ARSENAL
In: Carlos Vela (recalled from loan spell, work permit approved), Aaron Ramsey (£5m from Cardiff City), Samir Nasri (undisclosed).
Out: Mathieu Flamini (AC Milan, free), Jens Lehmann (Stuttgart, free), Kerrea Gilbert (season-loan loan to Leicester City).
Rumoured Targets: Alberto Aquilani (Roma), Miguel Veloso (Sporting Lisbon), Michael Johnson (Manchester City), Roque Santa Cruz (Blackburn Rovers), Mario Gomez (Stuttgart), Raul Albiol (Valencia), Mahamadou Dabo and Blaise Matuidi (both St Etienne), Wayne Hennessey (Wolves), Yaya Toure (Barcelona), Piotr Trochowski (Hamburg), Cristian Zapata (Udinese), Shay Given (Newcastle), Yoan Gouffran (Caen), Artur Boruc (Celtic), Torsten Frings (Werder Bremen), Bafetimbo Gomis (St Etienne), Daniel Parejo (Real Madrid), Arda Turan (Galatasaray), Andrei Arshavin (Zenit St Petersburg), Obafemi Martins (Newcastle), Diogo Luis Santo (Portuguesa), David Silva (Valencia), Amaury Bischoff (Werder Bremen), Ruben de la Red (Real Madrid), Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Ajax), Radamel Falcao (River Plate), Gareth Barry (Aston Villa).
ASTON VILLA
In: Curtis Davies (£8m from West Brom), Steve Sidwell (£4.5million from Chelsea), Brad Guzan (undisclosed from Chivas USA).
Out: Luke Moore (£3.5m to West Brom), Thomas Sorensen (released), Olof Mellberg (free to Juventus), Patrick Berger (free to Sparta Prague).
Rumoured Targets: Habib Habibou (Charleroi), Scott Carson (Liverpool), Paul Robinson (Tottenham), David Bentley (Blackburn), Justin Hoyte (Arsenal), Nicky Shorey (Reading), Shaun-Wright Phillips (Chelsea), Stephen Carr (free agent), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham), Kevin Doyle (Reading), Joe Mattock and Richard Stearman (both Leicester City), Giourkas Seitaridis (Atletico Madrid), Joe Hart (Manchester City), James Milner (Newcastle), Michael Dawson (Totenham), Brad Friedel (Blackburn), Nelson (Benfica), Jimmy Bullard (Fulham), Pascal Chimbonda (Tottenham), Wayne Hennessey(Wolves), Shaun Scannell (Crystal Palace), Joao Pereira (Sporting Braga), Frank Simek (Sheffield Wednesday), Darren Bent (Tottenham), Carlos Cuellar (Rangers), Rob Green (West Ham), Miguel (Valencia), Anton Ferdinand (West Ham), Andy Johnson (Everton), Frazier Campbell (Manchester United), Steed Malbranque (Tottenham), Lee Naylor (Celtic), Ruben de la Red (Real Madrid), Steve Finnan (Liverpool), Ben Foster (ManYoo), Miguel (Valencia).
BLACKBURN ROVERS
In: Paul Ince (from MK Dons).
Out: Mark Hughes (mutual consent, Manchester City), Peter Enckelman (released), Stephane Henchoz (released), Bruno Berner (released).
Rumoured Targets: Robbie Fowler (Cardiff), Hossam Ghaly (Spurs), Michael Tonge (Sheffield United), Ryan Giggs (ManYoo), Damien Duff (Newcastle), Jermaine Pennant (Liverpool), Albert Riera, Marc Torrejon and Ferran Corominas (all Espanyol), Anthony Annan (IK Start), Michael Kightley (Wolves), Seyi George Olofinjana (Wolves), Carlo Cudicini (Chelsea), Fredrik Stoor (Rosenborg BK), Bradley Orr (Bristol City), Steve Davis (Fulham), James McFadden (Birmingham), Sebastian Larsson (Birmingham), Segundo Castillo (Red Star Belgrade).
BOLTON WANDERERS
In: Fabrice Muamba (£5m from Birmingham), Johan Elmander (£11m from Toulouse)
Out: Daniel Braaten (Toulouse), Ivan Campo, Stelios, Andranik (all released).
Rumoured Targets: Simon Vukcevic (Sporting Lisbon), Sebastian Larsson (Birmingham), Paul Robinson (Tottenham), Miguel Veloso (Sporting Lisbon), Anthony Annan (IK Start), Emile Mpenza (Manchester City), Nathan Tyson (Nottingham Forest), Michael Dawson (Totenham), Michael Tonge (Sheffield United), Louis Saha (ManYoo), James Harper (Reading), Riki (Deportivo La Coruña), Milan Baros (Lyon), Joey Barton (Newcastle), Antonio Hidalgo (Malaga).
CHELSEA
In: Jose Bosingwa (£16.2m from FC Porto), Deco (£7m from Barcelona), Luiz Felipe Scolari.
Out: Avram Grant (sacked), Ben Sahar (six-month loan to Portsmouth), Jimmy Smith (six-month loan to Sheffield Wednesday), Hernan Crespo (released), Ryan Bertrand (six-month loan to Norwich), Steve Sidwell, £5million to Aston Villa).
