired, average managers. I stand by my comments that he'll have it all to do to convince both the fans and the players that he is the right man for the job though.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

taxi for Nugget:D

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

It's a tricky one, can you really afford to wait half a season for him to stop sulking and perform like last season, think I might let him go.

New Real Madrid president Florentino Perez believes Cristiano Ronaldo would be the ideal player for the Spanish giants and will not be put off by his hefty price tag.

I thought he said he only wanted to leave for a cub playing Champions League football, think like Robinho he thinks he's signing for that other team in Manchester

Aston Villa have confirmed that midfielder Gareth Barry is in talks with Manchester City

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

He has actually said a few times recently that he wants to stay, but then again he said the same at the end of last season as well :dozey:

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Hmm, speaking as a Villa fan, if Barry goes to City, it's obvious that he's gone for the money, and has little respect for Villa. Last year, he was saying that he wants Champions League football (which is fair enough), but City haven't qualified for Europe, whereas Villa have.

All in all, bad show from a former fan favourite...

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Its been going around the Spurs forums and the ITKs that Spurs have been in some talks with Villa over Barry. Few expect him to come to us, but apparently he and his family are made Spurs fans which may help us over City. We have a rigid wage structure so he won't get silly money from us. The announcement from Villa was a surprise but I think it might be to egg up our side of the negotiations?

We aren't short of decent CMs but he is quality. Him and Palacios in CM would be immense.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Funny I thought he said he didn't know and then spent the summer trying to engineer a move away and when it didn't happen he spent the next few months sulking. One thing is certain if some one wasn't egging Madrid there wouldn't be any headlines or uncertainty.

---------- Post added at 15:07 ---------- Previous post was at 15:04 ----------

I hate it when some one that kisses the badge and says he's one of you leaves, at least when it's for the Liverpool's and United's it's easier to accept but City, do me a favour, yet another mercenary, although perhaps he is using these talks to get Liverpool to show their hand.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

I hope that's the reasoning behind it. This time last year, most of the Villa fans hated him but, by performing as well as he has this season, he got the majority of them back on his side. If he leaves to a team who have performed worse than Villa, he's going to leave a nasty taste for quite a while...

---------- Post added at 16:13 ---------- Previous post was at 15:43 ----------

According to The Guardian, the deal for Barry could even go through tonight :shocked:

At 12 million quid, it's a good deal financially for Villa, but who on earth can we get to replace him? It definitely appears like he's gone for the money, so a lot of goodwill will be lost...

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

He's going to lose a lot of fans in general for doing this, not just Villa fans. He never seemed like someone who was all about money, but now it's clear he is. He's shown his lack of ambition and his greed for money in full here.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Just to play Devil's Advocate, but what if Man City convinced him that they will be in the top 4 within 2 years, and that he would be a core part of that team. He would be joining a club embarking on the start of a journey where he would be a major player.

Would that not be seen as an ambitious move? When you're earning 90k a week, does 130k (i.e an extra 40k) prove to be the principal motivator? I'd say he has more chance of playing Champions league with Man City than with Villa, and if City get the players they want, then he'd also be playing in a very good team. Also it's not like the other top 3 teams are linked with him this season.

I can be very cynical at times, but sometimes feel that there is more to a footballer than money.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

It is true Man City have a better Chance of Champions League football than Villa it has to be said....

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

This is from the other thread that got closed whilst i was replying to matt...


Manchester United's preparations for next season have been dealt an early blow with Owen Hargreaves, the England midfield player, unlikely to be back in action until January.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/spo...cle6409971.ece

I really like the guy, but maybe it's time to start looking for a new defensive midfielder...

---------- Post added at 17:27 ---------- Previous post was at 17:23 ----------

Really? By buying players like Bellamy? I don't see many big players wanting to join city unless they are after money and i think they will struggle to match Everton and Villa next season. For me Villa are one or two players away from really challenging for fourth place and if Everton can keep their players fit they also stand a great chance.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Maybe Gareth Barry has become disillusioned with Villa, their latter season form was little better than the relegated teams. 12 points from 39 doesn't make good reading. :shrug: Villa were looking good for a champions league spot at one point, maybe he thinks he's gone as far as he can with them, and the potential of Man City is more appealing.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Yes they got Bellamy, but they also showed they had the resources to go for Kaka. Granted Kaka didn't go, but I think Man City will get a few good signings over summer and have the potential to finish higher than Villa and Everton. Also Barry might be influenced by reports of Ashley Young leaving in the summer. Maybe he knows something we don't.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

I think that says more than anything else on this topic. I forsee big changes at City over the summer. IMO Hughes will be bombed out and whoever replaces him will bring in a load of world class players. I get the impression the wheels are already in motion.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Have not read all of this, but I am fed up that yet again Leeds are gonna be in league 1.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Confirmed now - http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...la/8079088.stm

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Great news :tu:

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Because Alonso will be staying now? :)

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have to agree with you , feel sorry for the Villa fans but a great signing for City , very hard worker on the pitch and will not expect the rest of the team to bow down to him .

