Summer Transfers

[iDOL]

His wages accounted for , but no large transfer outlay, how would rafa be able to play his switcheroo game if he was one striker down, so the wages didn't matter much to Rafa.

It is the same argument I used earlier in the thread regarding managers and the players they buy or sign. - read Bolton signing Elmander for 11mil.

Do you look at the players historical performances at all ? or do you believe so much in your coaching ability that you will be able to turn the "a goal every 3 games striker" suddenly into a goal hungry monster scoring 20+ goals a season.

I just don't know. Guess that's why they are the managers and we're not hey ?

 

[killadoob]

well just because he cant score every game, does not mean he has no talent, just might be in a team who does not give him to many chances to score

look at rooney he scored only 12 goals last season but was one of the biggest reasons united did so well, also setup many a ronaldo goal

 

[iDOL]

@Killa, difference is that Rooney has had some decent assists as well, he is not a stationary type of player, he makes things happen.

I guess you will have to ask the Liverpool fans, if they feel he adds a great deal of value.

 

[SuPaStA]

Tired of people supporting strikers that dont score by saying they "make goals".
A strikers job is to score goals, if he cant do that then make him a mid-fielder and he can do as many assists as he wants and then purchase a striker.

Rooney doesnt score for england so that shows you how much worth he has a striker, so the point about "when ronaldo goes he will shine" doesnt hold water.

 

[SuPaStA]

Dimitar Berbatov back at top of Manchester United's hitlist​

Sir Alex Ferguson tried to sign Berbatov last summer but Tottenham refused to sell the Bulgarian striker.

Spurs are still reluctant to let him go and have placed a £30million price tag on his head to deter suitors.

But the United boss is ready to make a fresh £23m bid in an effort to team him up with Wayne Rooney.

Fergie, who returns to work today before the United squad arrive back for preseason training tomorrow, claims he is unlikely to buy more than one player this summer.

He said: "There could be some dialogue, but I wouldn't think any more than one player. I'm looking at one or two things. People think it's easy to buy players nowadays but it's not - money plays a big part.

"Clubs with ambition don't want to sell their best players so it's not as easy as you think. We tend to look for younger ones."

Although Fergie has around £50m to spend, United are not prepared to pay over the odds for Berbatov, 27.

As well as adding a striker, Fergie is looking to buy cover for full-backs Wes Brown and Patrice Evra after revealing his concerns over the chances of Gary Neville making a full recovery.

Neville missed virtually all of last season with an ankle injury, making just one substitute appearance - nine minutes against Roma.

"I'm hopeful Gary can come back," said Fergie. "At 33 it's always difficult if you've been out of the game for a year. But he's such a determined character you wouldn't bet against him."

 

[SuPaStA]

Liverpool hope to bring Robbie Keane to Anfield​

Tottenham face the prospect of losing last season's entire strike force with news that Liverpool have targetted Robbie Keane, the club's vice-captain.

With Dimitar Berbatov and Darren Bent also rumoured to be leaving the club this summer, Keane's potential departure would clear the way for Spurs to pursue one of several potential targets including David Villa and Lukas Podolski.

According to The Guardian, Rafael Benítez will continue to pursue Keane despite Tottenham's refusal to sell the forward.

The Liverpool manager has apparently also included Peter Crouch in a possible bid for the Republic of Ireland international.

Liverpool's interest in Keane became apparent during discussions between the clubs over Crouch who is valued at about £10 million though the lanky forward is also wanted by Manchester City and Portsmouth.

Benitez will hope that Keane will follow in the footsteps of Gareth Barry, the Aston Villa captain and Liverpool target, who made his desire to join Liverpool public and thus forced his club to consider a transfer they initially refused.


According to The Guardian, Rafael Benítez will continue to pursue Keane despite Tottenham's refusal to sell the forward.

The Liverpool manager has apparently also included Peter Crouch in a possible bid for the Republic of Ireland international.

Liverpool's interest in Keane became apparent during discussions between the clubs over Crouch who is valued at about £10 million though the lanky forward is also wanted by Manchester City and Portsmouth.

Benitez will hope that Keane will follow in the footsteps of Gareth Barry, the Aston Villa captain and Liverpool target, who made his desire to join Liverpool public and thus forced his club to consider a transfer they initially refused.

This weekend, Barry went further in criticising Martin O'Neil, the Aston Villa manager, for failing top make contact with the player.

"My mind's made up - I want to join Liverpool," Barry said. "There's no going back; it's time for me to move on. I'm desperate to play Champions League football and that's why I have to leave Villa.

"Villa kept saying they wanted me to stay but I have not heard from the manager for weeks. It's seven weeks now since the season finished but while the gaffer's found time to be a pundit for the BBC at Euro 2008 he hasn't found the time to speak to me. Have Villa offered me anything to try to persuade me my future is at Villa Park, not Anfield? Not a thing."