Rumoured Targets: David Villa (Valencia), Dimi Berbatov (Tottenham), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich), Diego (Werder Bremen), Micah Richards (Manchester City), David Bentley (Blackburn), Mario Gomez (Stuttgart), Roque Santa Cruz (Blackburn), Samuel Eto'o (Barcelona), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Inter Milan), Fernando Torres (Liverpool), Sergio Aguero (Athletico Madrid), Kaka (AC Milan), Andrea Pirlo (AC Milan), Robinho (Real Madrid), Ricardo Quaresma (Porto), Ronaldinho (Barcelona), Andrei Arshavin (Zenit St Petersburg), Rafael van der Vaart (Hamburg), Yuri Zhirkov (CSKA Moscow), Bastien Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich), Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal).
EVERTON
In:
Out: Lee Carsley (free to Birmingham), Darren Dennehy (free to Cardiff), Thomas Gravesen, Stefan Wessels (all released).
Rumoured Targets: Dudu (CSKA Moscow), Wayne Hennessey (Wolves), Alou Diarra (Bordeaux), Joaquin (Valencia), Edu (Valencia), Stephen Carr (free agent), Michael Johnson (Manchester City), Michael Bradley (Heerenveen), Joe Lewis (Peterborough), Stephen Hunt (Reading), Christian Ribeiro (Bristol City), Joao Moutinho (Sporting Lisbon), Kevin Thomson (Rangers), Riki (Deportivo La Coruña), Darren Bent (Tottenham), Dejan Stankovic (Inter Milan), Orlando Engelaar (FC Twente), Joe Mattock (Leicester City), Marek Suchy (Slavia Prague), Pablo Aimar (Real Zaragoza), Sebastien Bassong (FC Metz), David Bentley (Blackburn), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham), Darren Fletcher (ManYoo), Diego Milito (Real Zaragoza), Vladimir Stojkovic (Sporting Lisbon), Mehmet Topal (Galatasaray).
FULHAM
In: Mark Schwarzer (free from Middlesbrough), David Stockdale (undiclosed fee from Darlington), Zoltan Gera (free from West Brom), Andranik (free from Bolton).
Out:
Rumoured Targets: Bernard Mendy (PSG), Marlon Harewood (Aston Villa), Paul Scharner (Wigan), Daniel Cousin (Rangers), Zheng Zi (Charlton), Pascal Chimbonda (Tottenham), James Harper (Reading), Luke Young (Middlesbrough), Dave Kitson (Reading), Josip Simunic (Hertha Berlin), Vaclav Sverkos (Banik Ostrava), Andy Johnson (Everton), Fredrik Stoor (Rosenberg), Bobby Zamora and John Pantsil (West Ham).
HULL CITY
In: Craig Fagan (£750,000 from Derby), Geovanni (free from Manchester City), Bernard Mendy (free from PSG).
Out:Jay-Jay Okocha, David Livermore (free to Brighton).
Rumoured Targets: Frazier Campbell (Manchester United), Ivan Campo (free agent), Ryan Taylor (Wigan), David Nugent (Portsmouth), Antti Niemi (Fulham), Magnus Troest (FC Midtjylland), Nicky Hunt (Bolton), Jason Koumas (Wigan), Marcus Bent (Charlton), Peter Halmosi (Plymouth), Anthony Gardner (Tottenham), Colin Kazim-Richards (Fenerbahce), Kris Boyd (Rangers), Abdoulaye Meite (Bolton), Georgios Samaras (Manchester City), George Boateng (Middlesbrough), Roy Makaay (Feyenoord), Martin Rowlands (QPR), Seyi Olofinjana (Wolves), Emile Mpenza (free agent), Scott Carson (Liverpool), Sean Davis (Fulham), Ricardo Rocha (Tottenham).
LIVERPOOL
In: Philipp Degen (free from Borussia Dortmund), Andrea Dossena (undisc. from Udinese), Diego Cavalieri (undisc. from Palmeiras).
Out: Harry Kewell (free to Galatasaray), John-Arne Riise (£4m to Roma), Antony La Tallec (free to Le Mans), Paul Anderson (loan to Nottingham Forest), Peter Crouch (£11m to Portsmouth), Danny Guthrie (£2.5m to Newcastle).
Rumoured Targets: Gareth Barry (Aston Villa), Michael Johnson (Manchester City), Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough), Florent Malouda (Chelsea), David Bentley (Blackburn), Albert Riera (Espanyol), David Villa (Valencia), Ulrich Ramé (Bordeaux), Liam Fontaine (Bristol City), Mancini (Roma), James Milner (Newcastle), Sulley Muntari (Portsmouth), Dejan Stankovic (Inter Milan), David Silva (Valencia), Rafael van der Vaart (Hamburg), Robbie Keane (Tottenham), Antti Niemi (Fulham), Borja Valero (Mallorca).
MANCHESTER CITY
In:Mark Hughes, Jo (£19m from CSKA Moscow).
Out: Sven Goran Eriksson (sacked), Andreas Isaksson (PSV Eindhoven), Sun Jihai (Sheffield United, free), Geovanni (free to Hull City), Paul Dickov and Emile Mpenza (released).