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

I was thinking purely from a personal point of view meaning we won't be getting rid of Xabi Alonso who is far better IMO. But I'm all for citeh improving even though they'll probably turn into the Chelsea of the North eventually :D

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Spanish radio station Cadena Ser is reporting Kaka has signed for Real Madrid in a €65million (£56million) deal, although his spokesman has countered that while an approach has been made no agreement has yet been struck.

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,195...360176,00.html

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

I can't believe Barry went for £12m. What a bargain. He's going to be on some serious money now though, i'm sure.

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If it's true then I think that just about assures us that Ronnie stays.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

There do seem to be some great holding/defensive midfielders waiting to come to the EPL if you take a chance. Veloso and Cana are a couple being thrown about.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Lorik Cana would be perfect for Arsenal. We've been linked with him for a couple of years, but nothing has ever materialised.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Also means you won't be asking him to play on the left wing, with luck Silva will be playing there instead.

---------- Post added at 06:31 ---------- Previous post was at 06:31 ----------

Apparently they have £300 million to spend...

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

And Ronnie might love to play alongside Kaka.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Apparently Barry is on £100k a week now. I'm sure that will garner some goodwill when he returns to Villa Park.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Won't it just? Apparently, Villa had offered him 80k a week (which would have doubled his wages), but he's had his head turned.

I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't actually play at Villa Park...

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

That's why I don't think money is the principal motivator. When you're offered 80k a week to stay, I don't think an extra 20k on its own would cause you to move. According to the news reports on the radio this morning he will be one of many signings at Man City over the summer.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

But then they'll run the risk of having top players just sitting on the bench week-in and week-out. As has already been said, City already have / had a decent midfield, so at least one of them's going to missing out.

What sticks in the throat is the whole 'I want Champions League football' thing - I don't think anyone would have blamed him if he'd gone to Liverpool this year (assuming that they came back in for him), but he's gone to a club who haven't even got Europe next season. It's all well and good saying that City should push on next year, but there's no guarantee.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Interesting

In an open letter to Villa's fans published in the Birmingham Mail on Wednesday, Barry said: "I want the chance to explain my decision.

"I have a massive fear of going stale and falling into a comfort zone.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...la/8081102.stm

United could be busy this summer....

Real Madrid are set to launch a £30m bid to lure Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic to the Bernabeu

Argentine striker Carlos Tevez is to reject the chance of staying at Manchester United, despite the Premier League champions looking set to meet the £32m asking price.

Manchester City appear to be the favourites to land Tevez, with the 25-year-old's representative Kia Joorabchian claiming his client feels "humiliated" by United.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Are Real stupid? Do they think United are a selling club?

Are they stupid enough to think United will break up the best defensive partnership since Pallister and Bruce?!

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Are Milan a selling club? Sad fact is if a player wants to go there is very little a club can do to stop them going. I don't think there is anything in this story, time will tell though.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

I've got no idea about Milan but United aren't a selling club. Vidic to Real? No chance. Barbatov to Acccccccrinton Stanley? That's more like it.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Breaking news - Benitez is going to City! - http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...ty/8081077.stm

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Even the crazy money men at City had the sense in not going for Rafa, lol.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Chelsea are hijacking the Kaka deal with a £73 million bid and offering to pay him £10 million a year after tax.

https://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sp...cle6419132.ece

That is just obscene imo they need their heads testing

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

United get a new shirt sponsorship http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8081787.stm

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

A good result yesterday; France 0 - 1 Nigeria. Bear in mind France had a full strength side except for Henry, while Nigeria played virtually a B team.

http://www.g4goal.com/soccer-channel...-team-friendly

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=266290&cc=5739

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Barry's wages keep going up and up... Up to £130,000 now. It will probably be £1m/week by the start of the next season

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo....html?ITO=1490

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Perhaps there is more to this story...

AC Milan and Barcelona are lining up Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic in a £25m deal.

Some one's agent needs a good slapping down before this gets out of hand.

In other news we are signing a replacement for Lucas Neill

West Ham are favourites to sign Middlesbrough defender Matthew Bates. (Evening Gazette)

Great Master Bates is signing, thought we were after Illunga's mate from Tolouse Noobola or some thing :shrug:

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

We are looking at a bit of fanni apparently.... Rod Fanni you dirty blighters :D

http://goal.com/en/news/11/transfer-...back-rod-fanni

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Looks like he is going....