Whether the 27-year-old Keane employs similar tactics remains to be seen but Liverpool are hoping that a deal valued at £20 million and involving Crouch returning to Tottenham where he began his career as a trainee will be enough.

 

[killadoob]

@idol i understand that but i think the formation fergie uses may suit his creative style, the way united play does not isolate strikers

some managers isolate their strikers with something like a 4 4 2, meaning if your not getting service from your midfield you wont score to much

 

[SuPaStA]

Barca Offer Eto’o For Trezeguet​

Trezeguet has been heavily linked with a move to Barca over the past month or so, and the striker is said to be high up on new coach Josep Guardiola’s summer shopping list.

A few days ago Blaugrana director Ferran Soriano claimed that the club had ended its interest in the prolific Frenchman, who scored 20 Serie A goals last season.

“Trezeguet is a great striker but he is no longer a part of our plans,” he told Tuttosport.

However, the Corriere today claims that Barca are still desperate to sign the 30-year-old, and are prepared to offer Samuel Eto’o as part of an exchange deal.

Eto’o is looking highly likely to leave the Camp Nou this summer in search of a new challenge away from Spain. The Cameroon hitman, who has scored 89 goals in just 136 games during his time at Barca, would welcome a move to Italy.

It is also reported that Juventus may accept such an exchange, if Barcelona choose to make an official offer.

 

[Alan]

well just because he cant score every game, does not mean he has no talent, just might be in a team who does not give him to many chances to score

Good point. But ultimately it comes down to goals scored. Veronin doesn't even contribute anything to creating chances anyway

 

[pos(t)er]

trezeguet-very underrated ,why didn't he play in the Euro?
is he worth that much that they have to include Eto'o in the package?

 

[stefan9]

trezeguet-very underrated ,why didn't he play in the Euro?
is he worth that much that they have to include Eto'o in the package?

He didn't play because Domench has something against him. Same reason frey and mexes didn't play.

 

[SuPaStA]

trezeguet-very underrated ,why didn't he play in the Euro?
is he worth that much that they have to include Eto'o in the package?

His place got given to Gomis.
I think his good but not worth Eto'o and money, hopefully barca dont make a formal offer which includes Eto'o.

 

[iDOL]

Auntie Joan is going to be doing a lot of wheeling and dealing this week to get re-elected at Barca by the socis.

so you will be seeing quite a bit of activity from there.

 

[pos(t)er]

that said i think we could all see eto'o wanted to and should leave barca.

 

[iDOL]

I don't think so , pfister the Cameroon coach was bemoaning the treatment of Eto'o saying he can't see how Barca can treat him like that.

Eto'o finished 2nd behind Thierry as the top scorer at Barca this season.

 

[pos(t)er]

well he looked very lack-lustre every time i saw him and i think he said himself that he wants to go.of course if henry doesn't have a retun to form and they don't get some1 else(like trezeguet)they will struggle...

 

[SuPaStA]

Eto'l leaving is barca's decision not his.

Months ago his name was already tagged as one of the players going to be sold from the old team, same as Deco.

Players out:

Gudjohnson
Edmilson
Thuram
Abidal
Marquez
Zambrotta
Oleguer
Eto
Ronaldinho
Giovanni
Ezquerro
Deco

 

[Alan]

He didn't play because Domench has something against him. Same reason frey and mexes didn't play.

Domench is an idiot

Two years after being a crossbar's width from regaining the World Cup, the French have failed and Raymond Domenech is a laughing stock having reacted to defeat by Italy with that most indelicate proposal.

At least there was something absent-minded about Steve McClaren's recourse to a brolly; Domenech positively seized what he must have thought was a good opportunity to declare his love for Estelle Denis.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2008/06/22/sfnpad322.xml

May he manage France for another decade

 

[killadoob]

im sorry but if france do so badly in a tournament the coach has to go

i think france where one of the worst teams at euro, considering the history of the team that says alot

 

[R2_D2]

Sevilla president Jose Maria del Nido claims Daniel Alves will become the world’s most expensive defender when he at last puts pen to paper with Barcelona.

Alves is due to be officially presented as a Barca player once he completes a medical at Camp Nou on Tuesday.

"He has been transferred to Barcelona for the highest price ever paid for a defender," said Del Nido.

The record for a transfer fee paid for a defender currently stands at the £30 million Manchester United paid Leeds for Rio Ferdinand in 2002.

Alves said his goodbyes to Sevilla at a press conference in the Andalucian capital on Tuesday morning.

“I would like to thank the president for opening the doors of this club to me and giving me the opportunity to grow,” said Alves.

“I am grateful to Sevilla. What I have experienced here will be impossible to achieve anywhere else.”

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