Rumoured Targets: Andrei Arshavin (Zenit St Petersburg), Edu (Valencia), Ronaldinho (Barcelona), Fabricio Coloccini (Deportivo La Coruna), David Bentley (Blackburn), Roque Santa Cruz (Blackburn), Christopher Samba (Blackburn), Anthony Annan (IK Start), Lukas Podolski (Bayern Munich), Dejan Stankovic (Inter Milan), Pablo Zabaleta (Espanyol), Yossi Benayoun (Liverpool), Andy Johnson (Everton), Diego Milito (Real Zaragoza), Colin Kazim-Kazim (Fenerbahce), Brad Friedel (Blackburn), Tal Ben Haim (Chelsea).
MANCHESTER UNITED
In: Fabio and Rafael da Silva (Fluminese).
Out: Gerard Pique (Barcelona).
Rumoured Targets: Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Ajax), Dimi Berbatov (Tottenham), Mario Gomez (Stuttgart), Micah Richards (Manchester City), Michael Owen (Newcastle), Miguel Veloso (Sporting Lisbon), Luis Fabiano and Dani Alves (both Sevilla), Antonio Valencia and Wilson Palacios (both Wigan), Karim Benzema (Lyon), Roque Santa Cruz (Blackburn), Wesley Sneijder (Real Madrid), Rafael van der Vaart (Hamburg), Roman Pavlyuchenko (Spartak Moscow), Falcao (River Plate).
MIDDLESBROUGH
In: Marvin Emnes (£3.2m from Sparta Rotterdam), Didier Digard (£4million from PSG).
Out: Mark Schwarzer (free to Fulham), Fabio Rochemback, Gaizka Mendieta and Dong Gook Lee (released), Jason Kennedy (free to Darlington).
Rumoured Targets: Simon Vukcevic (Sporting Lisbon), James Beattie (Sheffield United), Shola Ameobi (Newcastle), Alan Smith (Newcastle), James Milner (Newcastle), Paul Robinson (Tottenham), Stephen Quinn (Sheffield United), Wayne Hennessey (Wolves), Anthony Annan (IK Start), Sean Davis (Portsmouth), Nicky Maynard (Crewe), Michael Kightly (Wolves), Michael Bradley (Heerenveen), Jimmy Bullard (Fulham), Marvin Elliot (Bristol City), James Harper (Reading), Andy Johnson (Everton), Leroy Lita (Reading), Scott Carson (Liverpool).
NEWCASTLE UNITED
In:Jonas Gutierrez (Real Mallorca), Danny Guthrie (£2.5m from Liverpool).
Out: Peter Ramage (Released, QPR), Stephen Carr (released), David Rozehnal (£2.9m to Lazio), Joey Barton (jailed).
Rumoured Targets: Achille Emana (Toulouse), Dean Ashton (West Ham), Shaun-Wright Phillips (Chelsea), Amara Diane (Paris St Germain), Nicky Shorey (Reading), Carlos Cuellar (Rangers), Wayne Hennessey (Wolves), Fabricio Coloccini (Deportivo), Bafetimbi Gomis (St Etienne), Pablo Aimar (Real Zaragoza), Michael Dawson (Totenham), Arda Turan (Galatasaray), Roland Juhász (Anderlecht), Nikola Zigic (Valencia), Eidur Gudjohnsen (Barcelona), Aiden McGeady (Celtic), Bafetimbi Gomis (St Etienne), Sebastian Larsson (Birmingham), Allan McGregor (Rangers), Oliver Kapo (Birmingham), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham), Orlando Engelaar (FC Twente), Jonny Evans (ManYoo), Gokhan Inler (Udinese), Leroy Lita (Reading), Per Ciljan Skjelbred (Rosenberg), Anton Ferdinand (West Ham).
PORTSMOUTH
In: Glen Little (Reading, free transfer), Ben Sahar (six-month loan from Chelsea), Peter Crouch (£11m from Liverpool).
Out:
Rumoured Targets: Damien Duff (Newcastle), Harry Kewell (Liverpool), James McFadden (Birmingham), Sidney Govou (Lyon), Nadir Belhadj (Lens), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Chelsea), Emile Heskey (Wigan), Richard Dunne (Manchester City), Wayne Bridge (Chelsea), Marcelo Mattos (Panathinaikos), Patrick Vieira (Inter Milan), Lee Naylor (Celtic), Charles Itandje (Liverpool), Djibril Cisse (Marseille), Eidur Gudjohnsen (Barcelona), Nolberto Solano (free agent), Younes Kaboul (Tottenham), Mauro Zarate (Al Sadd), Yossi Benayoun (Liverpool), Nicky Shorey (Reading), Morgan Schneiderlin (Strasbourg), Leroy Lita (Reading), Steven Fletcher Hibs), Pablo Aimar (Real Zaragoza).
STOKE CITY
In:
Out: Dominic Matteo, Russell Hoult, Marlon Broomes and Adam Garrett (all released).
Rumoured Targets: David Nugent (Portsmouth), Marlon Harewood (Aston Villa), Ibrahima Sonko (Reading), Martin Fulop (Sunderland), Shola Ameobi (Newcastle), Abdeslam Ouaddou (Valenciennes), Patrik Berger and Stelios (both free agents), Lee McCulloch (Rangers), Anthony Gardner (Tottenham), Magnus Troest (FC Midtjylland), Jon Walters (Ipswich), Maik Taylor (Birmingham), Rudolph Austin (Portmore United), Bouchaib El-Moubarki (Grenoble), Thomas Gravesen (Celtic), Peter Lovenkrands (Schalke 04), Rob Hulse (Sheffield United), Scott Carson (Liverpool), David Nugent (Portsmouth), Dave Kitson (Reading).