Manchester United will sell Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid if the Spanish giants stump up a stunning £75m.
(Full story: Daily Mirror)

If Real do not sign the Portugal international winger by the end of the month they will have to pay him £26m as a result of a promise made to him by the club's former president Ramon Calderon.
(Full story: Daily Star)

Real's vice-president Fernando Tapias appeared to confirm on Spanish radio that the club does indeed have such a penalty clause written into an alleged pre-contract agreement made between Calderon and Ronaldo's agent Jorge Mendes.
(Full story: The Independent)

Meanwhile, new Real Madrid president Florentino Perez said he believes Ronaldo has a £75m get-out clause in his United contract and said he is "working to bring Ronaldo to Real Madrid". Perez also all but confirmed that AC Milan's Brazilian superstar Kaka will join the club for £62m.
(Full story: The Sun)

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Why? Because Madrid are coming out with the same garbage they have been the past two years?

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

90% of all transfer gossip is garbage.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

4 different papers come out with the same details on the same day, you work it out, some one is telling them stuff and some one keeps on giving Madrid encouragement, I'd be shocked if he doesn't go

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Ronaldo, Kaka, a.n.other`s...

Looks like it could be the Galacticos 2nd coming at the Madrid taxpayers expense!

I`d be very surprised if Ferguson let Vidic go, would be hard to find a replacement. Please don`t say Wes Brown or Evans as they are no comparison.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Yeah it's Madrid that's telling them the stuff, as has been the case constantly for the past 2/3 years, why should we start believing them now?

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

If Madrid weren't being encouraged there wouldn't be any need for them to be leaking information, they'd be looking at other players. Ronaldo and his advisors are behind the whole thing and making monkeys out of everyone at United, it was obvious to any impartial observer last season and nothing has changed, Sir Alex knew it then which is why he had that little chat with him after the Euro's and put up with him sulking for the first few months of the season.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Its because florentino perez is back in the madrid presidents office and he feed the spanish football press ( especially Marca , who essentially are reals newspaper , ) a load of garbage to try to unsettle players

If he goes , he goes , we could always use the 80 million or so to buy a right back , a holding midfielder that hasnt got papier mache kneecaps ( which is a shame as hargreaves fit , is an excellent player ) and maybe a couple of others

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Oh Dear...

Kop meltdown

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...fa-misery.html

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

As featured in 'The S*n' - yeh right! :dozey:

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Unlike most here (where almost everyone seems to be a Man Yoo fan), I genuinely don't have any hatred of Liverpool. However it really does look like they are in trouble. They've got tens of millions of pounds of loans that expire in July. The people at the top are shrugging it off, saying they'll re-finance and everything will be OK, but people within the financial sector are disagreeing.

Rumour has it that that's the real reason Keane was sold back at a loss and the reason Barry went to Citeh.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

I agree, there are MAJOR financial problems, the fans are kicking off big time and want these American idiots out. If we are to have any chance at all in challenging for the prem etc, then we need to improve and not sell players such as Mascherano who plays such an integral role in the team! I have a feeling they will just refinance but thats not a long term solution, the sooner we get rid of these clowns in control the better IMO :rant:

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

I'm still just astounded that people can buy clubs without any money and the club assuming the debt for the payment (like with Liverpool and Man Utd) I'm sure in the fianancial world it makes sense, but just seems nutty to me.

Re-fianancing seems the easiest option but isn't that easy apparently. Noone's lending, certainly not for that amount. Wouldn't suprise me if another Arab Championship-Manager sugar-daddy comes in and pays Liverpool off.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

I am well aware of their dubious tactics however that doesn't detract from the fact that it'd take one simple phone call from the lads agent for all the speculation to stop

---------- Post added at 13:18 ---------- Previous post was at 13:16 ----------

I have said that for years, one of those Yanks has actually come out and said he isn't going to put any of his personal money into the 'project', project shows how much they know about soccer :rolleyes:

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Or the player himself saying he wants to stay...oh wait, he has done that....

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Who is he saying it to, Madrid because if he did it'd be over and done with just like that or do you think clubs waste their time courting players that don't want to join them? Besdies after this years Champions league final, just like last years he was asked if he was staying and again he said ''I don't know''.

---------- Post added at 07:11 ---------- Previous post was at 06:28 ----------

Do I not like this, could just be because the Mail hate us though.....

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...0m-buyout.html

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

As there's been a few recent posts concerning clubs' finances, you may find this recent article in the guardian of interest. The figures are a year old, but it gives you an idea of how much clubs are laying out in wages, compared to income...

blimey! :shocked:

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

From Albania vs Portugal this weekend:

http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/4165/temp1l.jpg

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Business as usual, time will tell, although I do feel quite positive about their attitude

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...td/8088876.stm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/simonaust...ver_means.html

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

I don't usually pass on gossip, but as we have a lot of Man Utd fans here.

There is a lot of differently sourced rumours going around that that Spurs are buying Ruud Van Nistelrooy.

Seems improbable, but Bent is almost certainly off and Harry did say we would be buying experienced, proven quality. which RVN fits. However there is concern over his fitness.

