Summer Transfers

[Fern9do]

they really are wanting a strong side , at least i know my team will be winning

i happy for you

 

[pos(t)er]

WHHHHAAAAAAAATTTTT?!?!?!? MAN U bying Messi and K@ka? WTF, WHERE, HOW, WHY, oh my god this is bad news.

 

[Genius.]

@ GloryHunter - they have signed Messi this evening.

Bill Clinton and George Bush is signing tomorrow.

 

[pos(t)er]

I thought that was some sick joke;the day Barca let Messi go, is the day they've fallen out of the La Liga.

GH:Hey buddy get educated:it's called irony.

 

[.geek]

IMO Barry is better in the Prem. But Arsenal will play to Alonso's strengths unlike Liverpool away from home. It seems Rafa is intent on getting another CM. He seems obsessed with them

What are Xabi's strengths? I know little about him.

 

[Fern9do]

What are Xabi's strengths? I know little about him.

I would say his strengths are his passing and the way he reads the game. He is very similar to AC Milan's Pirlo imo. He's tackling is not the best and he's not really that prolific in terms of goals. Only scored 14 in the 4 season he's been at our club.

What he's extremely good at is linking defense and attack together with his accurate passes and positional play.
Arsenal need a more defensive minded midfielder imo. Similar to Flamini.
Rafa has been playing him as a defensive mid recently but his best season was in 2004-05 when he played next to Momo Sissoko which allowed him to play further up the field and really dictate the tempo of the game. But like i said for the last couple of season he's been playing in a more withdrawn role, like a defensive mid. Even though his tackling is quite poor..

 

[Alan]

I would say his strengths are his passing and the way he reads the game. He is very similar to AC Milan's Pirlo imo. He's tackling is not the best and he's not really that prolific in terms of goals. Only scored 14 in the 4 season he's been at our club.

What he's extremely good at is linking defense and attack together with his accurate passes and positional play.
Arsenal need a more defensive minded midfielder imo. Similar to Flamini.
Rafa has been playing him as a defensive mid recently but his best season was in 2004-05 when he played next to Momo Sissoko which allowed him to play further up the field and really dictate the tempo of the game. But like i said for the last couple of season he's been playing in a more withdrawn role, like a defensive mid. Even though his tackling is quite poor..

Hit the nail on the head.

 

[SuPaStA]

Official: Van Der Vaart To Madrid​

The blancos revealed on their official website that the 25-year-old is set to seal his deal in person tomorrow. No fee has been mentioned but it is thought to be a €9m deal.

A statement from the club ran: "Real Madrid C.F. and Hamburg SV have reached an agreement for the 5-season transfer of Dutch player Rafael Ferdinand van der Vaart to the former club. The agreement is subject to the player's medical examination and his signing of a federation contract.

Van der Vaart will be officially presented on Tuesday 5 August at 13:00 CET in the Presidential Balcony of the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium."

The Netherlands international had earlier told the official HSV website that he was set to move on after an accord between the two clubs was met on Sunday night.

Ready To Move

Anticipating his switch to Spain, he said, "Very late [Sunday] night it was agreed. It took a long time and for a long while it was uncertain, but now everything is clear.

"I'm glad, but also a little sad. I had a good time here... I'm also hurt to leave. People here always supported me, even in difficult times, such as during the Valencia incident (a failed transfer).

"I had goosebumps every time I played in Hamburg. It's clichéd to say that HSV will always remain in my heart, but this really is the case and it should remain so."

Rich Pedigree

Rafael brings with him to Madrid a considerable goalscoring record for a midfielder, having netted 29 Bundesliga goals in 74 appearances for the Hanseaten.

With Ajax his finest campaign was perhaps 2002-03, wherein he managed almost a goal a game for the Dutch capital side. However his later days in Amsterdam were to be fraught with controversy as he was stripped of the captaincy and even dropped for a time.

Nonetheless he remained, and remains, a Dutch international of some repute, having taken part in Euro 2008 this summer for his country.

 

[.geek]

I would say his strengths are his passing and the way he reads the game. He is very similar to AC Milan's Pirlo imo. He's tackling is not the best and he's not really that prolific in terms of goals. Only scored 14 in the 4 season he's been at our club.

What he's extremely good at is linking defense and attack together with his accurate passes and positional play.
Arsenal need a more defensive minded midfielder imo. Similar to Flamini.
Rafa has been playing him as a defensive mid recently but his best season was in 2004-05 when he played next to Momo Sissoko which allowed him to play further up the field and really dictate the tempo of the game. But like i said for the last couple of season he's been playing in a more withdrawn role, like a defensive mid. Even though his tackling is quite poor..

Seems like an ideal replacement for Flamini and/or Gilberto. If for no other reason than experience.

 

[SuPaStA]

Barça Eye Berbatov Even If Eto'o Stays​

Coach Pep Guardiola wants to add another forward to his line-up even if Samuel Eto'o stays and sees the creativity that the former Bayer Leverkusen goalscorer would bring as an exciting prospect, according to El Mundo Deportivo.

Barça have been linked with several strikers this summer including Emmanuel Adebayor, Karim Benzema and Didier Drogba, but none of them are now likely to be moving.

Instead, Eto'o has returned to the squad and has impressed in pre-season despite being told that if he can agree a deal with a new side then he can go.

Guardiola has told his board that he wants more new faces and competition for the central striker would ensure that if Eto'o stays he will have to work hard to justify his place.

Tottenham have made no announcement about selling Bebatov, but is a public secret that if a club meets their asking price then negotiations would quickly follow.

In pre-season, the 27-year-old has given mixed displays where he has looked happy and settled in one game before appearing to be moody and distant in others.

Barcelona would be a preferred option for Tottenham to sell their star striker after a spat with Manchester United over contact with the player or his agents.

 

[Genius.]

nice

 

[Fern9do]

I just dont understand why guardiola wants to get rid of eto'o. Next to David Villa hes probably the most prolific striker in La Liga at the mo.

 

[Alan]

I just dont understand why guardiola wants to get rid of eto'o. Next to David Villa hes probably the most prolific striker in La Liga at the mo.

Attitude problem

 

[Genius.]

I just dont understand why guardiola wants to get rid of eto'o. Next to David Villa hes probably the most prolific striker in La Liga at the mo.

Ya, he unfortunately fell into the category with Ronaldinho and Deco. Although, i always knew that the club was having probs with Deco and Ronaldinho - their attitude sucked big time. I never thought Eto was like that.

I saw an interview a few months ago, where he said Barca cannot tell him to go anywhere, he will choose where he wants to play. After that, i changed my mind ever so slightly.

I think he regrets it now though, he wants to stay it seems. I hope he does actually.

 

[SuPaStA]

Juventus Sign Manninger​

The one-time Arsenal goalkeeper has been a target for the Old Lady since his days in London. Juve did, indeed, try to sign him at the time, but the Gunners repelled any approach.

However, the Austrian shot-stopper is delighted to finally embark on his adventure and he cannot wait to get started.

“I am very happy to have arrived at Juventus,” said Manninger. “Here, football really counts.

“I have gained a lot of experience playing for smaller sides, but I was at Arsenal a few years ago and I wanted to return to a big club at the highest level.”

No Buff Bashing

Still, he's keen to play down any designs he might have on the No.1 jersey at this point, adding: “We all know Buffon’s ability and his role in this squad.

“Only one goalkeeper can play at a time but in a squad of 25 there must be more than one custodian and we have three.

“I’m ready to give as much of a contribution as I can make to this team.”

Manninger, who spent last season with Siena, has arrived for around €1m, penning a four year deal.

La Vecchia Signora have clearly added some excellent cover as they seek to build a deep squad capable of making a mark in the Scudetto and Champions League next term.

 

[SuPaStA]

Barça Preparing €25m Silva Move​

The Blaugrana have been kept up-to-date with events during their stay in New York after the SPain international's agent met with che directors on Tuesday evening.

With no agreement on a new contract being made and Silva's agent, Julio Llorente, believing that the two positions are far apart at the moment, a bid could test Valencia's resolve.

Freshly-installed sporting director at Mestalla, Fernando Gómez, is the third person having to deal with the conundrum of how to keep the club's best players.

Silva knows what he can earn at Barcelona, while David Villa is also wanted by clubs that would be willing to pay him far more than he can earn at Valencia.

Sport believe that the fact that the negotiations bore no fruit at all this week has given Barça the green light to make their move and that an offer will be made.

Pep Guardiola wants a slick playmaker for the left side of his forward line and Silv'a arrival would see him employed as a direct replacement for Ronaldinho.

A fee of €25m plus bonuses would also signal the end of the Blaugrana's spending unless Samuel Eto'o were to leave for anywhere near the club's €30m asking price.

Barça return from the United States on Friday morning and will look to make contact with Valenica over the weekend to see what options are now on the table.

If they are given any encouragement then an official bid will be made by Monday and los che will have a chance to consider the money that would ease them through their current financial strife.

 

[Alan]

West Ham have released Freddie Ljungberg

West Ham have released Freddie Ljungberg after just a year - giving him a pay-off of reportedly £6m - after deciding that his £85,000-a-week wages were a drain on the club. One season of having the Swede on their books has cost them £13m, which works out at a bargainous £500,000 per game. That's a lot to pay someone to look pretty on a treatment table

 

[SuPaStA]

West Ham have released Freddie Ljungberg

Ya was reading about this in the paper today, he was getting loads of cash for nothing.

 

[bonobo_slr]

West Ham have released Freddie Ljungberg

Unbelievable. How did he manage to get a pay increase to go to West Ham?? West Ham will become another Leeds. I don't actually recall seeing him play a game from WH. Kinda like Winston Bogarde for Chelsea!

Harry Kewell - another player that sold himself. Went to Liverpool - did F all, was always "injured" unless he had to play for Australia... Would love to know what he cost Liverpool in the end.

 

[Fern9do]

Ronaldo: "I will play for Manchester United"
Wednesday, 06 August 2008 21:08


Christiano Ronaldo has finally brought an end to the transfer saga of the season when he revealed that he will not be joining Real Madrid this summer.

The Portuguese midfielder has been at the center of a bitter fight between Real Madrid and Manchester United and despite previously stating that it is his dream to play for Madrid the winger has now confirmed that he will not be leaving Old Trafford this season.



According to goal.com he made his intentions clear in an interview with Publico.

"Ferguson heard my arguments, I heard his and, in fact, it was settled that the best for both parties would be for me to stay. Therefore, I can confirm that, next season, I will play for Manchester United,"


"And, before rumours emerge saying that I will play against my will, I want to make this clear: whoever says or writes that is lying. I will play for Manchester with all my heart and soul. I will fight and honour that shirt with the same commitment and dedication as always."



Whether the United fans will welcome him back with open arms remains to be seen after the Portuguese star took most of the blame for the whole transfer saga.

"I want to assume that I was the big responsible for all this controversy," Ronaldo added. "It was not their fault because I was the one who publicly expressed my desire to go to Real Madrid. I ended up being, even involuntarily, the responsible for the poor relationship between the two clubs."



He admits however that he did want to leave United in order to fulfill his dream of playing for Real Madrid

"I knew that Real Madrid were interested in signing me and that they had allegedly made a very high offer to Manchester United. My desire was, for some time, that Manchester had accepted my transfer to Madrid. Saying otherwise would be to trick people and my own consciousness," he noted.

http://www.safootballfans.co.za/bar...aldo-qi-will-play-for-manchester-unitedq.html

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WOW