SUNDERLAND
In:
Out: Greg Halford (season-long loan to Sheffield United), Andy Cole (free to Nott'm Forest), Ian Harte, Stanislav Varga and Stephen Wright (all released).
Rumoured Targets: Stephen Ireland (Manchester City), Michael Tonge (Sheffield United), James McFadden (Birmingham), Jonny Evans (ManYoo), Aiden McGeady (Celtic), Stephen Hunt (Reading), Shaun Maloney (Aston Villa), Damien Duff (Newcastle), Paul Scharner (Wigan), Stephen Quinn (Sheffield United), Darren Bent (Tottenham), Carlton Cole (West Ham), Peter Luccin (Real Zaragoza), Andy Johnson (Everton), James Beattie (Sheffield United), Leroy Lita (Reading), George Boateng (Middlesbrough), George McCartney (West Ham).
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
In: Luka Modric (£16m from Croatia Zagreb, subject to work permit), Giovani Dos Santos (initial £4.7m from Barcelona), John Bostock (initial £700,000 from Crystal Palace).
Out: Radek Cerny (Released, QPR), Tommy Forecast (undisclosed to Southampton).
Rumoured Targets: Gregory Coupet (Lyon), Anton Ferdinand (West Ham), Diego Milito (Real Zaragoza), Luis Fabiano (Sevilla), Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough), Lassana Diarra (Portsmouth), Thierry Henry (Barcelona), Joe Hart (Manchester City), Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea), Samuel Eto'o (Barcelona), Carlos Kameni (Espanyol), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Chelsea), Heurelho Gomes (PSV), Sulley Muntari (Portsmouth), Jean Makoun (Lille), Carlos Cuellar (Rangers), Diego Forlan (Atletico Madrid), Diego Capel (Sevilla), Dean Ashton (West Ham), Hugo Lloris (Nice), Tarik Elyounoussi (Fredrikstad), Damien Duff (Newcastle), David Bentley (Blackburn), Oscar Cardozo (Benfica), Fabricio Coloccini (Deportivo La Coruna), Alan McGregor (Rangers), Sergio Garcia (Real Zaragoza), Emiliano Viviano (Brescia), Artur Boruc (Celtic), Valon Behrami (Lazio), Ben Foster (ManYoo), Lukas Podolski (Bayern Munich), Rob Green (West Ham), Mario Santana (Fiorentina), Ruud van Nistelrooy (Real Madrid), Yossi Benayoun (Liverpool), Adriano (Sevilla), Roman Pavlyuchenko (Spartak Moscow), Ruben de la Red (Real Madrid).
WEST BROM
In: Luke Moore (£3m from Aston Villa), Do-heon Kim (£550,000 from Seongnam Ilhwa Shunma), Roman Bednar (£2.5m from Hearts), Gianni Zuiverloon (£2.3m from Heerenveen), Graham Dorrans (£100,000 from Livingston).
Out: Zoltan Gera (free to Fulham), Martin Albrechtsen (free to Derby), Curtis Davies (£8m to Aston Villa), Kevin Phillips (free to Birmingham).
Rumoured Targets: Ibrahima Sonko (Reading), Abdeslam Ouaddou (Valenciennes), Alex Song (Arsenal), Scott Carson (Liverpool), Jesper Christiansen (Copenhagen), Adel Taarabt (Tottenham), Kevin Thomson (Rangers), Shola Ameobi (Newcastle), Milan Baros (Lyon), Abdoulaye Meite (Bolton), Marcus Bent (Charlton), Marek Cech (Porto).
WEST HAM
In:Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson (free from HK Kopavogur).
Out: Nolberto Solano (released).
Rumoured Targets: Andrew Johnson (Everton), Steven Taylor (Newcastle), Louis Saha (ManYoo), Davide Lanzafame (Juventus), El-Hadji Diouf (Bolton), Nicky Shorey (Reading), Mark Bresciano (Palermo), Stephen Carr (free agent), Eidur Gudjohnsen (Barcelona), Edison Cavani (Palermo), James Harper (Reading), Fabricio Coloccini (Deportivo), Raúl Bobadilla (Grasshoppers Zurich), Kevin Doyle (Reading), Josip Tadic (Dinamo Zagreb), Paul Robinson (Spurs), Mikael Silvestre (ManYoo), Valon Behrami (Lazio).
WIGAN
In: Daniel De Ridder (free from Birmingham).
Out: Josip Skoko and Salomon Olembe (both released), Julius Aghahowa (Kayserispor)
Rumoured Targets: Hassan Yebda (Le Mans), Sebastian Larsson (Birmingham), Sokratis Papastathopoulos (AEK Athens), Olivier Kapo (Birmingham), Charles N'Zogbia (Newcastle), Amr Zaki (Zamalek), Maynor Figueroa (Olimpia), Hendry Thomas (Olimpia), Carlo Costly (GKS Beùchatów), Djibril Cisse (Marseille), John Mensah (Rennes), Ivan Klasnic (Werder Bremen), Andrew Johnson (Everton), Salvador Cabanas (Club América), Fredrik Stoor (Rosenborg BK)., Dickson Etuhu (Sunderland), Lee Cattermole (Middlesbrough).
Sunday 13 July 2008
Friday 4 July 2008
Destination Doha 2011 - Singapore are screwed but my dream has come true!!!!
Destination Doha 2011: Singapore drawn to meet Jordan, Thailand and Iran
DOHA, 3 July 2008: Singapore have been drawn to meet Jordan, Thailand and three-time winners Iran in Group E of the Final Qualification Round for the AFC Asian Cup 2011™ in Doha.
The draw for the 20 teams took place this afternoon in the Qatari capital which sees them placed in five groups of four.
The top two teams from each group will progress to the finals in 2011 joining hosts Qatar as well as the top three finishers in last year’s AFC Asian Cup Finals – Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Korea Republic. Two other slots will be reserved for the champions of the 2008 and 2010 AFC Challenge Cups.
AFC will be announcing the fixtures of the final qualification round shortly.
AFC Asian Cup 2011™ draw results:
Group A
A1 – Japan
A2 – Bahrain
A3 - Hong Kong
A4 – Yemen
Group B
B1 - Australia
B2 - Indonesia
B3 - Oman
B4 - Kuwait
Group C
C1 - Uzbekistan
C2 - UAE
C3 - Malaysia
C4 - India
Group D
D1 – Vietnam
D2 – China
D3 – Syria
D4 – Lebanon
Group E
E1 - Iran
E2 - Thailand
E3 - Jordan
E4 - SINGAPORE
DOHA, 3 July 2008: Singapore have been drawn to meet Jordan, Thailand and three-time winners Iran in Group E of the Final Qualification Round for the AFC Asian Cup 2011™ in Doha.
The draw for the 20 teams took place this afternoon in the Qatari capital which sees them placed in five groups of four.
The top two teams from each group will progress to the finals in 2011 joining hosts Qatar as well as the top three finishers in last year’s AFC Asian Cup Finals – Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Korea Republic. Two other slots will be reserved for the champions of the 2008 and 2010 AFC Challenge Cups.
AFC will be announcing the fixtures of the final qualification round shortly.
AFC Asian Cup 2011™ draw results:
Group A
A1 – Japan
A2 – Bahrain
A3 - Hong Kong
A4 – Yemen
Group B
B1 - Australia
B2 - Indonesia
B3 - Oman
B4 - Kuwait
Group C
C1 - Uzbekistan
C2 - UAE
C3 - Malaysia
C4 - India
Group D
D1 – Vietnam
D2 – China
D3 – Syria
D4 – Lebanon
Group E
E1 - Iran
E2 - Thailand
E3 - Jordan
E4 - SINGAPORE
Thursday 3 July 2008
Man City's new striker - Jo
Full name: João Alves de Assis Silva
Date of birth: March 20, 1987 (age 21)
Place of birth: São Paulo, Brazil
Height: 1.89 m
Playing position: Striker
Club information
Youth clubs
2000–2003 Corinthians
Senior clubs
Years Club App (Gls)*
2003–2005 Corinthians 81 (13)
2005–2008 CSKA Moscow 53 (30)
2008– Manchester City
National team
2007– Brazil 1 0(0)
Goal.com : Summer Guide to the Premiership Clubs (Blackburn & Bolton)
Blackburn Rovers
The main talking point at Ewood Park this summer is the appointment of Paul Ince as manager. The former midfielder and one-time England captain has excelled in management at both Macclesfield and MK Dons, and now gets the chance he craved - to test himself at the highest level in England.
His first task - which he has set as his top priority - is to persuade his two best players, David Bentley and Roque Santa Cruz, to throw their weight behind him and Rovers as he attempts to lead them beyond the point that his old Manchester United team-mate, Mark Hughes, took them to. Stephen Warnock has already committed himself to the club following Ince's appointment.
Welshman Hughes will be a tough act to follow, but Ince looks up to the task. He's been concentrating on getting his back-room staff in place thus far, but will soon be turning his attention to the Rovers squad - familiarising himself with its strengths and weaknesses and deciding where it needs to be bolstered. He's been linked with Carlo Cudicini and even jailed Joey Barton, but at this stage it's just press talk.
Bolton Wanderers
A year ago, in the wake of Sam Allardyce's ill-fated departure from The Reebok to Newcastle, Bolton chairman Phil Gartside was waxing lyrical about how Sammy Lee would eclipse Big Sam's achievements at the club. Maybe Little Sam would have done, eventually; but he got off to such a woeful start that no-one, Gartside included, was prepared to wait and see. Out he went and in came Gary Megson, who had not yet got the seat warm at Leicester. The Foxes ended the season relegated to League One, but Bolton defied gravity to escape the drop with a point to spare.
Now Megson can shift the emphasis from damage limitation to development, and he has shown he means business already this summer by bringing in midfielder Frabrice Muamba from Birmingham for £5million, then breaking the club's transfer record with the £10million signing of Sweden international Johan Elmander. The striker, who has apparently been promised a regular start in the first team, is seen as the successor to Nicolas Anelka, who was sold to Chelsea last January.
The Trotters sorely missed Anelka's goals in the second half of the campaign, so Elmander's mission is clear. The club have a hit-list of other transfer targets including Simon Vukcevic and Milan Baros, and seem willing to spend big. Megson and the board will want to ensure Bolton improve on last year's showing - which shouldn't be too difficult.
From Football365.com
Budget: Unlikely to exceed even £15m.
What's Being Said: "I have promised the players as soon as we definitely know what's happening to us, we'll look at what's going to happen in the future" - Gary Megson.
There will be comings and goings at the Reebok this summer. Unfortunately for the club's supporters, the goings are likely to be more noticeable. Ivan Campo has already gone, El-Hadji Diouf has made his intention to depart public and the out-of-contract Jussi Jaaskelainen and Ricardo Gardner may follow. In summary, any newcomers will be replacements rather than additions.
Gary Megson has spent more of his managerial career outside of the Premier League than in it, so, given the tendency of managers to buy from the market they know best, it's logical to assume that his recruits will be bought from below. Nor would it be a surprise if he settles on a half-way house of picking from the carcass of the Championship-bound Birmingham and Reading. Sebastian Larsson, in particular, is a player who proved he is capable of performing in the top tier and would be a useful resource at the Reebok.
The unfortunate reality of Bolton's situation is that they are one of the least attractive sides in the Premier League and arguably the least enticing destination. Unlike Wigan, for whom even Steve Bruce compares favourably alongside Megson, they will not even be able to tempt prospective signings with the carrot of bumper wages.
Staying with that gloomy prognosis, it is noticeable that, mindful of the budgets available elsewhere, the bookies make Bolton the favourites to be relegated from the Premier League next season along with the latest batch of Championship trespassers. It's a grim way to start what is likely to be an equally grim summer at the Reebok.
The main talking point at Ewood Park this summer is the appointment of Paul Ince as manager. The former midfielder and one-time England captain has excelled in management at both Macclesfield and MK Dons, and now gets the chance he craved - to test himself at the highest level in England.
His first task - which he has set as his top priority - is to persuade his two best players, David Bentley and Roque Santa Cruz, to throw their weight behind him and Rovers as he attempts to lead them beyond the point that his old Manchester United team-mate, Mark Hughes, took them to. Stephen Warnock has already committed himself to the club following Ince's appointment.
Welshman Hughes will be a tough act to follow, but Ince looks up to the task. He's been concentrating on getting his back-room staff in place thus far, but will soon be turning his attention to the Rovers squad - familiarising himself with its strengths and weaknesses and deciding where it needs to be bolstered. He's been linked with Carlo Cudicini and even jailed Joey Barton, but at this stage it's just press talk.
Bolton Wanderers
A year ago, in the wake of Sam Allardyce's ill-fated departure from The Reebok to Newcastle, Bolton chairman Phil Gartside was waxing lyrical about how Sammy Lee would eclipse Big Sam's achievements at the club. Maybe Little Sam would have done, eventually; but he got off to such a woeful start that no-one, Gartside included, was prepared to wait and see. Out he went and in came Gary Megson, who had not yet got the seat warm at Leicester. The Foxes ended the season relegated to League One, but Bolton defied gravity to escape the drop with a point to spare.
Now Megson can shift the emphasis from damage limitation to development, and he has shown he means business already this summer by bringing in midfielder Frabrice Muamba from Birmingham for £5million, then breaking the club's transfer record with the £10million signing of Sweden international Johan Elmander. The striker, who has apparently been promised a regular start in the first team, is seen as the successor to Nicolas Anelka, who was sold to Chelsea last January.
The Trotters sorely missed Anelka's goals in the second half of the campaign, so Elmander's mission is clear. The club have a hit-list of other transfer targets including Simon Vukcevic and Milan Baros, and seem willing to spend big. Megson and the board will want to ensure Bolton improve on last year's showing - which shouldn't be too difficult.
From Football365.com
Budget: Unlikely to exceed even £15m.
What's Being Said: "I have promised the players as soon as we definitely know what's happening to us, we'll look at what's going to happen in the future" - Gary Megson.
There will be comings and goings at the Reebok this summer. Unfortunately for the club's supporters, the goings are likely to be more noticeable. Ivan Campo has already gone, El-Hadji Diouf has made his intention to depart public and the out-of-contract Jussi Jaaskelainen and Ricardo Gardner may follow. In summary, any newcomers will be replacements rather than additions.
Gary Megson has spent more of his managerial career outside of the Premier League than in it, so, given the tendency of managers to buy from the market they know best, it's logical to assume that his recruits will be bought from below. Nor would it be a surprise if he settles on a half-way house of picking from the carcass of the Championship-bound Birmingham and Reading. Sebastian Larsson, in particular, is a player who proved he is capable of performing in the top tier and would be a useful resource at the Reebok.
The unfortunate reality of Bolton's situation is that they are one of the least attractive sides in the Premier League and arguably the least enticing destination. Unlike Wigan, for whom even Steve Bruce compares favourably alongside Megson, they will not even be able to tempt prospective signings with the carrot of bumper wages.
Staying with that gloomy prognosis, it is noticeable that, mindful of the budgets available elsewhere, the bookies make Bolton the favourites to be relegated from the Premier League next season along with the latest batch of Championship trespassers. It's a grim way to start what is likely to be an equally grim summer at the Reebok.
Wednesday 2 July 2008
Newcastle new signing - Jonas 'Spiderman' Gutierrez
Another interesting character to grace the fields of England.
El Nino Fernando Torres
He did against Germany at 24 and in this video he did it agst Milan at the age of 12.
Goal.com : Summer Guide to the Premiership Clubs (Arsenal & Aston Villa)
Arsenal 
The Gunners' summer has so far been dominated by the Adebayor saga, with the Togolese striker's recent comments ambiguous at best, duplicitous at worst. Arsenal fans are losing patience with and respect for a player who has so far had one good season and seems to assume it has given him inordinate bargaining power. If he's going to go, it's better that he goes quickly, though manager Arsene Wenger - criticised for allowing Mathieu Flamini to leave for Milan - seems calmly determined that last season's top scorer will still be at the Emirates for the new campaign. Meanwhile Alexander Hleb's future at the club also remains up in the air.
On the positive side, highly-prized full-back Gael Clichy has signed a long-term contract extension, and the brightest jewel in the Gunners' crown, Cesc Fabregas, has not only tasted well-deserved glory with Spain this summer but also made it abundantly clear that he's likely to be at Arsenal for at least as long as Wenger. The exciting Welsh teenager, Aaron Ramsey, was snapped up from under the noses of Manchester United, while France winger Samir Nasri is on the verge of completing a move to North London and is seen as a replacement for Hleb should the Belarussian leave. Amaury Bischoff also claims to be about to sign for the club after rejecting Werder Bremen's offer of a contract extension.
Robin van Persie showed at Euro 2008 that he is close to full fitness and match sharpness at last, while Eduardo is making remarkably rapid progress from his double leg fracture. Also up front, young Mexican starlet Carlos Vela will be in the squad for the first time after attaining eligibility while gaining useful experience in La Liga. Big things are expected of Theo Walcott next season, and youngsters like Armand Traore, Henri Lansbury, Fran Merida, Kieran Gibbs, Nacer Baracite, Mark Randall and Jack Wilshere could make an impact.
However, the big question-mark is over the holding midfield role, now that Flamini has left. Is Gilberto Silva up for the task still? Will Denilson or Alex Song be able to step up to the plate? Or - as most Arsenal fans would like - will Wenger sign a top class player in that position? Certainly it would be surprising - and distinctly worrying for their supporters - if the Gunners were not in the market as buyers for two or three more players over the next six weeks.
Aston Villa
Villa's close season has been overshadowed by the issue of captain Gareth Barry's future. Will he still be there for the start of the new season? At the moment it is looking unlikely - he has made it clear he wants to join his pal Steven Gerrard at Liverpool so he can include Champions League involvement among his life experiences. Barry has crossed a line this week by lashing out at Villa - specifically manager Martin O'Neill, accusing his boss of indifference to the midfielder's "predicament." With endearing arrogance, Barry is feeling neglected because O'Neill had the temerity to concentrate on his TV commitments to the BBC during Euro 2008.
For their part Villa have contradicted Barry by claiming they have gone out of their way to persuade the player to stay with them, though O'Neill won't stand in his way. Barry has been there 10 years and may be getting itchy feet anyway. It's looking more likely now that he'll be a Red when the new season starts, but whether he stays or goes, Villa need to bring in quality players to boost the numbers in what is currently one of the Premier League's smallest squads.
O'Neill has had chance to observe the Euro 2008 talent at close quarters, and Villa owner Randy Lerner is said to be willing to put his hands in his pockets for team strengthening, so expect to see O'Neill in the market as a buyer soon. With last season's loanee Scott Carson back at Liverpool, he needs a goalkeeper, and Tottenham's Paul Robinson is being strongly linked. That's a deal that could suit all three parties.
Villa are also in pole position to bring in Steve Sidwell, should the midfielder conclude that his opportunities will remain strictly limited at Chelsea. Olof Mellberg's departure for Juventus creates a gap that needs to be plugged, but the good news for Villa is that England internationals Ashley Young and Gabriel Agbonlahor are committed to the club.
The Gunners' summer has so far been dominated by the Adebayor saga, with the Togolese striker's recent comments ambiguous at best, duplicitous at worst. Arsenal fans are losing patience with and respect for a player who has so far had one good season and seems to assume it has given him inordinate bargaining power. If he's going to go, it's better that he goes quickly, though manager Arsene Wenger - criticised for allowing Mathieu Flamini to leave for Milan - seems calmly determined that last season's top scorer will still be at the Emirates for the new campaign. Meanwhile Alexander Hleb's future at the club also remains up in the air.
On the positive side, highly-prized full-back Gael Clichy has signed a long-term contract extension, and the brightest jewel in the Gunners' crown, Cesc Fabregas, has not only tasted well-deserved glory with Spain this summer but also made it abundantly clear that he's likely to be at Arsenal for at least as long as Wenger. The exciting Welsh teenager, Aaron Ramsey, was snapped up from under the noses of Manchester United, while France winger Samir Nasri is on the verge of completing a move to North London and is seen as a replacement for Hleb should the Belarussian leave. Amaury Bischoff also claims to be about to sign for the club after rejecting Werder Bremen's offer of a contract extension.
Robin van Persie showed at Euro 2008 that he is close to full fitness and match sharpness at last, while Eduardo is making remarkably rapid progress from his double leg fracture. Also up front, young Mexican starlet Carlos Vela will be in the squad for the first time after attaining eligibility while gaining useful experience in La Liga. Big things are expected of Theo Walcott next season, and youngsters like Armand Traore, Henri Lansbury, Fran Merida, Kieran Gibbs, Nacer Baracite, Mark Randall and Jack Wilshere could make an impact.
However, the big question-mark is over the holding midfield role, now that Flamini has left. Is Gilberto Silva up for the task still? Will Denilson or Alex Song be able to step up to the plate? Or - as most Arsenal fans would like - will Wenger sign a top class player in that position? Certainly it would be surprising - and distinctly worrying for their supporters - if the Gunners were not in the market as buyers for two or three more players over the next six weeks.
Aston Villa
Villa's close season has been overshadowed by the issue of captain Gareth Barry's future. Will he still be there for the start of the new season? At the moment it is looking unlikely - he has made it clear he wants to join his pal Steven Gerrard at Liverpool so he can include Champions League involvement among his life experiences. Barry has crossed a line this week by lashing out at Villa - specifically manager Martin O'Neill, accusing his boss of indifference to the midfielder's "predicament." With endearing arrogance, Barry is feeling neglected because O'Neill had the temerity to concentrate on his TV commitments to the BBC during Euro 2008.
For their part Villa have contradicted Barry by claiming they have gone out of their way to persuade the player to stay with them, though O'Neill won't stand in his way. Barry has been there 10 years and may be getting itchy feet anyway. It's looking more likely now that he'll be a Red when the new season starts, but whether he stays or goes, Villa need to bring in quality players to boost the numbers in what is currently one of the Premier League's smallest squads.
O'Neill has had chance to observe the Euro 2008 talent at close quarters, and Villa owner Randy Lerner is said to be willing to put his hands in his pockets for team strengthening, so expect to see O'Neill in the market as a buyer soon. With last season's loanee Scott Carson back at Liverpool, he needs a goalkeeper, and Tottenham's Paul Robinson is being strongly linked. That's a deal that could suit all three parties.
Villa are also in pole position to bring in Steve Sidwell, should the midfielder conclude that his opportunities will remain strictly limited at Chelsea. Olof Mellberg's departure for Juventus creates a gap that needs to be plugged, but the good news for Villa is that England internationals Ashley Young and Gabriel Agbonlahor are committed to the club.
Premier League's Confirmed Transfers
30/06/2008 Deco Barcelona to Chelsea
27/06/2008 Daniel Braaten Bolton to Toulouse FC
27/06/2008 J. Elmander Toulouse FC to Bolton
26/06/2008 Gomes PSV to Tottenham
25/06/2008 C. Bocanegra Fulham to Stade Rennais FC
20/06/2008 G. Little Reading to Portsmouth
18/06/2008 J. Riise Liverpool to Roma
13/06/2008 Aaron Ramsey Cardiff City to Arsenal
12/06/2008 A. Teymourian Bolton to Fulham
10/06/2008 Zoltán Gera West Bromwich to Fulham
09/06/2008 D. Rozenhal Newcastle to Lazio
06/06/2008 Giovani Barcelona to Tottenham
05/06/2008 David Stockdale Darlington to Fulham
03/06/2008 L. Carsley Everton to Birmingham
03/06/2008 Jens Lehmann Arsenal to VfB Stuttgart
01/06/2008 B. Emre Newcastle to Fenerbahce
29/05/2008 P. Berger Aston Villa to Sparta Praha
27/05/2008 Gerard Piqué Man Utd. to Barcelona
22/05/2008 M. Schwarzer Middlesbrough to Fulham
20/05/2008 Philipp Degen Borussia to Liverpool
17/05/2008 S. Giannakopoulos Bolton released
17/05/2008 I. Campo Bolton released
11/05/2008 Bosingwa to Porto Chelsea
04/05/2008 M. Flamini Arsenal to Milan
26/04/2008 Luka Modric Dinamo Zagreb to Tottenham
27/06/2008 Daniel Braaten Bolton to Toulouse FC
27/06/2008 J. Elmander Toulouse FC to Bolton
26/06/2008 Gomes PSV to Tottenham
25/06/2008 C. Bocanegra Fulham to Stade Rennais FC
20/06/2008 G. Little Reading to Portsmouth
18/06/2008 J. Riise Liverpool to Roma
13/06/2008 Aaron Ramsey Cardiff City to Arsenal
12/06/2008 A. Teymourian Bolton to Fulham
10/06/2008 Zoltán Gera West Bromwich to Fulham
09/06/2008 D. Rozenhal Newcastle to Lazio
06/06/2008 Giovani Barcelona to Tottenham
05/06/2008 David Stockdale Darlington to Fulham
03/06/2008 L. Carsley Everton to Birmingham
03/06/2008 Jens Lehmann Arsenal to VfB Stuttgart
01/06/2008 B. Emre Newcastle to Fenerbahce
29/05/2008 P. Berger Aston Villa to Sparta Praha
27/05/2008 Gerard Piqué Man Utd. to Barcelona
22/05/2008 M. Schwarzer Middlesbrough to Fulham
20/05/2008 Philipp Degen Borussia to Liverpool
17/05/2008 S. Giannakopoulos Bolton released
17/05/2008 I. Campo Bolton released
11/05/2008 Bosingwa to Porto Chelsea
04/05/2008 M. Flamini Arsenal to Milan
26/04/2008 Luka Modric Dinamo Zagreb to Tottenham
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