Still, we'll see. Seems more to this than the usual Eto'o/etc rumours.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

I seem to remember he said several times that he wanted to finish his career with PSV because they stuck by him when he was injured for a year, he can't have many years left to fulfill that promise...

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

I can never understand football, and l am not a Celtic fan, but they are a very big club, looking for a new manager, and they are always winning trophies, so why go after Mobray of WBA, they have been relegated, so l hope that Celtic know what they are doing.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

A moderate sized club in a small league (along with Rangers). They can't afford a truely great manager.

The main reason they are going for Mowbray is that, to a sizable chunk of the Celtic support, he is 'Celtic-minded'

Even though Strachan was one of their most successful managers in recent years the fans never really accepted him.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Tevez to Citeh, well according to this anyway......

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1...decides-oncity

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

I'm one of the majority of Celtic fans who don't buy into the Celtic minded requirement for the manager. I Like Mowbray because of the style of football he has his teams playing. Under Him Hibs played some great passing football and although WBA got relegated they still tried their best to the philosophy of playing football. From what I saw of WBA last year they were only one player away from being a mid table club.

The way Strachan sets his teams out to play is woeful. He seems to be respected as a coach but imho he's one of the most tactically inept managers I've seen.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

If you get Mowbray and he plays attractive attacking football but doesnt get into Europe and Celtic end up 2nd in the league again will you be happy or want a return to silverwear at all costs?

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

I want to be entertained. If the only way to win silverwear is to play we have endured over recent seasons then it'd be bye bye season ticket from me. I'm not so naive that I expect Celtic to play flair football all the time, especially when they're playing in Europe, but Strachan was setting his teams out to play the same way against St Mirren as against Man Utd. (No offence to any Paisley Buddies).

I want to see footballing progress under the new manager, if that means we have to take a step backwards to move forwards then so be it.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Hi DerekS, My wifes family comes from Glasgow and are strong Celtic fans, and l know something about football, and to me Celtic and dare l say Rangers are the 'big' clubs in Scotland and they make pots of money, But the can't get managers on the cheap, or is the way they work.

Surely, there is a brilliant manager up North that could please the club and THE FANS, as this is the most important thing, and l cannot see Scottish football surviving, if the two big ones moved down south, and now you have the Setanta problem, as l don't think Sky will help either.:)

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Seems like the jokers have been busy today

Newcastle owner Mike Ashley has had offers of £10, Oasis tickets and a Curly Wurly after inviting offers for the Tyneside outfit by e-mail. The Magpies have been given a £100m price tag.

and here is the biggest joke of them all

0937 BST: Real Madrid president Florentino Perez will switch his attentions to signing Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo after capturing Kaka. "Ronaldo is a great player who we would like to bring to the club but first we have to speak to Manchester United because the important thing is for us to maintain a good rapport with everyone," he told Sky Italia.

:rofl:

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

West Ham chief executive Scott Duxbury has revealed that the club are close to making three major signings

Bet they are free transfers or loans, still shouldn't grumble really...

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Apparently one is £10m for a striker called Jimenez. Although we're in for him as well allegedly.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

:shocked:

I wouldn't mind him back at United

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/foo...istelrooy.html

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

I would mind him back. I think that we play better when we do not have a "target" (lack of a better word) man as a striker.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

I broke that 2 days ago. Pfft, Telegraph are slow aren't they? :p:

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

He's past it anyway, he was when he left us and he's been injured for the majority of last season at Madrid. If i was a Spurs fan i'd be happy if he was going cheap but anything over two or three million would be a waste of money imo.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

He may be coming back off injury but he's hardly "past it"

In 08-09 he got 10 goals in 12 appearances. 4 goals in 6 in La Liga.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

the thing is we sold RvN as we didn't want to play with a target man and then we ended up getting Berba who we are trying to get to fill that role with no luck at all.

I was always a fan of him and considering the poor service he got at times his record at United is outstanding

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

£80million bid for Ronaldo accepted by United, bye bye Ron.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Link?

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Every sports website in the world ;)

Or here's the official line - link

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

There was nothing on the BBC or Sky :shrug:

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Nice little earner for United, could well reduce their debt unless they spend it...

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

it's on there now knew he would go there one day was just hoping for one season longer

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Ribery is being lined up, possibly Karem Benzema too.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

And think how much they'll save on electricity once he packs up his hair dryers and other beauty equipment.

Excellent player, if a little unsteady on his feet, but no-one is worth even remotely what Real are paying.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Who needs them when we have the perfect replacement already in Nani :shocked: :disturbd:

That was a joke, i expect someone will come in, Ribery should be a good replacement. Maybe this will mean Tevez will stay as well?

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Could see a few sports shops go bust with all their Ronaldo Man U shirts in stock.:erm: